MACHINERY AND WAGES
SIR,—Mr. Armstrong's suggestion that the advantages of new machinery should result in a reduction of working hours is one which finds much support in modern trade unionism—utterly impervious to any idea of an economic crisis or, to be more precise, of a production crisis. Perhaps Mr. Armstrong's perspective may be readjusted if I recall for him the story of the " dole" queue stretching (to sate Left-wing emotion) five times around the Labour Exchange, which had had its attention drawn to a large mechanical " grab " removing the inevitable mound of earth. " You know," said one man, " if they gave us shovels and spades there would be work for hundreds there." " Yes," said a cynic, " and if they gave us knives and forks there would be work for thousands."—Yours faithfully, 9 Soudan Road, Battersea Park, S.W.rr. G. W. EVANS.
Previous page
