THE FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRIAL PEACE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Mr. T. Ernest Jackson in the communication which appeared in your last issue states his belief that the National Alliance is the only organization of employers and employed that stands for the absolute application of the new principle whereby the two classes in industry will arrive at a better understanding, and thus work together for the national good. Your contributor has appa- rently overlooked the important work that has been carried on by the Industrial League since the early days of the war, and the omission is somewhat surprising because the Chairman and various members of the National Alliance have attended our meetings from time to time, and in consequence are familiar with what we are doing.
The Industrial League was founded in 1914 by two or three prominent Labour leaders and an equal number of representa- tives of the employing class. A broad and comprehensive pro- gramme was eventually drawn up, which was essentially national in its character, and was intended to assist in the discovery, eradication, and mitigation of the leading causes of industrial strife. It is intended that the contribution of the Industrial League towards the attainment and maintenance of industrial peace shall be :— (a) The provision of a safe and impartial channel for the inter- change, between employers and employed, of information, views, and constructive proposals bearing upon that objective.
(b) The creation of facilities for meetings of employers and employed, at which matters affecting their relations and efficient co-operation may be frankly discussed without committing their respective organizations to any course of action. (c) The education of public opinion in the problems involved in the attainment of industrial peace.
Without the adhesion of Labour it would be mere waste of time to proceed with such a scheme; but it was never for a moment in jeopardy, and made a singular and forceful appeal to the represen- tatives of Labour. It was our successful appeal to Labour that enabled us to form an Executive Committee composed of eight representatives of Labour and twelve employers, and among our Labour members we count the Minister of Labour, the Parlia- mentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, and the General Secre- taries of two or three important Trade Unions. We have secured the support of leading employers throughout. the country and some of the leading Trade Unions. Local branches of the Indus- trial League have been started in important industrial centres, and wherever we bring our scheme forward it is adopted with enthusiasm, and those who are keenest to forward the work are the representatives of Labour.—I am, Sir, &c.,
H. &HOLEY,
Hon. SecDetary, Industrial League. 56 rietoria Street, Westminster, S.W.
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