The Life of Sir William Hartley

With the outbreak of the War on August 4, 1914, life for all of us passed into a new phase. Sir William was at the time sixty-eight, and after his laborious years and heavy trials he might well look forward to less strenuous times. But the war brought very severe demands not only on his resources but on his time and energy. He was one of a small company, summoned in the early days of the conflict by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lloyd George, to advise him on financial policy. He contributed very largely to benevolent funds. To the War Relief Fund he gave £10,000, he also doubled the weekly gifts of his workpeople and the members of the staff. He supported Red Cross Work with great liberality. He contributed £5,000 to the French Fund and led off with a donation of £5,000 to the Belgian Fund. As was usual, he looked after the interest of those among his employees who joined the colours and cared for their dependents. The heavier rate of taxation was felt by him as by multitudes more.

But he found the strain of the situation in other ways. His staff was greatly depleted, to such a degree indeed that the position became nearly impossible. At one time he told me that if another man was taken from his staff he could not go on, but would have to close down. He was much hampered by the incompetent interference of Government officials. Directions were sent down as to how the jam was to be made. "We know," he said to me, "that it can't be made in that way." Large Government orders had to be fulfilled, but it was difficult to procure the necessary material. Much precious time was consumed by the filling in of forms giving quite unnecessary information. "We have nothing to conceal," he said; but whole weeks went in gratifying the official thirst for irrelevant statistics, and this at a time when it taxed his strength to keep pace with the legitimate demands of his business. He did not complain about the financial burden. He was whole-heartedly devoted to the cause of his country and cheerfully met the obligations it imposed. But he felt that a difficult task was rendered more difficult than it need have been by the unreasonable attitude of Government officials.