Frederick Fox, item 83

• November 14, 2017 17:10:06 Thomas A. Lingner

  There are a great number of apparent failures on our own side which I believe have tended to

  prolong the struggle and which will doubtless form the subject of an enquiry at a later date with the

  inevitable result viz. a serious effort on the part of those concerned to shift the responsibility on

  other shoulders and to whitewash those who, if justice was done, only deserve punishment.

  
  

  When one considers that a vast number of permanent officials have for years been drawing big

  salaries for purely nominal services it does not seem unreasonable to have expected that they would

  have formulated plans & projects for mobilizing the resources of this country and our allies in the

  shortest time possible to enable us to carry on this war (which for years has been expected) with the

  least possible disturbance.

  
  

   To the trade of the country and with due regard to the production of the maximum of munitions and

  articles if essential necessity to the continuation of our extensive export trade the maintenance of

  which is imperitave (sic), in this I do not think they have succeeded.

  
  

  Turning to the politicians although at the beginning of the war a party truce was arranged this had

  not endured for any length of time. The one front only upon which they seem united is that material

  one viz. to stick to what salaries they have voted themselves in the past, independat (sic) of the

  value of the services rendered. (NB Parliament is at present on short time) and to create has (sic)

  many new officers with well paid salaries has (sic) the occasion will allow, to preach thrift and

  economy in the working classes and restrict the facilities of him obtaining what he might consider an

  essential nessessity, (sic) whilst the only place where an unlimited and unrestricted supply of

  alcoholic refreshments can be obtained is the refreshment Bars of the Houses of Parliament. Can

  one wonder that a great part of the population do not accept the findings of this august body with

  unqualified admiration?

  
  

  Taking the Business world and commercial and middle classes generally. Their attitude in a great

  number of cases seems to be to make has much money out of the present situation and to make it

  has (sic) quickly as possible and there is not the slightest doubt that many futures have been

  greatly augmented since the commencement of the war.

  
  

  Consider the working classes for a moment these that are left are undoubtedly having the time of

  their lives what with plenty of work and shortage of labour any men even if a very indifferent

  workman is sure of regular employment. The engineers have had an advance of 4/- a week some

  time and an application has been made for another 6/- per week which I do not think will be

  secured. I am paying 26 and 28/- for labourers and cannot get them at that. I suppose you will have

  heard that in a great number of instances men have made exceptional wages owing to overtime

  with its extra pay of time and quarter to double time with a bonus on top of that for regular time

  keeping. In point of fact, I really believe that until the initiator of Lord Derby's recruiting scheme.

  
  

  A very great number of the working classes either (sic) knew or (sic) cared whether we where (sic) at

  War or not. The apathy shown in regard to the present and immediate past [pisilm]??? of affairs

  was a disgrace.

  
  

  But already one notes a very great change taking place. Lord Derby's Scheme which closes on

  bec. 11th has made a great number think of what their duty is and I think that every reasonable man

  will agree that every man's duty at a time like this is to serve his country either in the field... as a

  soldier or in the workshop or factory and it does not seem clean when one part of the nation is

  giving its services in the trenches at 1/1 a day, another section should be loafing, drinking or striking 

  for more pay. Neither is it right that the needs of the country should be exported for the sake of

  excessive profits by an employer or merchant.

  
  

  
  

  • Revert to this revision
• November 14, 2017 16:57:48 Thomas A. Lingner

  There are a great number of apparent failures on our own side which I believe have tended to

  prolong the struggle & which will doubtless form the subject of an enquiry at a later date with the

  inevitable result being a serious effort on the part of those concerned to shift the responsibility on

  these other shoulders & to whitewash those who if justice was done only deserve punishment.

  
  

  When one considers that a vast number of permanent officials have for years been drawing big

  salaries for purely nominal services it does not seem unreasonable to have expected that they would

  have formulated Plans & projects for mobilizing the resources of this country & our allies in the

  shortest time possible to enable us to carry on this war (which for years has been expected) with the

  least possible disturbance.

  
  

   To the trade of the country & with due regard to the production of the maximum of munitions and

  articles of essential necessity to the continuation of our extensive export trade the maintenance of

  which is imperative. In this I do not think they have succeeded.

  
  

  Turning to the politician although at the beginning of the war a party truce was arranged this had

  not endured for any length of time the one front only upon which they seem united is that material

  one  being to stick to what salaries the have voted themselves in the past. independent of the

  value of the services rendered (N B Parliament is at present on short time) & to create has

  many new officers with well paid salaries has  the occasion will allow, to preach thrift and

  economy in the working classes and restrict the facilities of him obtaining what he might consider an

  essential necessity, whilst the only place where an unlimited and unrestricted supply of

  alcoholic refreshments can be obtained is the Refreshment Bars of the Houses of Parliament. Can

  one wonder that a great part of the population  do not accept the findings of this august body with

  unqualified admiration?

  
  

  Taking the Business world & commercial & middle classes generally. Their attitude in a great

  number of cases seems to be to make has much money out of the present situation & to make it

  as quickly as possible and there is not the slightest doubt that many futures have been

  greatly augmented since the Commencement of the war.

  
  

  Consider the working classes for the moment these that are left are undoubtedly having the time of

  their lives what with plenty of work and shortage of labour any men even if a very indifferent

  workman is sure of regular employment. The engineers have had an advance of 4/- a week some

  time and an application has been made for another 6/ per week which I do not think will be

  secured. I am paying 26 & 28/- for labourers & cannot get them at that. I suppose you will have

  read that in a great no  number  of instances men have made exceptional wages owing to overtime

  with its extra pay my time & quarter to double time with a bonus on top of that for Regular time

  keeping in point of fact. I really believe that until the initiation of Lord Derbys recruiting scheme.

  
  

  A very great number of the working classes either knew or cared whether we where at

  war or not. The apathy shown in regard to the present & immediate past position of affairs was a disgrace.

  
  

  But already one notes a very great change taking place Lord Derby Scheme which closes on

  Dec  11th has made a great number think of what their duty is & I think that every reasonable man

  will agree that every man's duty at a time like this is to serve his country either in the field.. as a

  soldier or in the workshop or factory and it does not seem clean when one part of the nation is

  giving its services in the trenches 1/1 a day, another section should be loafing, drinking or striking 

  for more pay. Neither is it right that the needs of the country should be exported for the sake of

  excessive profits by an employer or merchant.

  
  

  
  

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