GERMANY'S ENTERPRISE.

Mataura Ensign, 16 August 1906, Page 3

GERMANY'S ENTERPRISE.

The art of I'orjjiiijf ami weldin«r -the links in a ■ari-at ship's cable requires a .skill that is attained by comparatively few men after years of practice. In this German workmen an' years behind the times, am! the finest chains in tin- world are muniilarlurcd in what is'known as the ltlack Country, in Great Britain. Not lout; usro a Muck Country ehaiiunaker answered a [German advertisement. Soon after|wards a German irentleman with an

interpreter appeared in Stnliordshirc, and held out such inducement that lie i;a|>tivnted six men, four of whom. by tin' way, wcii> on strike at the time Kllis:. one of tin 1 men, subsequently tl.--scribed his journey to Duisbcrg, in Germany, to a representative of the 'Kxprrrss.' "We were treated like lords," he said. "We stayed lirst at he Midland Hotel, at JJirminghum. I'heii - we. travelled in style to Gcrnany. where we were put up at a irst-elass restaurant." When the mil's abilities were tested in the forks they made the links so well hat when put to a tensile strain the ron broke before the weld gave way. 'he director was so astonished by the esult that he took the men to his ouse and brought out the best wine n his cellar for them. The C'hainimkers' Association heard of the nanoeuvre. and knew that if the men vere allowed to teach foreign worknen the art of chainmaking. Germany lould soon become a formidable comictitor to Staffordshire. Mr Sitch. :he secretary, was sent to Germany to jersuadc the men to come back, but hey .were having such a good time hat they absolutely refused. On his return to Kngland. the manufacturers, I .'lowing alarmed, joined with the I'nion and sent Mr Sitch back a secmil time to try and induce the men to return. On his arrival the secretary of the Union found -that the men were being guarded as if they were so many prisoners, and it was almost, impossible to [jet to them. The entir|irisin<r secretary, however, waited his opportunity, and one day he succeeded •in passing a note to one of the operatives whilst living a t , v restaurant where they lived. The note conveyed a strong appeal to the men to come home, and not give. Germany the chunce o_f beating England at its own industry, and the men, after discussing he situation, decided lo comply with ihe request of their fellows. I'atriotsm of this sort shows that Labor, !\en when unorganised, is still suffi•ieiilly witle-awako to ils own welfare o sink personal benefit for the gencal good of its fellows.