The need for mutual trust between Capital and Labour was the keynote of a speech by Mr. J. H. Thomas, w.r., as the guest of the American Luncheon Club at the Savoy Hotel, at which Mr. J. B. MacAfee presided.
Mr. Thomas, who was cordially received, said, in the course of his "speech, he deprecated anything which might cause strife between England and America, " whose interests were so interwoven and interdependent that we must always remain the best and closest of friends." (Cheers). It was no use burking the fact that they were faced to-day with a real revolution in thought, action, ideas, and outlook. The result of the world war had been to take permanently out of—industry 50,000,000 producers.
Wuar Gerwaxy Must Do, Everyone agreed that Germany and the Central Powers should be made to pay for the war as far as humanly possible, but they must bear in mind that unless credit was re-established, and those people were given the opportunity to work, there would be no chance of their making reparation. No one class could claim a monopoly of patriotism; all sections had made sacrifices and been prepared to lay down their lives for their country. There was a common obligation that justice should be done to all sections of the people. The working man in Britain to-day was determined to have a better time. He was beginning to recognize his power politically and industrially. Power was a good thing provided it was wisely used, and it must always carry with it responsibility. (Hear, hear). Both Capital and Labour had its duties and responsibilities. Labour had made mistakes and employers had made mistakes, - Instead of blaming each other, it a wag far better to recognize that they had get to be partners in industry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.