A Labour amendment to the Address on Thursday week, regretting
the absence of " definite proposals " for dealing with the causes of industrial unrest, brought a sensible speech from Mr. J. H. Thomas. He admitted that no Trade Union was eo important as the State, and that the Labour Party had no right " to substitute industrial action for their political die- appointments." He condemned the excessive " profiteering " in some industries, the wormy and delay in dealing with disputes, and the grudging spirit in which some employers made con- cessions. But he pointed out the danger of always yielding to strikers' demands merely because they had struck. He regretted " the unfortunate belief that there is an unlimited amount of wealth in the country." He asked the Government to consider the interests of all industries ; if an eight-hours day or a six- hours day was good because a powerful Union could insist on it, why not legalize it for all workers t " Your duty is to be firm," he said to the Government. " You cannot be firm until you are just, and you cannot be just until you examine carefully and dispassionately every claim." To the employers he said: " The working classes are no longer going to be treated as mere hewers of wood and drawers of water." Mr. Thomas favoured the Whitley scheme of joint Employers' and Workmen's Councils. Many such Councils have been formed already.
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