The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-22
Labor Outlook m
 Britain Ls Frightening
By CAPT. H. S. rowNROK.

of the average council; It considers the wages, the hours the working conditions of the industry, It tries to arrange for the avoidance of uu- employment by regulating production. It endeavors to secure that all en- ployers in an industry belong to an association and that all workers join trade union. It inquires into spe- cial problems. comparing the methods of the trade with that of other coun- tries. Methods of entry into, and training for, the trade are investi- gated. Industrial research is encour- aged and new inventions secured. This list is based upon actual work which has been done. For example, tine councils in the silk industry and in the manufacture of matches have al- ready resolved by agreement on 47- hour week
 In some cases local conditions vary, and then district councils are set up dealing with such subjects as juvenile labor, overtime, shift systems, and also for the purpose of co-ordinatng that the machinery for joint consulta- tion in industry may be complete, there are works committees which can deal with works rules, welfare. pro- vision of meals, grievances, timekeep- ing and sports. Such is the comple ted structure which, taking joint councils alone, already embraces nearly 2,000,- 900 people.
 Councils have been established in England for the following trades: Baking, bedstead making, bobbins, chemicals, china clay, furniture gold, hosiery, leather goods, matches. paint, pottery, rubber, sawmilling, silk, tin- plate and vehicle building Fourteen further industries are about to adopt councils and constitutions are now be- ing drafted. Some of the largest in- dustTies, such as railways, cotton, coal mining and engineering, still stand out, but they are already the best or ganiZed and therefore least need the new machinery of conciliation.
 It should be noted that these are purely voluntary bodies. The British love of freedom leaves it to the per son copcerned to decide whether they already accomplished Is the proof that the Whitley councils have come to stay. Advances of pay have been har- moniously agreed to in many trades. Strikes have been averted. The scheme is capable of endless varia- tions to suit different industries, and considering the difficulties of the twilight period between peace and war they have accomplished much. na- tional council was formed in the spring of this year under the wise chairmanship of the present minister of labor, Sir Robert Horne.
 At the time a series of national strikes, partly fomented by bolshevlst agents. seemed inevitable The usual conciliator, Mir. Lloyd George, was ia Paris with President Wilson. The in- dustrial outlook. indeed looked omi- nous, and troops were hurried over from France to be ready in case of trouble. But this new method of both sides meeting together to settle COZ troversiaf issues proved so effective that summer is nearly here and in Great Britain there has been no dis turbance approaching those in Paris on May day. For this and many other reasons observers believe that the British for a time have overcome their worst labor difficulties.
 Copyright, 1919.)