A MIDDLE-CLASS FACTORY.
CTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR, Why could not the middle classes give Labour an example of what may be accomplished by the organization of industry on the wisest and most progressive plan P We are told that high Wages are compatible with short hours, and that the great obstacles to prosperity are idleness, senseless Trade Union restrictions, and refusal to adopt the best labour-saving devices or to get the utmost out of machinery. It is pointed out that Labour is ruining the country—and its own cause—by artificial restrictions, and all appeals to adopt an intelligent policy seem to fall on deaf ears. Now there are many thousands of alert, well-educated people of the middle class who have been engaged in manual labour as war workers, and who have acquired skill in operating machinery. I suggest that a sufficient number of these should be got together to operate one or more factories, as an experiment and example to working men. Everything must be in accordance with the best ideas of Capital and Labour. The maximum production must be attained, the utmost use be made of machinery and labour-saving devices. No restrictions on production must be tolerated in the interests of a class or a Trade Union. On the other hand, the highest wages must be given and the shortest hours must prevail. In other words, the establishment must be run according to the best and most liberal ideals. The success of such an undertaking might well be profound and even " epoch-making," to use an expression somewhat freely used at present. If it could be demonstrated as a fact, and not as an interested opinion, that higher wages, better conditions, and increased employment can be obtained by Labour organ- ized on these lines, I think the working classes would adopt them. But it is hopeless to expect them to do anything of the kind just now, when " ca' canny," restriction of output, and nationalization are being dinned into their ears, and they are being taught to regard the appeals for increased production as a capitalist exploitation. I can hardly imagine a more favourable opportunity for the middle classes to give a salutary lesson to the community and show how vastly superior intelli- gent co-operation is to the class war.—I am, Sir, &c., P. J. MAsTERsoN.
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