NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12461, 10 February 1909, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Industrial Problems, v • 7 *. ' The history of the cotton-spinning industry in England affords many lessons, both as to the general folly of strikes, and as to the way ih. which large undertakings are firiaiiced' and organised.'- The strike, has proved most, disastrous to the workers-, who had the idea that they could compel capitalists to pay wages which had ho reference to the state of the markets , or the general condition of. the industry. 7 They- have, after "a great deal of .sufferinjg,;, which has mainly fallen on the women children,, found out that they were -mistaken. . ;The ..other lesson is =as to 'how companies are started, and how impossible . it is to control the market's, which are subject to world-wide influences. During 7the Tast '■ five .years; ■ noTiegs;; * than 126 cotton-spinning . companieshave been started, because the industry was in a, flourishing . condition, and it was believed that it could he developed to an indefinite extent. This has proved to be. a disastrous mistake. The capital ■ invested in ' these companies lias been over eleven millions 7 and some of the companies were registered with a capital of £400,000.- There was what is called a great forward movement. We are told that "the bulk of the capital is readily found, the work-people themselves being; large investors." What is the outcome, for, the present at allevents? Why, that there hasheen a sudden collapse, so great that the. companies recently fqrme^ are reported to be in difficulties, ahd the shares are offered at a heavy., discount*, whilo machinery makers have declined to deliver, unless, capital and loans aro ; in hand for payment.'- -... Linking the Nations.* ' r - - ' The;^ff6tts-,qf- . modern^ inventors are yery';ldrg^ly "directed^ towards- , making intercbtnmuhicatioh' betweenvarious countries easier arid quickery Every new- invention -wMch- ■brings ithe?' ■ -nations into \ closer; -coriiiriunicatiori; is • .at ofeeftlopked 'at vfrom the'lpo'in't of vffew.vo£^i%J/sP*^ibJli*i*3S Jn time., of wari '^nGia^Bieyeirient of-the conquest -oft theTairf bjr^^yip Jrst of; all visions of aerbjilahes sailing over 'doomed cities tfwm are to be:destroy-ed-'by^tHe'-irop'pirig of bomb's. This : is n'pt^hV mereO fancy of writers' of ; jomances : , -but ; i's..an ever-present idea --&"• the' minds' of 'a great many sober and serious citizens. The possibilities of destruction -under* such conditions are enormous, but it* -is very extraordinary that in -these days •of advanced civilisation the firsty thought in the mind of the average peaceful citizen, whose life is bound up in his business, is as to. the possibilities which may arise of destruction of property and of human life. This is how the nations are being linked together. The advantages which, they•derive from the easier means of communication are accompanied by the thought of the possibilities of mutual extermination. The enthusiasm •in Germany . for Count * Zeppelin was founded mainly on the idea that his aeroplane would put his country in a position, to dictate terms to others, because of tho power of destruction given. Eventually, "perhaps, .the great federation of tho world/not as a fonrial act, but by mutual forbearance will come to pass. But, if so, it will be that the forbearance is founded on fear of what may come to any one or more nations which call for~war and get "it. -