THINGS IN GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10621, 22 January 1909, Page 4

THINGS IN GENERAL.

THE GERMAN WORKING MAiN. Many groups-of British artisans and labour representatives ha,ve visited Germany during the past few years., either to attend conferences of . one description or. another, or to study the social and industrial conditions of the peo<ple. The .London, corres-' pondent of the .lAige. remarks.that "all men have returned with' 'some: visible sense of huniili»■<"•'"•" at thei social backwardness oi their own. country-' mem of the working classes, and the general inferiority as regards coin-. fort of the conditions under which they live." The German works a. leather longer day and receives less pay thair the (British artisan of the same class does —although of late, wages in. Germany have risen—but hf lives in (greater comfort and does ( more in the direction of providing . for old age than is done in Great Britain. A few weeks ago four members of the British, Labour Party returned from a visit to Germany, ( and they had some: interesting remarks to malce. One of them suggested that the 'German workers were greatly 'benefited 'by the niusc provided for them at cheap rates. 'In all the cities we visited,' he said, 'there were magnificent opera, houses. The Dresden Opera House is kept 20----ing all the year round with the exception of six weeksl in the summer. Does not this kindi of thing tend *<, elevate men's minds'? If you give a workman: no other entertainment thaii a 'sing-song' In a public-house, what ideal is vthat going; to instil into him? It is environment that makes a man what he is, and If no steps are taken by the State to life a man out of wretched ■surroundings, how can we hope to impirWe him?! The traveller added that in Germany evea | the unemployed had been foumd 10 We neat a.nd cheerful. They really appeared as though they were cap-; able of doimg. a day's work, and .lid not resemble the 'crowds" to be seen 'mioocihiiiig about' in the streets of the 'British) cities. Elveini in New Zealand the unemployed, when tlhey ara to bei foulnd, do not look "meat and cheerful.' They have not the faculty (stays a correspondent) of making; the best of depressing circumstamces. I ■. ■ I