Tue struggle of Labour against Capital bulks so largely in the public eye that we are apt to overlook the existence of another struggle, and one of equal importance, that of skilled against unskilled Labour. It came into prominence very soon after the armistice when engineers and other highly qualified branches of Labour made themselves notorious by fighting tooth and nail against dilution of their particular industry through the introduction of ex-service men. They gave expression to the most admirable sentiments in regard to those unfortunates, who had found themselves at the end of the war without a trade at their command, but they resolutely refused to allow them a share in their particular work. Apologists plead ed that their attitude was dictated by distrust of Capital, and no doubt with a certain amount of truth. But the motive went much deeper than that, and their subsequent line of conduct has provided the necessary proof. Today not so much is being heard of their dealings towards the ex-service men, who, although a considerable number are still without employment, are gradually being absorbed into industry. They are, nevertheless,. fighting dilution with as much determination as before, and this time it is against female labour, which the needs of the war introduced so largely into the workshops and foundries of the country. Women were there to some extent before, but in nothing like the number that has subsequently been seen. It will be found that this phase of industrial strife is well worth following.
For the benefit of.the nontechnical reader a short explanation may be useful of how women can be employed so largely in a highly © skilled trade such as engineering. It is by the use of
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