BRITISH LABOUR TROUBLES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18537, 24 April 1922, Page 6

BRITISH LABOUR TROUBLES.

The rapid and far-reaching changes which have within a comparatively short period taken place in the wages of British workers are not generally recognised iu this dominion where the changes have not been appreciable. In his presidential address at the annual conference of the Independent Labour Party Mr R. C. Wallhead estimated the annual reduction in wages to be £400,000,000, with “an insatiable demand for more reductions.” This stupendous total doubtless Takes into account certain necessary and imperative economies which represent the curtailment of extravagance associated

with war. After making the tallest allowances under this head, however, the wage reductions have been quite beyond general anticipations. In the boom period which followed the armistice it was frequently asserted, and generally believed, that wages and working conditions would never again approximate the pre-war level, but the unexpected has in a large measure eventuated. More than one large industry is already working below prewar conditions, and two factors have combined to produce this result. The economic crisis was in itself calculated to undermine the position held by the workers, but in many cases the crisis was accentuated by the shortsighted policy, of certain trade unions. It was perhaps very natural that they should seek to retain war wages, but a little thought would have exploded such a desire. When the cost of living fell, and the cost of production in other competitive countries was reduced, it was folly of a very serious description to seek to retain conditions which were only possible in the wasteful days ot . war. In certain cases they fought but the hope was more than , forlorn, and in the end' more has been i lost than would have been necessary had a wise policy of readjustment been adopted. The salvation of Britain, and of all classes in the State, depended , on a speedy return to normal conditions—not necessarily, to pre-war conditions, but to such as were Tound t© bo suitable to the new basis on which industrial society was—to- rest.: . r Such a return was delayed by industrial war, and the loss to the whole community has been incalculable, so that-to the economic and financial chaos has been added the waste and delay caused, by industrial dislocations. Foreign trade has been lost, at least for a period, at a time when it was most necessary for the employment of demobilised men. The end has not yet been reached, and the engineering crisis’ will have a further unsettling -effect - on, British trade. The lockout: of workers in the engineering industry’ has 'so*'. "been in pperation for more than- a month, and it is estimated that'about Tme million workers are directly involved- It was hoped that the Easter-conference would have a basis of settlement, but it unfortunately failed, and the stage is apparently set for a prolonged struggle. The ballot which rejected the employers’ proposals, against' the advice of the executive and organisers, of the union, was admittedly unsatisfactory, owing to the small percentage of members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union who voted. The chief point at issue is the control of the workshops, the employers insisting that they shall determine, in terms of the current agreement) when overtime shall be worked, and who shall do the work. The clause iu. the agreement provided that “the .trade union shall not interfere with 'the right of the employers to exercise managerial functions ju their establishments, and the federations shall not interfere with the functions of the trade union.” In the agreement it was also stipulated that overtime of not more than 50 hours per month could be worked, but the workers contend that while there are many men unemployed overtime should not be ordered except on emergency work. The workers are standing on the claim that overtime on ordinary production work should be cut out completely, and where necessary nnem•ployt'd men should be put on. There is an additional, question of the reductioft of the War bonus, hot the parties are fighting on the basic . principle of shop control. In view of the serious effects of a long stoppage of- the industry the point in dispute , does not appear serious enough to, further jeopardise the future of British trade.