Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-03-27
WELSH MAGNATE
CALLS ATTENTION
To BIC PROBLEM
Coal Baron Declares That
England Has Much TO Learn
in Regard to Situation AriS-
ing When War Is Over
tAssoeiated Press correspondenceJ

London March IA Lord Ehondda.
formerly u. a. Thomas, the Welsh
coal maenate, discusses some after
wan problems in "a statement given to
Va British business magazine. lie
writes.
"We English have never sufficiently
learned the truth sufficiently dgesteu
~ the Americans, that u Is better 70
scrap sccond-rate plant Than Keep
on turning oui second-rate material or
even good material at an eNOrbitant
cost II should be noted that the
Germans nave followed American
practice IN This matter They scrap
not only their machinery. but their
buildings, much more frequently than
we. inns Is not mistake. 1t is Al
far-sibhted policy which enabled The
Germans 10 cut costs hy using the
most up-to-date plant
y am convinced that one cause of
labor troubles in thi. country is lack
of education in administrators and
executives who have to deal with
labor What education does teach Il
man, however, else il may fail. Is to
appreciate his own ignorance, and tol
see that there may be not one but fiji
~ points OF view on any given qucs-
ZION. The man who cannot see the
mems point OF view, and has not
enough imagination To place himself in
the mems position, is never going to
be successful in his efforts TO cope
with strikes aud similar difficulties.
Apart from the slump inevitable
during the period OF adjustment inn
medately following the close of the
war We shall be as heavily saddled
as any country in the world with war
Indebtedness. Heavy taxation Will
tend to drive both mobile capital and
the lest labor out of the country.
we have got to get both Of them
back We have got to produce more
than we now produce. And 30 do this
We must organize as a nation in "A
big effort OF Industrial production.
Nothing else can again secure us the
premier place in the markets of the
world
Now we know, from our munition-
making experiences, that our indus
trial population can produce much
more pei man than If did before the
war Much as | sympathi2e with trade
union aims, | am AFRAID il has TO be
admitted that trade uniOnism, with its
restrictive policy, was slowly throttling
the commerce Of Great Britain. From
&C variety Of CAUSES we now obtain,
understand, higher output per man
and we arr certainly paying a FAR
higher rate Of wages per man
The question is, viii labor agree to
continue this increased output after
the war. and still further increase it,?
Restriction OF production has become
such fixed policy with many of orr
great unions that there is grave doubt
whether they Will sanction such
course even though employers Will be
willing to maintain tho higher rate of
wages Personally | hold that il is
nationally advisable to pay "a man the
highest 20 sible wage provided you
get from him in return his maximum
production.
"CnfortunateN the unions have
hitherto declined TO admit that the re-
striction of output affects the whole
business possibilities Of Il nation
think. however that the graver condi-
lions We shall have to face ~ least
suggest that they should reconsider
the Whole question with a view to ma
tlOnal eXgences one is tempted to
wish by the way, that trade union
leaders were more keen on education
If they would encourage the workers
tic study Of sound economies from Il
national point OF view, they would do
much to clear their vision as to the
vital part which production plays in
the history of our country.
"lf We in England are to take our
proper place in the fight it Will re-
quirc vigorous effort to obtain pro-
duction large enough to compete at
all outside our own boundaries
1T may be that one result of the
war Will be the breaking down of tar
if walls in our favor among the allied
nations, and that we shall have for
"a period at least the opportunity to
produce certain articles on the larg-
esi scale But il restriction is put
upon output if methods of standards
zatlon are not rcsorted TO- we shall
simply lie beaten at the outset
/ TIAklINTO