1917-11-30

THE REAL LABOUR PROBLEM: WAGES AND PROFITS.

[By E. T. GOOD,

GERMAN MUTINY.

TER HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH. 1817,

WHAT WILL BE THE SEQUEL 1

ISY ARCHIBALD BURD.

the

GERMANS AND PEACE.

ALSACE LORRAINE

VON KUHLMANN'S

NEVER

In the Reichstag a debate on foreign politics followed that on

We seem to have endless Labour con- It is apparent that disaffection was ferences, congresses and inquiries: but widespread for,, according to one speaker we fail to get at the roots of the real in the Reichstag, not only imprisonment mutiny. The Foreign Secretary. Baron

leaders

labour problem.

Before the war we so executed, but sentences of for neglected this problem that we had were distributed among other seamen, von Kuhlmann, spoke briefly on the loss of a hundred million individual aggregating about 200 years. It may

days by strikes in ten years.

also be conjectured that unless the trouble acute state of Germany's relations with wring

had been

very deep-seated the war, as a result of past had

He further. neglect as an outcome of the conflict and in dealing with it would not have been Peru and the breaking off of relations

moment when political con- between her and Uruguay. mistrust between labour and capital-and exhibited at

that

pointed out that only a few formalities in spons and every other kind of the Kaiser and his Minist were wanting for the final conclusion of in spite of the urgent, imperative need ditions in Germany are not production industrially nearly six millingly further exacerbate any section of e

But the necessity having the coal agreement with Holland. Con lion days have been lost by strikes,

public opinion, After the war, unless we grapple drasti been admitted, it was determined, in tinang, he said:--- cally, promptly, and practically

with this making the announcement of the mutiny, to account in the endeavour

for

the Two

the enemies

Gentlemen, a comparatively short time labo problem we shall be beaten com to whip up feeling against the Minority has elapsed since the foreign policy of pletely in the new international commer- to cial contest. Against high taxation at Socialists, representing them as respon the empire was last discussed in detail home, and keen subsidised competitionsible for the troubles and

in the Budget Committee. To-day, ip F from abroad, we shall be unable to obtain sufficient

and de adequately to employ of the German fleet. In the first place therefore, make only s kind of epilogue ceptions exins to the men plenary session of this House, I need, trade pay our labour unless we have R very

of industrial efficiency and they willingnes unless we have active co has disappointed German hopes; they are to the statements made before the cont operation between Capital and Labour, not supported in adversity by such me mittee by the Chancellor and myself. The

the fullest and freest and cheapest

mories as the German my associates possible production of commodities. The with the years 1864 1866, and 1870. In statements made by the Government may practical solution of the labbir problem the second place, they are not seamen in the considered as common kuulidge, they

the real Re is imperative.

having been given full publicity_________

and

THE ROOT CAUSE.

to n

young

that term:

service

which

apart from a

body of volunteers they consist of men drawn, as Grand Adimral von Tirpitz admitted in 1912, mainly from the in- The conscripts in

The greatest root cause of Labour's dis content and of its disinclination to com

operate with expital is the iden that on f land potens, undergo

norinal

only about one-tenth of the population, years training, the first part in barh other have, so far as we are informed,

rough average the rich, comprising a

willst the p

take two-thirds of what is

national

Blituting

ceelly o the

community,

mercantile marine, Germany bas only a terminus even to awer the

are left with

one

the and the latter part mainly in Norwegian waters; and then the majority pass back to life, the minority going into the small seafaring population, and the men who are drawn into the fleet enter an or ganisation, which has to traditions. there is all the difference, therefore, he tween navy and army.

-third of the pro This is a most absurd and fantastic de lusion, but it is honestly held by working men as an outcome of persistent Socialist teaching, based upon a ridiculous miacon-

ception of finance and of atatistics relat ROUND OF DULL MONOTONY

to incomes reviewed by the taxation The contrast between the two services

authorities, Here are the exact words of has become more marked since the war direction indicated by further in the

ono

of began. The High Seas Elect has been

A our most noted and huncgcooped up month after mouth, permitted to of the Pone Although

TO-DAY

In case you have forgotten, or are not aware of the fact, TO-DAY, 30TH NOVEMBER

HEATHER DAY

At 8 A.M..collecting and sale of badges begins.

