INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18349, 8 June 1931, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION

NEED FOR A COMMON SACRIFICE. Formed in 191 G with the object of promoting actvie co-operation between the human factors in industry, based on a spirit of goodwill, the National Industrial Alliance is now the only organisation of its kind in Great Britain. It is unique to the extent that all its executive bodies, from the general council to the 10-cal committees established in various parts of Hie country, are equally representative of employers and employed. Addressing a luncheon mooting in London recently, Sir Edward Manvlllo said it was recognised that true cooperation would never he brought about by imposition from above. It was no use leaders in industry agreeing to apply the principle of co-oper-ation without ensuring that the rank and file were with them, and those who knew would say that at the present time porhaps 90 per cent, of the members of their trade unions were not in a mood to co-operate with Hie employers. But the need for co-oper-ation was now, when Industry and trade were at their worst.

It was the failure on the part of employers and employed to realise their interdependence which mado progress difficult. That interdependence demanded a common sacrifice In time of depression and a common sharing of the fruit of their work ,'n times of prosperity. It was regrettable, but natural, that the movement for co-operation should have lost some of its popularity now; but th it, they feared, was inevitable In times of severe depression such as they were experiencing. But there was a better spirit in evidence, disputes were being settled for the most part by conciliation without recourse to stoppages of work, and however unwillingly the sacrifice might be made in some cases there was evident a general hope that tho result would be for the good of industry generally.