THE FURNESS PROPOSALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14383, 28 November 1908, Page 4

THE FURNESS PROPOSALS.

FROM A LABOUR POINT OF VIEW. (Fr.oai Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 16. Mr J. Ramsay MaeDonald, M.P., Secretary of the Labour party, contributes to t.lio Morning Leader a criticism of Sir Christopher Furness's proposals to hand over ship yards to 'tho trades unions to work co-operatively. Mr AlacDonald gays: '"Ilia organisation of trade.? unions was not devised for engaging in productive enterprises; their fini.es are not available for such a purpose. If they took on the work they would fail. Nor, in its present form, at any rate, dooa Sir Christopher Fulness's profit-sharing scheme appear to bo very satisfactory. So far as I can gather, the workman, holding employee's shares is not to bo absolute ownor of them. I£ he coines out on strike or leaves, owing to come dispute with tho firm, I gather from an answer reported as having been given by' Sir Christopher to a question, tho shares owned by tho man, if not actually forfeited, will pass from his oontrol. These proposals only irritate and rou* suspicions, and,; if carried out, may bo tyrannically administered by boards of director.?. In theory, • profit-sharing is admirable, but it lias been worked, conspicuously by the South Metropolitan Has Company, to bind the bonds of servitude nioro firmly than ever around the wrists of the workmen. Its first effect is 1o separate* tho workmen of one firm from those of another. Them a series of unfortunate results follow. By offering the' nisn the tiniest of interests in the firm, labour is induced to become the mere tool of capital, ami to remain abjectly subject to it. It ceases to exert its proper influence upon prices and conditions, and it acquiesces in demand ma<k solely from tho point of view of capitalist interests because its small holdings of the firm's shares aro enough to make it beliovc that it is enjoying the firm's prosperity, ft becomes animated with all the fears and cupidities of petty capitalism." Mr Havoloek Wilson, M.P., speaking at Hull, made refereneo to tho offer of Sir Christopher. Ho said ho was surprised that the Socialists had described it as preposterous, because they wero always telling them that the capitalists got the best share of the wealth and produce. The offer should not bo ecorned. 'He only wished Sir Christopher had said to tho sailors and firemen: "I am going to lake -you into partnership not in shipbuilding, 'but the management of ships." He would not hesitate to advise tho men ho rcpivbunteu to give tho proposal a trial.