THE TRADE SLUMP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20057, 21 September 1920, Page 2

THE TRADE SLUMP.

, !N BRITAIN. WAR-TmiTLEGACT. By Tfilsgtaph—Press Association—Copyright. Pouter’s Telegrams. LONDON, 19. , The trad© slump in Britain is causing economists, publicists and leading ettployM to'anxibußli- search for an industrial solution of post-war problems. On thp one Ijand, there nr© thousands of unemployed throughout the country, with the winter prospect of their number being trebled, * Simultaneously a number of industries, most notably coal-mining and’house-building, whose persistent cry cpd imperative need is for increased output, are threatened, with stoppage. It is pointed out that the manufacturer is ■ handicapped hy the ©vor-psrsistent menace of strikes, excess Profits tan, labour ulll- - and trade*union.fulss, and the dnOrmous c6{t cf production has reached a position causing despair. 6ns wartime .egacy has been slow-timing, owmg to the kindly treatment of munition workers, who now demand bmii wages for easy and Slack work, while ■a case against trade unionism is furnished by Lord Weir, who announced that ho cOnld employ another two thousand men immediately, • but was prevented by the workmen’s rules. Hies© not. only hamper the. employer, bp-..axe embittering * men, , who returned from the, battlefield to sea the works Crowded with those ©aerupted from service. The ex-s<h'vics T-M'-, in many coses, are actually prevented by trade unions from learning x ', Lhis is at the root of trouola or housing shortages. One solution advocated is to make wages dapen,, upon powers of production and ct striding. (£7organise a general re-co..st.-uc.:on adA stabilisation of wages which will u!k* moan more money &? a" T r “ a “ u ‘ 4c turors a nrm basis ‘apOn ttmen to develop. Jat danger of the country becoming overpaid, and consequently underproducing,, must bo avoidc(l at all costs.