CURED OF HIS PREJUDICE AGAINST MACHINERY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 3, 13 January 1903, Page 2

CURED OF HIS PREJUDICE AGAINST MACHINERY.

REMARKABLE SPEECH BY

Mr. W. Abrahams M. P

Speaking on the subject of American competition Mr. W. Abraham M. P. has given an interesting account of his recent investigations into labour matters in America.

At one time, ho said, he thought lhat working with machinery could not bo to the advantage of the men he represented. .He returned to America thoroughly cured of his prejudice which ho, together with others of his class had entertained, and would in future whenever -possible and necessary advocate the use of machinery to produce things necessary to maintain Great Britian in competition with other countries. Having explained how 1,200 tons of steel rails were produced every 24 hours in Illinois by machinery without the aid of manual labour, except in directing it, he said that in the past, whenever an excuse was wanted in England for not adopting the American plan, the prejudice of workmen against machinery was trotted out.

The capitalist of America would not. put up with the second best of anything, and whatever new plant was invented they calculated the purchase cost to them and threw away machinery tiiat would have been used in England for 10 or 12 years longer. It was the duty, of capitalists in England to find first of all the plant, and then workers could be taught to regulate machinery instead of acting as machines themselves as they had done for so long. There was no sentiment in America where the people believed in the radical principle that .there should be no claims of formality to tie a man down to the circumstances of his birth, and every man was invited to ascend and valued according to his efficiency and the wages which he earned.

The governing law of labour there whether he liked it or not was the survival of the fittest. There were strong trade unionists in America, and they were allowed to bargain for their follow men with the capitalists as to the price of work, but no interference was tolerated as to the amount of work to be done. Every workman was as free as the birds in the air to do all he possibly could, and if he did more than an ordinary day’s work he was paid a bonus as an inducement. That was the best side.

But on the other hand when a workman failed, after perhaps longyears of faithful service, owing to old age or anything else, he was thrust aside and a younger man put in his place.