Don't miss the

MOTOR CAR PROCESSION

at 11 A.M., and be on the Cricket Ground between 12 and 1 to buy at the Auction

to buy at the AND

at 3.30 on Murray Parade Ground for

ST. ANDREW'S FAIR

when all the delights of an Old Scottish Fair will be presented.

All money raised is for the cure of our wounded and disabled soldiers.

The undeavours of the Holy See to bring about an exchange of views between the nations now fighting against each net yet resulted in any considerable step forward since the reply of the Central say Powers was sent. So far we cannot whether our adversaries will make up Note. After the clear, sincere, and perce loving votes addressed to the Holy Bee by us and our Allies, the utterances made by indiuential rowspapers hardly open any prospect that any answer to

the Papai Note on the part of our enemién, such may yet be expected, will bring the whole world one st

the bigh-minded directio Labour members of Parliament,

political colleague, the Foreign only a few years ago as president of the neither by its own High Command nor

Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Trade Unions Congress While the by the Grand Fleet to show itself outside workers of the nation, the vast majority, the area, protected by mine Helds and Monarchy, in an important and detailed drop of our blood, is not fantastic con ere paid only about 2000,000,000 a year shore guns, the defensive organisation, political speech at Budapest again quests, but, bore all, the integrity of twalte, sundred all Capitalist class takes which is its seran resting on Heligo eloquently pointed out that the Central venenis sold Den 11 seened expearen were prepared in the sense in to France to accept the tormula - Wath- millions a year in rent, land, possessing all the advantages of and profit.

land fort and some of thore of a batticdicated by the Papel Note, to collaborate, ut annexations, the French resorted to Tct only for the termination of the pre- the transparent trick of shame-facediy

disadnexa of monotonous Socialist statement, repeated thousands duties

for barefaced uties which have no of times on the platform, in the Trade cance conduces, s

records, to t is history

European world now nearly ruined, tion, what is in reality a the at

Mzcule conquest The trick is really wo beginning of this month 1 Union branch room, and in the Labour matinous spirit. The dissatisfaction

remind Press. As no one takes the trouble to must have been intensified by recent res Churchill, former First Lord of the Briously to be worthy of refutation, bus refute or even to analyse this statement-quctions often shions, ty by recent detish Admiralty, made a speech in Lon-1 15, neveruneless, necessary to

new the originators of this idea that after all, and as, indeed, it appears to be justified ciplinary system, and by anger at the don which showed a signs of the inere is no rule to be found by which any by taking revenue returns at their face miscalculations of the German Admiralty spirit, but in which rather the time worn

the annihilation of German articular yene in the world's history which, at formulas further elaborated. The bat be considered as a normal year ar value it is not to be wondered at that to the speedyubmarine campaign leader (c) of the Antwerp expedition varietat It we were to go back a little It has come to be commonly accepted light cost in life, the

it is almost futile was to achieve. The death-rate among

upon our internal collapse and

and further 2 istory, we might discover a how thin might be the wall still basis for very far-reaching assapnexa

Such

several years that had bean stock ship. The performediate signifient conflict but in the reconstruction of covering 3 with the word:

16.

victory

tho

militarsm

ing the custrial conciliation men drawn from the High Seas Find Germany and her Allies from us in Germany's favour Take, for

Churchill instance, vernus.

two, put the economics of industrial hardly surprising that mutiny occaen his pecially in looking back

-X

the two cities of Tour and

AA118CONCEPTION.!!

Tor espretany to an article in the izan.

The delusion, and all the under a seemingly meaningless harbourt that even the thin australer uzerawan, which bald what thet

this

to debate plans for and commercial reconstruction until we for the Ubouts has been very heavy have cleared up this preposterous mis- Badly fed, disgruntled, and depressed by frollapse Statesme like conception about wages and profits, ex- the reported numbers of comrades who should lear by experience and Mr. plained the real relationship between the have gone down in the U-boats,

it is Churchill especia

which ained just wish to touch briefly on ons finance in a true light, and removed from in the ships of the Fleet. For a

at Constantinele

nd resulted in failure enceprion becntise 2018 frequently the workers' minds this great sense of of ove

over three years it has hardly finale fore the bayonets of cut gallant Turkish dari in cur adversaries Breaker injustice ides of robbery, or

to eall capitalisator

pure ozone, but had to be content to it allies at Gallipoli, should

broken only infrequently by routine Seaward

most circum the dream of victory inte

the North Sea, called Horns to autumn campaign avere over. It Ly, uetben as soon as the great öğɩute-anya in and of real antional With the economic conditions

