FACTORY DISCUSSIONS
Stn,—Mrs. Williams-Ellis reports from a valuable field of pioneer activity. The Fighting Services have at least one advantage when it comes to discussion. They are not asked to think public questions or illuminate foreign affairs with a mouth full of mid-day meal. They don't get ten minutes megaphoned shouting sandwiched between the clatter of plates and the second course, one way, and a band and the latest star-turn comic on the other. In far too many factories the meal-time is like the hurly-burly of a conveyor belt out of control.
The meal itself presents the aspect of a lot of mechanical contrivances shovelling coal into a hole. A little conscious effort, in the way of neat tables—why not a cloth?—some flowers, would introduce a little human dignity into the sacrament of the meal. There are always plenty of women workers. Can't their homely talents find a little scope in the factory-home meal ? Or should we introduce into the factories, from the higher range limits, the successful home-runners of England to show the daughters how to do it ?
For myself, I should like to see the meal out of the way and the cigarette and pipe lit before the speaking discussion comes on. The one deserves and prepares the other. But if we arc to be told that such modest requests interfere with production, at least let the exchange of ideas have one mealtime to themselves, and Priestley and his singing people have another and a separate ohe. It is an open question whether the present congested, pep-and-packed meal-times add to factory welfare, increasing output or "human happiness. They are fatal to individual
thought and serious discussions.—I am, yours, &c., RENNIE SMITH. The Crannoch, Warlingham, Surrey.
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