'PARTISAN BICKERING MUST BE REMOVED TO ASSIST BRITAIN’

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 8

'PARTISAN BICKERING MUST BE REMOVED TO ASSIST BRITAIN’

LONDON, October 14. A frank exchange of views took place between the Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert. Morrison) and Sir Miles Thomas, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers, when they discussed production problems before Midland industrialists in Birmingham. Mr Morrison urged industrialists to treat their employees as responsible human beings. He suggested the formation of a group system by which industrialists could exchange experience in overcoming technical and production problems, and the establishment of works machinery which would inform the,worker more fully of his firm’s activities and give him a constructive outlet within the works. Mr Morrison said he had the impression that there was something cold, remote, and inhuihan about industrial relations in many industries and that Britain lacked the earthy human touch which seemed to exist in a number of Canadian and American industries.

Good Management Needed

“It. is useless for the Government to put up posters and for Ministers to make appeals unless the workers feel that they are being treated in every-day affairs as responsible human beings and if the workers feel frustrated,” he said. “To use controls and shortages as an alibi for poor and uninspired management is’ a fatal policy for industry. Effective resourceful management is the quickest way of bringing about conditions in which so many controls will not be necessary.” Sir Miles Thomas told Mr Morrison that “pep” talks by Ministers were welcome in several respects, but “their effect is completely nullified by the poisonous acid that is dropped from time to time by other of your colleagues who make partisan speeches that drive a rift between the workers of .the country and those who are charged with the duties of management.

“What we want from you, sir, and your colleagues is an intensification of the efforts that you are already making to drum home fundamental economic factors not only to the working public, but particularly to your colleagues in the trade unions,” he continued. “I put it to you that the trade union leaders can lead Britain upwards to a higher overall standard of living, but if they insist on constantly supporting demands for higher wages with no corresponding increase in productivity, then we shall all go down together in a welter of selfdestruction.”

“M'alassessment of Loyalties” Sir Miles Thomas continued that , a great deal of discipline had been taken out of the hands of foremen and charge hands and dispersed among personnel departments, shop stewards, and trade union officials. There was, in fact, a complete malassessment of loyalties.

“In the old days a fellow used to work for the man who paid him,” said Sir Miles Thomas. “His earnings depended on the merits of his output, both in quality and quantity. It is that atmosphere that we, as hard practical business men, want to see restored. That illustrates the spirit that animated and still can animate the British working public, and it is to you that I appeal to lend your powerful hand in suppressing partisan bickering, which is poisoning politics, and class hatred.”, .