The Irish standard., 1918-01-12
SIX HOUR DAY Pos
r. SIBlE IN ENGLAND
Lord Leverhulme, English Soap Mag.
nate Says the Same Amount of
Work May Be Done As In
Eight Hours.
Anti-War Conditions Will Never Pre-
vail Again-Social, Industrial and
Commercial Systems Will Be
Radically Altered.

head OF great English soap industry,
the capital of which is 5000, 900 900,
has very pronounced views as to the
effect of the great war on the future
position of the nations workers. Lord
Leverhulme is himself model en-
ployer, having provided for his work
people model town in which they
live under delightful social conditions,
and having provided also facilities by
which they may secure direct financial
interest in the concern in which they
are wage earners.
1T may, think, be taken for grant
ed he says, that when peace is re-
stored workers will not be willing to
return to pre-war conditions of wage
and living. l am convinced they will
never consent to go back to them.
THE war has altered many things;
it has broadened our horizon; it has
given us new points of view; it has
clarified our thought; it has introduced
radical changes into our social, indus
trial and commercial systems.
Labor On Higher Plane.
IoSt vi CuC1u lIdPO lOl CuS
time tasted and enjoyed the sweets of
life, the full fruits of labor; they have
grown accustomed to a higher plane
its pleasures and advantages; they
will strive to remain on that level
and, if possible, rise above it. And
if, after the war, any attempt should
be made to thrust labor back into the
depths from which it has assembled it
would be, in my opinion, not only a
disastrous economic blunder, but a
policy akin to crime against civiliza.
ton and humanity.
"The humdrum life led by the vast
majority of the industrial classes is
little understood by those whose lives
are cast in pleasant places. l doubt
if even those who have been with
drawn from it to face the dangers, ex-
element and hardships of the trench
and the battle line will care to endure
it again.
'"The only way in which this dreary,
matchmaking, soul-deadening monot-
ony can be relieved is by the adoption
of a six-hour working day. While the
mechanical machine would run for
twelve hours a day instead of eight
the human machines, if I may use the
phrase, would consist of two shifts
each working six hours. l am a great
advocate of this.
Six Hours Sufficient.
II believe-and my belief is based
on practical experience-the human
machine could and would do as much
in six hours as in eight, except in 6
few rare industries where exceptional
conditions prevail, while the extra
hours worked by the mechanical ma
chine would enable such an increased
output to be obtained as to insure the
possibility of the same wages being
paid to the human machine for six as
are at present paid for eight hours
work. For it is obvious that the me
chanical machine, except for slightly
increased cost Of coal for steam OF
driving purposes, will work for twelve
hours at much the same cost as it now
works for eight, and with but little ex
ira depreciation.
"And the extra hours of leisure could
be devoted to mental or physical de
velopment, thus fitting the worker fol
higher things. This ideal may not be
attainable at once, but it is worth
striving for"