LLOYD GEORGE AND IHE WORKERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13785, 10 September 1915, Page 3

LLOYD GEORGE AND IHE WORKERS.

4 WAR BETWEEN MECHANICS.

BRITISH . WORKMAN BETTER OF

THE TWO

(Received Sept. 10, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, Sept. 9. Mr Lloyd George received an ovation at the Trade Union Congress. He said he was grateful for the opportunity of unfolding the situation. "You represent one of the mosl powerful forces m directing the country's life With you victory is assured ; without youour 'cause is lost. I. come here as the greatest employer of labor m tho country, and am also a trade unionist. You pledged yourselves yesterday as representatives of organised labor to assist the Government m the successful prosecution. of the war. I am sure you meant it. I am here to take you on behalf of the Government at your word. Tho war has resolved itself into a oonflict between mechanics of the respective nations. I believe frho British workman is the better of the two."

The Government," continued Mr Lloyd George, "has established sixteen national arsenals, and is constructing eleven more, and to work these old and new two hundred thousand more unskilled men and women are wanted. "The country is not doing its best. Jt is entirely a labor problem. You can assist." v

A voice interjected : "So can the employers."

Mr Lloyd George : "I am not going to spare the employers.'** (Cheers.) "The machinery applicable "for war material is not working night and. day. Only 15 per cent, of the machinery is working night, shifts, turning. out can non, rifles, and war material. With plenty of labor th© factories would be occupied continuously. Think what material could be supplied f Tlie problem is not for destroying but for saving the life of young men. "If eveiy skilled man waa employed, there would still be never enough- labor for the task m hand.

. "The Government ,is unable to equip the Army unless the trade unions help m three directions. They must suspend for the war period all restrictions upon the best use. of skilled labor, by employing, unskilled men under skilled supervision) for all work wherein highly skilled' are not absolutely indispensable. Secondly, they must suspend the practices preventing men turning out as much work as their skill and their strength permit. Thirdly, there must be no stoppages m essential trades. "Profits have been restricted, and we shall bring practically the whole of the workshops employed at munition manufacture under the Munitions Act. Those under the Act embrace 95. per. cent, of the labor engaged m. these industries. ■" Mr Lloyd George added that he was <?oing to ask an unpleasant question. Had the other side of the 'bargain' been kept? It had "been maintained honorably m many cases, but m far, too many was not carried out.

if the Government, when trying to do its best for the gallant fellows m the field, were hampered at every turn by little technical objections, it was impossible to do the work that the country demanded. After mentioning a.n instance of restricted output for something that was vitally needed, he asked : Will anyone defendi that? (Cries: No.) He had no more ,to say. That exactly was what he came for.

Several questions were asked and answered, and Mr Lloyd George was thanked for his attendance and his sneech.