Gerson navy, which have existed since Reof, and the longo there a gigantie als entirely wrong conception of Ger

nonne 10 think that we would play Unfortunately, neither our Government August, 1914, gradually becoming more rampart of German peoples animated by nor our employers have ever given serious irksome, many men not unnaturally de- 2 single iron will. If Mr. Churchil

or stubborn, according attention to the real labour problem, or aire peace at any price. Instead they counts upon its collars will have toer or lower stakes of be

canatory or

REPLY TO ME. ASQUITE, that

Tous or single military enterprises, they must face a fourth wait a very long time,

That is entirely wrong. Ine main prin- REPLY TO ME. The speech by Mr. Asquith, the leader oples of our political attitude have becur Vigeration 01. the factors concerned, I am able to view the world Situation there

can lay the foundation of a industrial ratcule reconstruction.

THE EMPLOYERS" ALOGENESS."

American wages whilst sometimes adopt-

American

why it methods

is difficult

learnt

the

support life as best they can, amid cold

گفته

сол

the

approached it with due sympathy have and that those comrades who have To take the men, into their confidence, entered the submarine survie mast to explain to them why it is neccesary to and storm, and in face of more vigorous of the Liberal Opposition in the House aid down after detailed and careful con speed up; why it is impossible to pay offensive measures on our part, in the of Commons, of which only telegraphe and as far awita The exception of to raise wages to cover increased living and sacrifices ached the discomforts the Committee, gave no better reading the FreRoti, demunu for the conquest of costs; how foreign competition and homeless, so far as the issue of and on lesson also to those who thought tyto peace, no question which could not be

productio to explain the

prices, profits, board the battleships, battle cruisere, and could draw hopeful conclusions from the solved by negotiations and settlements; un have made no contribution question put by the former wini such a way as to render the sacrifice of

ing

taxation really

about

facia and wages and output-to treat workinen · NIS: human beings and

cannot now be

knowledge that the

aim of the

campaign

are as mean-

extracts were to hand when I spoke before

the Full text than it did in Reuter's messace Lurraine) no absolute impediment

Mf. Asquith's speech must be a the war is sages

in the U-boats

B8 the monotenous concerned, B

scouts, which

the war unless it be the defeat at theer in the House of

the men welling Belgium

when he

partners in the basiness of prostat unitle of Jutland. The High Sons Fleeted what were our intentions corcing the ginion frequently encountered

the

and

is fulfilling no mission,

the

•As Manchester know; the German coastline is adequate in rightly points out, Mr. Asquith i

so rauch blood and treature superfluons. r. There is a fundamental error underly

among our opponents and sometimes inet

ibise

Justify its title, and it has 611 Since to Alsace Lorraine and the restitution world something real can still be done 16 is all important tha directors and gap in the German defensive scheme.matters exactly as they present them speeches are bound to labour und,

workmen and

the directors

make

emonte

not with

fresh the question of BOING

of striking a serious blow at Britetica pledged

power,

situation.

to ascertain the thoughts and feelings of the workmen; to mould the men's policy this seems to be about the last con sideration of the

ly protected by shore guns, mines, des- his most recent speech demanded there with ir discussions at home, and that is He leaves the troyers, submarines, and aircraft. The cent speech demanded the return of to believe that in the present state of the player or Capitalistage British em- workmen to

equivalent for the Socialistic

High Seas Fleet has ceased

abacfutely

for a peicerul settlement by making agitators

no other Belgium

and

speeches the party political panderers

postulates, thus, indeed, characterizing public statements and pifflers.

grave WILL THE FLEET COME OUT? managers, where there are no personal

should keep

close touch All that is to the point, but we shall selves to me in the most, convincing mu disadvantages in this respect

and with increasing clearness after statement must by its nature he employers,

that

the en-

do well not hastily to assume that the the workmen, and

German navy

bas ceased to have military a very thorough investigation of the tively simple, and cas hardly meet the ployers associations should co-operate with the Trade Unions. They should

would value. On the contrary, it may be that whole situation according to information requirements of the situation, because all The pending questions are interwoven, inter- derived from most diverse sources. I affect the plans adopt the scheme of joint workshop com the recent outbreak

