TRADE UNIONS. 
396 
At the same time, as many of the present leaders would be the first to 
recognise, the man drawn from outside the world of labour is handi- 
capped in more than one direction. He has seldom a complete 
knowledge of the technical details of the industry to which his work is 
related, and cannot hope to meet the employer on equal terms in this 
respect. His training makes it difficult for him to feel that complete 
sympathy with labour which is the inspiration of those who have ‘‘ gone 
through the mill”. Some of the present leaders, motived no doubt by the 
great need, seem to us to diminish their effectiveness further by attempt- 
ing too much. No man can take an effective share in the organisation 
of half a dozen unions simultaneously ; in existing conditions the foster- 
ing of one good union is a hard task and more than enough for a man who 
can generally devote only part of his day to such work. Finally the 
fact that the work is gratuitous tends to weaken its intensity, and in 
some cases to diminish the sense of responsibility. 
Need of Paid Officials. 
The unions, if they are to increase their strength, must find 
organisers from within the ranks of labour. This does not mean that the 
trade union officials must be actually working in the industry with 
which the union is connected. No man who is doing a day’s work in a 
factory or a mine or on a railway can find the time or energy necessary 
for the work. Further the actual worker, even with the best of employers, 
cannot display sufficient independence to defend adequately the union’s 
interests. What is required is the whole-time official who has been an 
actual worker. He must be paid by the unions, since it is impossible to 
expect that fhe heavy labour involved will be carried on for nothing ; the 
nexus of payment brings responsibility by making the officials depend- 
ant on the union and its fortunes. We recognise that the present income of 
many unions cannot meet such charges ; but the organising official, if he is 
even moderately competent, will secure a substantial increase in that 
income. The few unions which have secured such officials have found 
them profitable investments, and the expense must be faced if a union 
is to acquire strength. We suggest that those on whom at present the 
ourden of organisation falls should ‘make it their earnest endeavour 
bo find suitable men within the unions to act as officials and should 
then train them for the position. At first suitable men will not be 
readily forthcoming, for their task will not be the easy one of evoking en- 
thusiasm at times of crisis, but the harder and more valuable one of 
building up the membership of the union in good times and bad, and 
instilling into it the sense of loyalty and trust. Moreover there are 
sound to be failures among those selected. But, as we found during 
sur tour, a few men of theright type have already emerged, and others 
will be forthcoming if opportunities are made for them. 
Training of Officials. 
The qualities required in the first place are literacy, organising 
ability and a capacity for hard, constant and patient work. When men 
with these qualities are obtained, their training should be undertaken.