THE UNREST

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18, 22 July 1919, Page 2

THE UNREST

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—May I, as a sympathetic Englishman, write to you as the editor of,'a very influential journal of this city of Wellington, which is the principal city officially of this important Dominion ? Why do I want to write to you? ; My answer is the industrial unrest, which is growing very loud all over this-coun-try. And it has become - a factor of distress among the homes of Australia. Witness the report in your papei> of last night. I could have shed tear* of much sorrow as I read there of the cruel pangs of.. hunger . and distress-. which afflicted the homes of'-those'who thought they we're fighting life's battles; while in very truth they were-losing, their, wives and their children, and their home life.- God help them to see things in a natural light. ' Before I would say a word to employer or employee, I am so sorry for the many, but especially for that woman whose eyes were glazed with grief while her husband was dead in the house and three children were ill with the "flu."

God bless them is the language of my sympathy. If lam able to in any way help them, will you please publish this letter?

I would say what I know to be true, . both as an employer and an employee, that there* 13 no interest which does not of itself affect either' the employee ior the employer.^ Both parties want to be honest with "each other, and both of them give. and take, as the case may demand at the time. The Labour class are pushing their way <at the present time, with, the intention of winning their way by hook or'by.crook to the winning post. I hope, and 'I say this feelingly,' that they will do nothing of the sort. I hope with all my heart that they will meet the employer in' a- fair and impartial way, and I equally hope the employer will not in any sense try and counter-stroke tfefe employee. The employer needs a profit' to enable him-to use his capital for the' benefit of the whole community. And Labour uses his muscle for his capital, and it is necessary to give him such fair wages as shall enable him to pay his way and, if.' possible, to save, for by that means we are constantly adding to our capital. Therefore my advice is,: meet together as often as necessity demands, and meet as Englishmen, and talk over wrings' as Englishmen love tc/talk when they have a problem to arrange. I hajre spent some time in Birmingham. I was -born in "Wolverhampton. Both towns have had men who have loved the employee, and both towns have made men from the employee class —men' who have ma^de I England herself more famous in tne paths of industry, and, shall I not say? in the majesty of truth, ty the paths of Imperial love. Among them is Joseph Chamberlain. He was a man of courage and ability. We have no Imperialist who I think is above the power of the Imperial mind of Joseph Chamberlain. He had a soul whi.ch was fired by high ideals, and the hope of Imperial fame, not for himself. He loved the Empire, and his heart was made glad when he saw the Empire grow. I make bold to say now. that if England and her mighty Empire, which learned to love its unity from the teaching of Joseph Chamberlain, had listened to the voice of Joseph Chamberlain when he sought to charm this Empire into Imperial preference, instead of giving what has since been proved beyond contradiction to be help untold to our chief enemies, whose "Song of Hate" has been their keenest inspiration against England arid her Empire, the course of events would have been far different. I have myself seen him 'as teacher at the Severn-street school, which was not attended by children but grown men, who.wanted to learn, and Joseph. Chamberlain made it his business to be there to give light, aiid that light won for many of them their liberty, their love of life.

The men of Birmingham will remember such names as George Dawson, John G. Wright, Josiah Mason, and Jesse Collings, not to - mention Sfr Oliver Lodge, and our great Queen Victoria. A These were all known as they werfijlo%'ed. Birmingham was always Libera until Chamberlain, in his Imperial lov $ changed sides for Imperial unionisi i- ■ They won commerce; they won leal'^' ing; they won wealth; they won powi f . * all at the instigation ■of Chamberlsj And there is nothing gives me morex j . sure than that Austen Chambe'rjafr/' the Imperial Chancellor. —I am, eve* ' JAMES GRACEV