The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1911. THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 149, 16 August 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1911. THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

That tho spirit of conflict is abroad in Britain is evidenced by tho serious industrial upheaval which is now disturbing the country. What the present warfare will cost it is apalling to think, for we are told that the losses caused by a few days’ temporary dislocation of the trade of London alone cost over a million and a half sterling. Tho problem to bo faced is one which is troubling leaders ol public thought tho world over. Recently Mr T. C. Taylor, M.P., in the course of an address on profit-sharing which he delivered at Port Sunlight, stated that the most urgent question in British industry at the present moment was the relations between employer and employed. Proceeding, Mr Taylor .wont on lines which might well Ito taken to heart by workers in this Dominion. He said: “1 do not believe the average employer is either better or worse than the average workman ; ho is only better informed. But mistaken or unprincipled workmen’s advisers often picture employe! s generally as selfish hard-hearted grasping tyrants. What are employers doing to prove that they are not? I give tho average employer credit for wishing to pay the best wages he can afford, and J am snre that tho great reason why employers do not more often grant advances of wages unasked is tho fear tlmt a time may come when they cannot afford to pay the advanced rates and when it would he disagreeable il not impossible to got the increase back again. I confess that one of the main motives that induced me to adopt profit-sharing aas the opportunity it aflordod to pay higher wages in good times than in bad. It should on that ground commend itself to all practical men. In business there arc throe forces wo; Icing together—labour, management, and capital. Workers receive wages, managers receive salaries, capital receives interest. Profit is what may remain alter thqsc payments have boon made.” It is possible that in this system of profit-sharing some solution of tho question may Ho. Sir C. W. Macara, President of tho Manchester Master Cotton Spinners’ Federation, interviewed on tho same subject- just after tho recent disturbance in Manchester, bold tlmt ii special department of State should bo created witii an advisory body composed of men of the widest experience representing both capital and labour, to whom all disputes should ha referred before the

stage of ;; lockout or a stiiko in ro'-icn-oi 1. la iliis idea ho advocates following in the stops Now Zealand has already taken in the following words: “There is nothing, in my opinion, of more vital importance to the national welfare than harmonious relationship la-tween capital and labour. The want of it seriously imperils our position as a great commercial nation. A special depaitmont of State, with an advisory body such as I have suggesiwmdd provide tlmt if a real griev-

ance did exist it would receive a fair heal inn;, exorbitant claims would meet: with their just deserts, while mist-

nice to reasonable demands would be equally condemned. I might r.lmn.'t designate the president of tao advisory body as an industrial judge, i’he appointment ought to bo a pernanent one, and entirely independent if party politics. Its bolder should be naturally a man of judicial mind, strict impartiality, and experienced in die settlement of labour troubles.” But bore the real difficulty after all is bow to make all parties abide by tb.c Incision which such an advisory body nay arrive at: New Zealand’s experiences of ,;i little while ago are nr.r quite reassuring on that point.