CO-PARTNERSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 6

CO-PARTNERSHIP.

There are many questions on which the people of New Zealand would like to have the opinions of Earl Grey, but naturally our distinguished visitor is not inclined to discuss subjects associated with party politics or to run tlio risk of offending our tender susceptibilities by commenting upon our social affairs. It. would have been particularly interesting to have had his views on proportional representation, which everyone knows he regards as the most vital reform of the day, but apparently lie has learnt already of the peculiar position this question occupies in the dominion and is not going to be drawn into siding with one party or the other; We may venture to hope, however, that when he reaches Wellington he will feel at liberty to strengthen Mr Massey in his belief that proportional representation is the most urgent need of our electoral system. In the meantime his lordship has very courteously granted an interview to our Dunedin correspondent on the subject of copartnership. This is fairly free from pitfalls and is beginning to be of some live interest to colonial communities. Earl Grey regards co-partnership as the most hopeful means of bringing about tho reconciliation between capital and labour which is absolutely necessary to the higher development of the industrial efficiency of the nation. He has many illustrations, several of which have lately been quoted in these columns, to show that when the workers are assured of a fair return for their labour they quickly recognise how closely their own interests are identified with those of tlieir employers and give better as well as more cheerful service. “At present,” his lordship said, and his words are as true of New Zealand as they are of older countries, “you have labour and capital pulling against each other, the capitalist giving as little wage as he must in return for the service rendered by labour, and labour giving as little as possible in return for the wage received. You can never create a great nation on the basis of a man giving his worst instead of his best. Industrial co-partnership is the principle that will release the floods of energy and usefulness that are now locked up in the human breast, and its application will assuredly drive out suspicion and distrust.” Of course Earl Grey was speaking in general terms when he referred to the capitalist giving as littlo wago as possible and the worker as little service as possible. Fortunately there are many exceptions to this deplorable rule. But tho tendency of degenerate humanity is to regulate its graces by its necessities, to get the most it can for itself, and in pursuit of this view it loses sight of the very motives on which it rests. Judged from the lowest point of view, which happens to be the most practical one, co-partnership is a sound business proposition. The generous employer is a well-served master and tho contented worker is a faithful man.