UNIONS AND EFFICIENCY

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 21 May 1914, Page 3

UNIONS AND EFFICIENCY

TO THE TDITOR OF "THE TRESS."

Sir,—ln your issue of the 19th 111 st. you have a* sub-leader headed ''Unions and Efficiency." The object of the .mide would appear to be the enriching of the minds oi" your readers with the knowledge that there is a Domestic Servants' I'nion in Copenhagen, that it takes an educational interest in its members, and thai, s> a resuu- it has the approval of the employers. \<"ry interesting, but could it not have been written without referring to the >ew Zealand Unions until such time as iho writer gained some knowledge of the inner work oi those unions, for 1 prefer to credit his derogatory comments to ipiorance- rather than to spleen or wilful inju-stie'e. It. is_ perfectly true that tho bread-and-butter part of trade union policy is the part that is made tliA most ot by tho. uewspajjer writers and editors, and it follows- as a matter of course tnat it is the part thn* tho general public learn most of. What- -would l>e.your leader-writer's opinion rc-pceting the true reason for a trade union asking the employers and the Court ot Arbitration to make it imperative that tho tradesman who asks ior an under-rato permit shall have served at least tive years at the trade? DouStless, he •would inform the public that the object was j the creating of a close corporation. May 1 be. permitted to assure him that it is the outcome of that part of trade union policy which seeks to raise the status of the tradesman; may 1 assure him that the desire of trade unionists is to have overy member of their trade efficient and- competent tradesmen? T!uit is the reason for the special Kducatio r >.'' l ■■""— i" connexion with the trade unions in Christchurch ; that is the reason why unions give «noc:al prizes to students at the Technical College, in additiou to the annual donation your writer weakly sneers at; that is the reason various unions in Now Zealand have had a provision inserted in the apprentice clauses of their awards granting increased I rates of pay to apprentices passing fcuitablo examinatons. Wo do promote efficiency; we desire a' higher rate of output so long as it is consistent with the average play-.ical ability and good workmanship, but we have experienced the evils of the'paid pace-makers. We are anxious, very anxious, for the work to be of tho highest quality, but has it ever occurred 'to the enlightened mind of your leader-writer that in this competitive age v,iiat the average employer -wants is work that will pass the eye of the purchaser, quick work, and passable work; even the odd employer who is desirous of good work may have made a mistake in his price. You will pardon, mc if. I seem too personal, -Mr Editor, but do you.always insist on good work from your leatJer-writers, or merely work that will plea&o.tho eye of yoor customers, even although it be not true work? Let mc assure you. as one with inside knowledge of trado unionism, tint there is not only a. desire, but a strong; effort, , being made towards niakmg ?urs£lves efficipnty encouraging, efficiency in our members, but a strong effort is beang made "to build in- iOur apprentices .an efficient body of men to take our places, and 1 believe many employers realiso this and are assisting. True, there is a number who hay© been enrolled in the trade. union ranfcs "who are m such a Jmrry to, bring about, the irilleuniuru that they have no time for educational methods, yet, doubtless, like your leader-writer, they have their tiso in ..the- scheme of things, even -although they act TvitTiitit imiorneiit- and with but.superficial ki'owler' , **—Vojirs. etc., -. ■ JOHN BARR. .. ■Reddtffs, liar 20 + h.