LTO TEX EDITOR OF TES " SPROTATOS.".1
SIR,—I am sorry that Mr. Hugh Wharton in his letter (Spectator, December 12th) does not consider that a judicial investigation in a County Court can discover the truth. I take it that most of your readers will be satisfied with the correctness of the facts I gave of the limitation of output. I am familiar with many of the arrangements between masters and men referred to by Mr. Wharton. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers lays it down that so many linotype machines shall be " overlooked " by so many mechanics. All such compacts are in restraint of trade and progress, because they prevent any man from doing more than his neighbour. These obstacles are overcome in time, but not without great loss. I wish Trade-Union officials would take a broader view of their position, and recognise that improvements are bound to be brought out, mechanical processes cheapened, and work which is to-day " skilled " can to-morrow be done quite well by the "unskilled." I maintain that if they would welcome progress, and induce their members to do justice to new ideas and conscientiously fulfil their duties, in the long run wages would be higher and employment much better. In some trades, the glass trade for instance, wages might become lower, but more men would be employed, and much trade now done by the foreigner would be secured to our country.—I am,
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