The sun., 1919-07-29
CANADIAN INDUSTRY
NEEDS NEW SPIRIT
Present Disturbances Due to
Mistrust Between Factors
in Production.
EXPERT GIVES HIS VIEWS
Mackenzie King Discusses Al
fairs in Dominion With Au-
thority of Experience.

OhoAity Va LA PSAeSNAN'
In view of the great prominence OF
controversies between labor and capital
in Canada just now it is not strange
that great many persons In the
Dominion who know the Hon. W. L,
Mackenzie King and his public record
should find themselves giving very close
attention to his book, Industry and
November.
Mackenzie Kings life has been de-
voted in great part to the study Of In
dustrial relations, and he mas mad many
and exceptional opportunities in rece1t
years to get first hand information upon
this important subject lie was COM
missioned n number of times to prepare
reports on labor questions for the
| Dominion Government, one of which re-
suited in the adoption of the fair wage
| clause in Government contracts. He
subsequently became Minister of Labor
In the Dominion Cabinet, and in June,
1914. he was invited by the Rockefeller
| Foundation to undertake the study OF
Industrial relations on its behalf
Better Understanding Needed.
THE existing attitude OF capital ana
| labor toward each other is too largely
of mistrust born of fear" he writes.
|. III industry is to serve human
ity this attitude must be changed to one
| Of trust inspired by faith An indus
trial system characterized by antagon-
| ism. coercion and resistance must yield
to new order based upon mutual con-
| fdence. real Justice and constructive
| good will The change will involve pa
thence, but nothing short of It will solve
the problems to which industry gives
rise"
With this as the first paragraph OF his
Introduction. Mackenzie King makes IL
plain that the prime necessity in the
betterment of Industrial relations is the
substitution of faith for fear--the estab-
lishment of mutual confidence instead of
the widespread feeling of suspicion with
which the air of the industrial world IS
now charged.
In referring to his experiences first as
Deputy Minister of Labor and subse-
quently as Minister Of Labor Mr.. King
states that each of more than forty
strikes in which he acted as mediator
had owed its origin as we'll as the DIM
cultics which stood In the way OF settle
ment directly to that certain blindness
in human beings" rather than to the
economic questions involved
He strikes vulnerable points in the
armor of both employer and employees
when he states: Men there are in the
ranks of both capital and labor and
among the pro'essed friends of each who
care for nothing quite so much as their
own position and Importance. They see
naught of the natural desire of other
men to govern themselves, they are ever
ready to sacrifice principle and to foster
prejudice in order to gain power whether
its expression be found in position, in the
acquisition OF wealth or in multitude's
applause. Such men In control sooner
or later bring disaster upon others and
very often upon themselves. Men have
TO be trained to the use of power as they
have to be trained in all else that re-
quires skill and judgment.
Here is the explanation OF how men
In large numbers are drawn
into conflict with each other and come
to hate each other when their interests
are in reality common rather than an
tagonistic A few men gain positions of
control. They have, for the time be-
ing. immediate power over other men,
They command the resources. They
take the decisive action which brings
conflict in its wake. The manye whose
wishes have never been sought and
whose voices have never been heard And
mand resistance. Out OF this attitude,
into which. all unconsciously, whole null
titudes are drawn, are bred the fears
and the hatreds that solidify effort in
the face OF common danger"
Four Parties to Industry.
In his analysis of industrial relations
Mackenzie King deals with four distinct
parties TO industry. namely. capital. Ia
Dor, management and the community.
By the joint cooperation of these four
industry is carried on and wealth pro-
duced It is obvious that profits result
ing from production will depend mate
rally upon the measure of cooperation
achieved. Each party is dependent upon
the other parties to industry, and in
no case can any one of the four act
Independently for more than a short
period. Lack of coordination between
these parties speedily results in decrease
in either quality or quantity of pro-
duction, or both. with the resultant loss
borne by all four parties. "All are essen
tial," states the author; "all must CO.
operate the function OF all must be
properly coordinated. Otherwise they
become negative or opposing factors In
a word, In so far as relations between
labor, capital, management and the COM
rnunity are not properly adjusted pro-
duction is adversely affected, and In 30
far as they are Ill adjusted they mako
for confusion. not for progress."
In the chapter Of Mr.. Kings book
dealing with tho proper representation
Of the parties concerned on Industrial
councils. the writer states: ''Ths VEN
ture common to all in industry Is the
investment by each of some share of
his life or fortune. The aim common
to all is that each may rendera much
needed social service. and share as
largely as possible in the joint product.
Such a venture combined with such an
aim Is none other than n partnership.
. Partnerships, TO be worthy the
name, presupposes a willingness TO share
all along the line, to share in a knowl-
edge and understanding of the enter
prise as a whole, and OF each others
rights and duties. TO share progressively
IN gains and proportionately in losses,
and finally to share in the control and
the determination Of policy. II q
genuine partnership can be effected and
the principle OF Round Table conference
ind an accepted place in tho control OF
industry its results cannot be other than
beneficial and far reaching"