The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1920-10-16 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THIRTEEN PEOPLE-TWO BEDROOMS.  W H. WATTS .. & CO.. LTD.. Compton House anußcti—s LIVERPO TR4 wwww.mmen....— el  Some Labour leader ought to point out the danger that threatens the Labour movement.  The influence of the trade unions in Britain has been so widened and deepened that at present they constitute the principal individual factor not only in industrial life, but in political life as well. No longer are they fighting for recognition, no longer are they struggling against the Indifference, the contempt, or the hostility of other classes. Gone is the day when after a bitterly contested battle they won a minor victory. They are now on top. In many national matters their will is law. With this plenitude of power, with the glowing knowledge of future victories, it is conceivable that trade unions may steer a course that will wreck' . .  the trade union movement for a generation. What chance has a trade union in an unsuccessful or unprofitable industry? Either the trade union or the industry or both go out of existence. It is no use saying the State will subsidise or take o'er all useful but unprofitable industries, for there is an early limit to that course. The revenue of the State has to come directly or indirectly out of the profits of industries. There is no inexhaustible well to draw from in the shape of accumulated capital. That is soon gone. There must be steady and continuous resources. And that remains a basic fact whether you have a monarchy, a republic, soviets, or any other form of government. No community can live by taking in each other's washing. Wl',. Not Itidng Enough.  With Labour in its present commanding position the trade unions and their members will prosper in proportion to the prosperity of the industries. They will decline as those industries decline. In the unlikely event of the country approaching real bankruptcy, the trade unions will go out of existence only to be resuscitated when profits can once more be made.  It has been demonstrated beyond the cavil of any reasonable person that under whatever state of government we live, we, a manufacturing nation, have to make goods before we can make profit. We are not 'making sufficient goods at present. Work and increased work, the growing of two blades of grass where one grew before, is the only method by which a more comfortable and lucrative life can be obtained for the workers.  Unless production is stimulated we are steering into dangerous financial seas. A wreck is not beyond the possibilities. And in the case of a wreck the trade unions are smashed to atoms.  Employers and capitalists have got to do their share, and public opinion is such that they will not very easily be able to escape it.  We've Got to Work.  On the other hand, organised labour, if only to save itself, should be striving by might and main in the common effort. Increased production cannot be accomplished by occasional speeches from Labour leaders; it can only be brought about by work, steady, comprehensive, continuous, and systematic work. If the trade unions realised that it meant life or death to them, is it to be imagined they Would be content with merely lip service ?  I suppose there are 20,000 branches of trade unions in this country. Every one Of those branches ought to be thinking and planning and making rules for greater production.  For the moment I am not concerned with the actual methods. The immediate thing .to be done is to make the increase of output a matter of trade union principle. I am sure the new conditions will mean more pay, but the primary thing is more output.. I am satisfied that only by making it a matter of trade union principle with every member can we get more goods. It is unbelievable that Labour will say we do not need more goods.; that they will not strive for them. After all, we are a sane people. And insanity, we are told, is a necessary forerunner of suicide.