UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE ENGINEER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Unemployment in this country, unfortunately, has reached unparalleled dimensions. Suggestions of palliatives and cures are numerous. There is one school of thought which seriously claims that the socialization of all industries will result in an industrial millennium. Upon it, however, the lesson in Russia of practical socialism is lost. Another school of thought sin- cerely believes that a greater production of this world's goods will prove, at any rate, a partial solution of the unemployment problem. That this problem has been profoundly aggravated by the almost numberless industrial disputes through which the country has passed since the Armistice none but the most ardent supporters of Labour would have the hardihood to deny. Therefore the importance of a "third party" in industry cannot be overstressed, a party which can hold the scales, as it were, between Capital and Labour in the event of any dispute between those two sections of industry.
It is with these thoughts in my mind that I venture to draw the attention of your readers to the formation of the Society of Technical Engineers, and to the fact that the society has just given articulation to its policy. Without doubt cheap and efficient production of goods greatly depends on the unsparing use of the finest machinery available. In fact, I do not think that I sin exaggerating when I submit that the nation which neglects its engineers must ultimately cease to exist. How closely connected with the unemployment question the technical engineer is, then, can be easily judged by your readers. This
importance has certainly not been overlooked by Labour because Labour has often angled for his political support. But the technical engineer has not been " caught," and now he has proclaimed in plain language that he intends to act as a a3utral, a " third party " in industry. Capital or Labour is not unnaturally inclined to be biased in any problem which confronts its industry. But the " third party," the salaried 1,rain-worker, has no inclination to embroil himself in any dis- pute. He is unbiased, being neither interested in wages as such nor in profits as such, and therefore he is in a position to form a cool and collected opinion regarding the problem under survey. In consequence of its intermediate position. the society will be in a position to exercise a moderating influence. Unnecessary strikes may then be avoided to the great betterment of produc- tion and of employment.
One possible danger must not, however, be overlooked. A moderate estimate of the membership of the various movements
n existing in the engineering profession would place it at between 7,000 and 10,000. The impetuosity and energy of youth aro notorious, and the members are chiefly young men. The older, the more responsible men, have to a great extent held aloof. This attitude is easily understandable. In the interests of industry, however, it should not be maintained. In the interests of employment it should not be maintained. And if this letter induces any of your older readers who are quali- fied to join the Society of Technical Engineers it will not have
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