LABOUR AND THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16980, 14 October 1918, Page 7

LABOUR AND THE WAR.

INVALUABLE CO-OPERATION.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S TRIBUTE.

A tribute to the part played by Labour in the war was paid by Sir Joseph Ward on Saturday. The Minister for Finance remarked that it must be clear to any thinking person that, without the cooperation of Labour throughout the Empire, the carrying on of the war to a successful issue would have been impossible.

Labour has acted well," said Sir Joseph. It was only to be expected that the war conditions would bring about a vast change in the labour world as, regards pay and hours, and both the Government and employers had made, a good response to the demands of the hour. It would have been a miracle if the Motherland could have gone through such tremendous changes without some disturbances, and it was gratifying to find that what difficulties of this kind had arisen had been surmounted. ' There were problems which would have to be,settled between Labour and Capital, but he was satisfied that, by mutual concession and co-operation, they would be satisfactorily solved. The Motherland would ■ have more active competition, both in shipping and commerce, from other nations than she ever had before, and she would have her work cut out to maintain her supremacy. He was satisfied that this could and would be done, but a strong and continued effort would be necessary in the future'if the Empire was to maintain its position. "It seems to me impossible," continued Sir Joseph, " that the idol of cheapness nhall continue to reign after the war. There will certainly he higher rates of wages, and a higher consequent cost of articles of consumption and apparel than hitherto, but the increased purchasing power of the people will mitigate to a large extent the apparent disabilities due to increased prices,. -