The Sun SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1915. THE WAR AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 288, 9 January 1915, Page 8

The Sun SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 1915. THE WAR AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT.

No phase of our national life can possibly remain unaffected by the war, and the Labour movement must necessarily be influenced by the devastatingconflict now being waged in Europe. War eats up the world's accumulated wealth at an appalling rate, and the extent to which economic conditions become more trying for the toiler will be determined very largely by the duration of the process of destruction. Reduced to essentials, the Labour movement of modern times is the embodiment of an effort to secure a larger share for the worker of the result of the world's wealth-producing operations. The abnormal consumption of wealth by armed forces, to say nothing of what.they destroy, means that eonsumption not only outruns production, but even after the struggle is over the mere replacement of capital necessary for the continuance of production on the old scale will involve great sacrifices on the part of the communities concerned. These are intensified by the dislocation of trade and its diversion into new channels. Experience goes to show that the worker is always the first to suffer. Those who are nearest the poverty line go short of food; those a little better off have to exercise the greatest economy to make ends meet; others a little higher up deprive themselves of anything in the nature of luxuries, while the wealthier classes have to retrench according to their incomes and positions. In New Zealand we are so fortunately situated that the workers ought to escape, comparatively lightly from the after effects of the war. The main business of the Dominion being the production of agricultural produce, nothing but a serious slump in prices can produce anything in the shape of an economic depression in New Zealand, and although the purchasing power of a large portion of the population of Great Britain is pretty certain to be restricted after the war, the demand for food products is hardly likely to diminish. We cannot hope, however, to emerge from the situation scathless, and it is quite possible that circumstances will arise calling for the exercise of a good deal of forbearance on the part of employers and employed towards each other, and mutual support in place of the antagonism that has frequently existed in the past. One great lesson the war is teaching the people of Great Britain is the necessity for all

classes to get closer together. Where men of all ranks of society are fighting side by side in the trenches, class distinctions are quickly obliterated, and recognition of the finer qualities of courage, unselfishness, and patient endurance is spontaneous and quite without regard to social status. Men who have once been comrades in arms will have no stomach for returning to civil life and engaging in "class wars" for the attainment of political ends. If employers and employed look at the economic situation and resolve to support each other through a period of depression, in the same way that our soldiers are standing together on the field of battle, the settlement of many labour questions in the future ought to be greatly simplified. In this connection The Sun is taking a step which we hope will have the effect of helping to bring about a better understanding in regard to industrial matters. It is opening its columns to the workers, and entrusting Mr D. G. Sullivan, one of their most sincere and earnest advocates, with the task of keeping its readers informed regarding the Labour movement, the aims of those responsible for directing

it, anil the discussion of political ami industrial questions from the Labour standpoint. Mr Sullivan's introductory article is printed on page 12 of this issue, and his contributions will appear in future at least twice a week under his own name. It should be needless to say that The Sun does not necessarily endorse Mr Sullivan's views; it is merely recognising the right of those he represents to be heard, and we think his column will be found of interest, even by those who are quite unconnected with the Labour movement.