American Advice
When the intention to set up an Anglo-American Productivity Council was first announced a great deal of nonsense was talked in this country to the general effect that British industry needed no American advice. Both before and since that announcement some rather different nonsense has been talked in the United States to the general effect that British industry is hopelessly old-fashioned and could be set right only by a strict emulation of American examples. The fault on both sides is, of course, one of sweeping generalisation. And now.that the American members of the Council have arrived in this country it is essential for the common good that that fault should be corrected. There are a large number of factories, and a few whole industries, in this country which could be improved by the application of methods which have already been successfully employed in the United States. There are no British industrialists who can afford to ignore the findings of the Council, even if they do not in every case accept them. There are a large number of Americans who are willing to flood Britain with advice, and a certain proportion of that advice will be apposite and based on a proper knowledge of conditions here. There are even Americans who have something to learn from British examples, and British industrialists who are qualified to teach them. It is all a matter of particular, cases, and if these are to be understood they require close and cons tinuous study over a long period. The main misgiving about th/ Council therefore arises from the fact that the present intention of its members is to stay here for only two or three weeks.
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