BRITAIN’S WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 7

BRITAIN’S WORKERS

BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING WANTED. LABOUR LEADERS’ SPEECHES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 16. (Received March 16, 7.10 p.m.) The Labour Leaders devoted their weekend to delivering speeches. Replying to Mr Stanley Baldwin’s peace appeals, Mr J. R. Clynes declared that harmony was procurable at a price, including a decent standard of living and security in work. The only sacrifices of the past three years on behalf of British industry had been made by the wage earners, who lost £700,000,000 a year through wage reductions. If low wages was the minimum necessary, why not fix a maximum profit for capital, which was taking too much out of industry to enrich those rendering little service to the community? Mr J. H. Thomas, speaking at Cardiff, said it would be madness to suggest an industrial truce with the workers receiving the scandalous pay of the Tommy, but if Mr Baldwin meant ihat they had reached the stage when those genuinely anxious for the future were prepared to examine the facts, not as parliamentary men but as citizens, then he welcomed the spirit. Mr J. W. Wheatley, speaking at Glasgow, said he did not doubt Mr Baldwin’s sincerity, but it was foolish to expect anything like a brotherhood with the present basis of society. Mr Baldwin’s appeal was founded on bringing down the cost of production.

“My criticism is that industry is not carried on in accordance with the sermon on the Mount,” said Mr Wheatley. “Mr Baldwin's appeal is mere air, and has no solid foundation. The workers want a higher, not a lower standard of living.”