BUSINESS AND ETHICS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18216, 29 October 1924, Page 11

BUSINESS AND ETHICS.

TO THE EDITOR CT "THE TRESS." Sir, —Certain remarks made by a speaker at the I'armers' Coop, meeting on Saturday have left an unpleasant impression on my mind. He said, as my memory serves me, that it was a very improper thing for an auditor of one company to a- - ' as auditor or hold a, financial interest in another company, or other companies, with which the first company had dealings or might in eomc way compete. The suggestion was that he might use his influence in one concern to tiie detriment of another. In other word?, that lie micrht betray Lis trust as an auditor, to his own ruivan'age. I am not < onerrned with the mutter as one of personal ethic?, but rather as indenting s do..rr:ne of business in general which I think is not only f-ilse, but pernicious. The sp.-akcr seemed to regard the Jicid of business as a battlefield, but with this difference. Instead of two disciplined armies in conflict, every business man's hand is against his neighbour. A Donnybrook Fair would perhaps convey the meaning more clearly. AV!:-•nr-ver you ?co a. head, hit it. .Regard every competitor as an enemy u£- inst whom it is necessary to maintain perpetual defence, ;j 11 ri as an offensive is sometimes lite best defence, then attack him when you have a chance and down liim if you can.

In this view, every business should be regarded as iii a watertight compartment. Nothing must leak out that might be advantageous to the other fellow. There is Mill a trace of this theory in British industry, and more than a trace in tho ethic.s of labour. But so far as business administration is concerned it is rapidly giving wav to wiser counsel. Business is becoming more and moro co-operative, not iu mechanical organisation, but in t-pirit. Business men are learning that the Dounybrook method does not pay, that helping the other fellow is apt to reflect to one's own advantage, that in trying to hurt him, one is quite likely to inflict injury upon himself. The watertight, compartment theory is exploded. The invention of the limited liability company had a good deal to do with that. Businessess arc becoming more and more interwoven, and business men realise, that it is a. good thing to get together, to compare notes, to learn from each other, to impart information to each other. And everything that helps in this direction is to be acclaimed and not to be condemned.

The gentleman I referred to in the beginning seems still to regard business men us henii-savages, preying upon each other. And perhaps he thinks that is just as it should be. If he is right. then he may expect nothing but con-stantly-recurring business disasters. But I think he is wrong. I think business is getting on to a civilised plane, if it lias not already got there, and that most of'the men now engaged in it are trying to raise it, not. only in efficiency, but in character, aud I hope the gentleman will not put obstacles in the war.—Yours, etc., GET TOGETHER. October 3Stb, 1924.: