THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LABOUR.
[TO THE EDITOR Or THE ••SPECTATOR."] SIR,—As an employer of labour for more than thirty years in different parts of the country, I should like to say how entirely I agree with Professor Smart and Mr. Arthur Brown in the views expressed by them in recent letters to the Spectator as to the urgent importance of teaching political economy to the working classes. The prevailing ignorance of the most elementary principles of the science has, without any doubt, a great deal to do with the present widespread unrest in the industrial world. I regret to say that in my experience this ignorance has been by no means confined to the workman, but has existed to a deplorable and most prejudicial extent among employers also. Perhaps the latter, as a result of recent experiences, are becoming somewhat more alive to the importance of the subject and to their own deficiencies in regard to it. But the workmen of all ranks seem to remain as blind as ever to the real facts and to the truths as to cause and effect in the circumstances and conditions of their industrial life and experience. The simple perusal of Jevons's little Primer would, I feel sure, be a veritable eye- opener to many; if it only taught them to recognize the difference, but also the inherent relation, between money wages and real wages it would be of lasting benefit. But it would do much more than that, and they would find the subject much more interesting and intelligible than perhaps they had ever imagined. Why should not this science form a part of the curriculum of every technical school, and even (in its simplest form) of every continuation school? The subject, as pointed out by Mr. Arthur Brown, may easily be made attractive, and if necessary it could be rendered still more so by special prizes offered by local employers or others. In my opinion, if it did not put an end to labour troubles, it would before very long have the effect of dissipating most of those pernicious fallacies and illusions so rife among the working classes at the present time, which are largely responsible for these grave troubles. If a solution of our difficulties is ultimately arrived at, it will, I believe, be due chiefly to the spread of a knowledge of political economy, combined with the extended adoption of the principle of co-operation.—I am, Sir, he., MANAGING DIRECTOR.
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