the Higher

Command, leading to a question around which the struggle connected, and inter-dependent Mare mittees, district. national industrial councils, to smooth out labour troubles sexanimation of the naval position with of the antions centres, and for which they over, public statements and the discussion are shedding their blood, is not in the first of such questions in Parliament have the is a view to greater activity at sea, so as are recommended by the opere off to provide the crews with something to instance the Belging question. The qugrent disadvantage that no nad promote industrial

opposing party is present.A mto a heap of ruins the Reconstruction Committee, and ad-take their thoughts off their troublestion for which Europe: 18 heing this statement completely binds one side, this Our vocated by myself, for many years, as an equently we may find that this ARROW the future of Alsace Lorbenentwitherto been very only the adversary. be aucceeded by the hope Trade Unionist of development

careful bave Great Brindas, eccording to wish to insist that the

Therec

reveal, in any way, their real aims Our great companies should ma

to France that she will corresponding to the actual war s with the idea practice of publishing the amounts hit viding the men with a diversion The Alice-Lorraine, both politically and with maximum programme which could tal dee of pro diplomat alight for the conquest of What they have told the world is a in wages as well as dividends, et Battle of Trafalgar was due to less Als fries, a long as Franger herself be realized after the complete military comparisons could be drawn and correct conclusions arrived at; so that this considerable incident. Admiral Villen her

adhere

the demand for the remiru defeat of the Central to the delusion about the workers only getting euve learnt that Napoleon, dissatisfied may one-third of the proceeds of industry with his inactivity, had appointed a of these provinces. This being the actual man Government hitherto has never could be dispelled and

from Paris to hoist his flag The Com clear and to statement of our litude, cause we believe in real sober polities, it

requ still

account is taken of the facia mander-in-Chief M once put to sea. He since curiously enough, there idea of what they pay in taxation and had the odds in his favour to far as ships to be misconceptions in this respect our opponents wish to maintain that they

the Germans have not among our enemies, and even among cue cannot obtain a clear conception the real character of foreigh commend to day. There are other features of the or other of our neutral friends wishes and intentions of the Imperial Government and the German people, it and so forth, so that their men situation in the North Sea which would There is but one answer to the ores Gover

answer to the the economies of industrial finance in all for examination before it was assumtion Car Germany, in pay forms pare Something app

Knowledge is

world change the make any concious with card toote of the Holy See and also the Parlia Essential.

Alsace-Lorraine The answer is No, montary discussions connected with it. far from it being true that Capital takes a

who wishes to hear and possibility fast the outbreak never So long as a titgle German na leave no one wh twice as much as Labour, it is nearer the lead to developments in hand can hold & gur, tão integrity of the understand in the slightest doubt a8, 10 mark to say that wages, ten times as much as the share shall be directly interested. German pay territory handed down to us as a glorious: the essential principles of our political bolders in our industrial concerns receive chology, if disease appears in the body macritance by our forefathers can never pence programme. in dividends. It was shown a few years politie at home, suggests always some be the object of any negotiations or con that the form of diversion he provided, but free cessione I am sure that, whether on the in the com of action in this instance is circum Right or the Left you will stand for

over scribed by the presence of the Grand with equal resoluteness and equal" QU

great

Plovers should give the successor, who was already on his way situation I think it proper to give awered this maximum programme, be-

some

local rates, of the need for reserves, of

ago, by

approaching t

the

a trus lighted that the but, when all is said,

the

census

value added to raw

takes, in solid may

actory process was only. If car en Flee in greatly superior strength sacrifice. I am not of those who think

2100 per worker per year.

ployers had been wise they would have Daily Telegraph

before eve

every

Türkmað

A summary of that

explained its true significance.

and

that a candid statement of such a fact to the rise of a clear be detrimental

A might

and peace / On the con-

They would have given & rough and industrial Capitalists only take an the average of about $10 a year, net, for casily understandable

portions, paid in each man employed. This solid fact: In pegen dividends, taxes, depreciation, vastly differents from the capital talen wages, etc. It is roughly true to say that it spread by Socialists that,

takes proceeds takes About E200 of capital to employ a something like two thirds of workman, and as the average dividends of industry. The only way to industrial spread over bad times as well as good, peace and progress the only way to solve only run to about 5 per cent per annum, the labour problem is to give the labon Bahn on original capital, it follows that ouring man the truth, flug, human treat-

lasgow Daily Record. (Continued at foot of next column.) ment.

and be frustful on the round.of. clearpe Therefore I think it ary, to siste emphatically T

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