A RETURN TO SANITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17242, 19 August 1919, Page 6

A RETURN TO SANITY.

The future of British industry would be assured if all labour leaders had r the sturdy patriotism of Mr. Will Thome, and all workmen had the same grasp of economic principles as the Manchester engineers. It is not surprising to find Mr. Thome denouncing every form of anarchy, whether disguised as Bolshevism or direct action. His independent and virile mind made him a conspicuous figure during the war period, and he is not the type of man to stand aside and watch the cause of Labour being ruined by extremists without raising his voice in protest. On the same day as his denunciation of anarchy comes a less-expected but no less welcome declaration by a strong' and influential body of trade union engineers in Manchester against industrial agitation which diminishes production and threatens foreign trade. If this point of view is commonly accepted there should soon be a cessation of industrial unrest and a rapid increase in British exports. Many solemn warnings have recently been given to British labour that in reducing production it is preparing a common ruin for employer and eraployed. Labour cannot have more than it creates. If all private fortunes were taken by the State and j distributed they would only raise the general level of wages very slightly for a very short time. For the rest, Labour is dependent for its earnings on what it produces. The movement for better wages and shorter hours was therefore bound to have severe limitations. If carried to extremes it would make industry economically impossible. Labour can earn more only by pro- ! during more, and in the present : crisis of Britain's fate no produc- ' tion can be too great. Her liabili- 1 ties' bear about the same ratio to ' resources as after the Napoleonic ] wars. She won prosperity then by < an almost miraculous increase in ' industrial power and efficiency. The same miracle is possible now, but it ' needs the hearty co-operation of ' Labour. ' 1 i TniTrnT-niriiTirTirriiiiiiiiMnnmii i«iu«m ■■