_Of common right or interest in the end._
--WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.


There is no doubt that among the causes of unrest one of the most
serious, probably much more so than either employers or workmen are
generally conscious of, is the long hours of work. Those who have had to
hear questions arising out of labour disputes have noticed the state of
tension produced by the weariness and strain of too prolonged and
continuous work. Even in the domestic circle an overworked man is often
found less amiable and more ready to find fault. A harassed manager and
a deputation of jaded workmen may be really very good fellows and yet
find that some comparatively small question raises strong feeling and
mutual recrimination, and then leads to rash action resulting in open
strife, strikes, and lock-outs, and the judicial proceedings which may
be necessary in consequence of them. "A Skilled Labourer," writing in
the _Quarterly Review_, mentions as the first of the four principal
grievances of workmen--"the hours are too long." Long hours have been
accepted on both sides partly because during the War the call of the
country for increased output, especially of munitions, was so urgent,
and partly because it was thought that higher profits would thereby be
obtained, and certainly higher wages earned. It seems, however, well
established that longer hours do not necessarily mean increased output.
There is a limit to the time during which a man can do even routine work
effectively. If men were to be regarded only as machines for turning out
work of a certain class, very long hours would be bad business. Where
the work involves special skill and thought the evil results of long
hours, even measured simply by the gross amount done, are still more
serious. Everyone who has had to do with young students and still more
with parents disappointed by their sons' failures must again and again