The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-07-20

BY ALEXANDEI
Faced as the world is with the
threat Of another conflagration,
the economic and social experiment
tation now going on in Britain
might well serve as an Indicator
Of things to come. The coal indus
try, Britain's earliest experiment
at naturalization, furnishes an in
teresting forecast in this direc-
ton.
In contrast to the heavy deficit
accumulated during the first year
Of state operations, the industry
netted in 1949 a profit Of nearly
10 million pounds 1927 ,000, ,000), as
we'll as an additional $37, 100000
earmarked toward compensation Of
the former private mine owners.
These facts indicate that the indus
try will soon be in position to
wipe out earlier losses, settle all
compensation claims, and last,
build up substantial financial re-
serves of its own.
= =
Encouraging as the picture is,
we need ask how the miracle has
been achieved. The answer is very
simple. There has been, first, a
steady increase in the miners pro-
ductivity, together with CORES
ponding drop in production costs.
Second, British coal stocks are sold
abroad at a higher price than at
home-a practice which was large
ly responsible for achieving the
surplus. Primarily, the nations
economic progress is due to she
workers determination to tighten
their belts and produce more, and
for the rest to export dumping
which in the past has been an i'm
portant factor in bringing about
the great crises Of Europe.
The results have been what
would be expected from this ex'
traordinary exertion. Gold reserves
have been gaining at record rate
the national economy has advanc.
ed at such a pace as to make Bri-
tain a leading contender in inter
national markets. The Attlee gov
ernment is justified in claiming
that by following this road 1--WE
can reach our declared aim, name
ly, to stand on our own feet by
1852 without any extraordinary
outside help"
Parallel with this improvement
another no less significant develop
ment is taking place. With exuber-
ant social planning slowed dowr
by the outcome of the election early
this year, pure and simple trade
unionism has again come to the
fore. The announcement by the
TUG General Council, governing
body of the British labor move
ment, that the postwar wage re
straints will be considerably eased
marks another psychological anC
practical milestone on the road t,
British recovery.
Not only does it make clear thai
British organized labor, notwith
standing the temptations of the
welfare state and the advantage!
of the most advanced social secur
ity system ever devised, has be
come again conscious of its right!
and is ready to exercise them. AL
though the British workers ant
their families enjoy virtual cradle
to-grave protection, they are-a'
a seasoned observer Of the Euro
pean scene points out-"now begin
ming to think less in terms of state
donated benefits and more il
terms of traditional reward fol
hard work-money."
According to union sources
about 100000 organized worker.
are working under sliding scale
wage contracts, tied to the cost o.
living and periodically adjusted a!
the case may be. Thus they have
been able to keep abreast of rising
prices. On the other hand, thank
to wage restrictions imposed by thu
Labor government and abetted b!
the TUG, 100000 organized work
ers and their families have beeI
left behind holding the bag.
Whether a policy of create
wage flexibility and higher pa!
based on merit will pacify the re
bellious elements in the ranks O.
labor and allow the unions to re
exercise their traditional functions
remains to be seen. At any rate
the Labor government, by tacitl!
approving the demand that wage
matters be left to the unions them
selves, is strengthening its politica
appeal and laying the foundation
for what in the not too distant flu
ture may turn into an impressive
victory at the polls.
j. +
Secretary of Labor Maurice j