THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 8

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LABOUR

TO TBZ KDITOE. Sir, — During the Mayoral election, in the courso of conversation, I heard a manufacturing employer make u&e of the following words: — "I do not understand what you labour fellows really want. It does not seem to be only increased wages ; when 1 give my men an opportunity to earn more they will not take advantage of it, but appear satisfied to earn the ordinary week's wages. If wo could only got to the bottom — if we could only understand what it is that you actually want something- might be done." Then, sir, I wondered how many employers or professional men had ever given the matter a thought in this light. Do they ever think that the worker is constituted of the samo material as themsolves — that he is flesh und blood, and experiences the feaine emotions and feelings that they themselves experience V The worker has the sumo desire* for money to purchase pleasures for his wife and children a& any other human baing. His wife is just as ambitious for her soiib to become lawyers and doctors as the wifo of the employer i>i ambitious thut her hufcbund makes prolit enough out of business to bend her sons to college and university. There is the subtle distinction, that few care to admit exists, and fewer still to openly avow, that him pie manual labour is degrading. The workers aro charged with indulging in luxuries and wanting to live beyond their station in life. And do the people who lay the charges bhow the worker by precept _ and example how to live the simple life? ' They hire other people^ 'to supply their wants, punder to their pride, and keep them in indolence, und then regard tho ones who- do tho manual work as beneath them. What the worker wants is enough from the produce of hib labour to bo able to purchase for his wife and children the same pleasures that they see the wives and children of the employer enjoying. The right to rtar his children in tho same clean, comfortable, and healthy surroundings, where he may have tho same leisure for recreation as lie Eees other people enjoying. The worker only wants what tho majority of mankind want*>, and that is happiness. And that is made up of the sum of our gratified desires minus the sum of the misery when they go in a direction contrary to the laws of nature. — I am, etc., ROBERT CAMERON. „ 27th April.