20 MARCH 1926, Page 10

The Daily Mail mission of enquiry into industrial conditions in

the United States and the secret of the high wages there is having a busy time inspecting the, large industrial plants in the Eastern States. The enquirers appear to be much impressed with the spirit of co-operation existing between employers and em. ployed, no doubt due to the American policy of high wages. Sir Percival Phillips says that the workers of Schenectady are getting more than double their pre-War wages, yet the increase in the cost of living since 1914 is only 75% ; though rent and food cost 50% more, the margin of wages over expenditure which twelve years ago was 11% is to-day 31%. An object-lesson in the prosperity of American artisans is the large number who own motor-cars. The sight of a modern American factory with its rows and rows of motor-cars parked outside, owned by the workers, is an impressive one.