WAGES AND OUTPUT: FACING THE TRUTH. [To ran Emma or
roe " SrEcraros."1 • do not allege that there is more slacking among the
miners or other manual workers than among other classes, but it is quite true that the average British wage-earner (in many cases under a mistaken idea of his interests) restricts the amount of work he does, and does not work as his forefathers did, and does less work than the average workman in the United States. It is well known that not only do miners in America do much more work per man than in Great Britain, but bricklayers lay quite twice as many bricks per day. It is also true that with higher wages there is a distinct tendency to slacken and do less. Than that tendency there is no greater danger to the prosperity and material well-being of our country, Including wage-earners and the poor. The average politician or Trade Union leader does not face these truths. Although he may know them, and speak of them privately, he does not state them publicly. It would be unpopular. Miners and other manual workers nnfoiunately resent it, and are angry when any one frankly tells them unpalatable truths. Mr. J. B. Cutter illustrates this in your issue of March 29th. He asks not for the truth but for "sympathy." He writes: "My knowledge of shipbuilding is absolutely nil," yet he ventures to assert that the evidence of " Shipbuilder "—who writee from many years' practical experience, who has the exact figures before him, and is unbiassed, and sympathetic with the workmen—is "obviously contrary to facts." Being contrary to Mr. Cutter's opinions, it must of course be pre- judiced and "contrary to facts." That attitude, and the disregard of economic laws which underlies it, are among the gthatest hindrances to a real improvement in the living condi-
tions of our people—I am, Sir, Ac., Sairaonnes.
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