NATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3049, 10 April 1917, Page 6

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY

WORK OF THE BOARD

ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL WORK

MR FERGUSON ADVISES COACH-BUILDERS

, .Problems arising from the war wero ' discussed at yesterday's meeting of the ' Nov/ Zealand Coach and Motor Vehicles Trades Federation. -Mr. William Ferguson, chairman of the National Efficiency Board, attended the mcetI ing, and was introduced to "the dele- . gates by Mr. George Dash, president ' of the federation. Mr. Dash mentioned that the conference had already ! adopted the following resolutions:— "That the local association constituting this federation arc urged to extend all the assistance possible towards conserving the interests of any member on active service by retaining his connection • and maintaining his business as a going concern during his absence^" "That this association bring' under tho notice of the Efficiency • Board of New Zealand the-fact that agricultural blacksmithing •and commercial motor and horse vehicle building are essei.tial industries, 1 and urges tlTe claim of these industries for consideration." Mr.' Ferguson said that 'lie was glad, •the conference had recognised the duty of keeping together the businesses of the men who 'went to' the front. The prime business of every man at' tho present time was to help win the war, and the men who could not go to the front and fight ought not to hesitate ' in making sacrifices in order to do their part at home. ■ Ho explained tho functions and methods of the National- Efficiency Board, which was advising the Government on matters connected intimately , with the successful prosecution of Now Zealand's share of the war. Tho board hacTfelt that the matter of most pressing importance was the -maintenance of primary production, and ono of its first steps, therefore, had heen the setting up of local 'boards of trustees, consisting bf capable and patriotic farmers who would attend to the farms of men who went to the front. The board had touched other industries at a few points, but | much had still to ho, done in the direcj tion of arranging for the protection of i the interests of.tho soldiers. Farmers were looking after farmers, and similarly the'board wanted men in: other industries to undertake the formation of committees and tho management of the business of the men who had to servo in the field. There' was to be no -red tape or hard-and-fast rule, but theMocal boards were to work on business-like lines. Ho hoped that the coach-build-ers would take the 'pork in hand for the members of their own trade. The work Was to be-done voluntarily or at? a minimum cost to the soldier, and it was important that 'tho man should have no liability. to meet oh his return. He must not find himself in a worse position than when he went away. Mr. Ferguson'explained the provision mado by the Government, for ' tho payment of allowances to cover interest and mortgage charges; •'

Classifying Essential Labour. Turning to another aspect of the matter, Sir. Ferguson said, that the Efficiency Board would like'to have the assistance of tho organised coach-build-ers in dealing with the question of essential labour. Tho federation might' help the Military Service Boards > a great deal by providing expert ,evidence regarding the nature of the work done in the trado and the relation of various branches. It might be necessary to classify some branches as essential. He would like to see tho conference undertake the classification of tho work done by the coach-builders, and .provide such information as the number of men in the trade engaged uijon each class, tho number in the First Division and the possibility of taking men from non-essential branches for work in essential branches. The retention of particular workers might bo necessary bccause they were possessed of special skill. The ployers would .have to face the fact that they would be short of all hands, and they ought to be considering what adjustments could be made. For example, an. ordinary painter might not be able to undertako the best class of carriage painting, but then the tim® might come before tho end of the war when vehicles would have to be turned out rough-painted, in order that labour might be economised. It was not enough to say that tho custom of tlio trade required things to be done in a certain way. \

Trado After the' War. Mr. Ferguson referred also to the question of providing for after-war trade. He said there was no doubt that the conditions after the war would bo harder for industry,- and- that employers and workers alike would Jiavo to seek after increased efficiency. Possibly there was something that the coacli-builders could do'in preparation for the future. More machinery.'might be necessary; technical education would have v to receive increased attention. There was a disinclination on the part of many of the boys to continue their education beyond the Sixth. Standard. Tho employers, in their own interests, ought to'be devising schemes for en-' ,couraging the boys to train themselves. 'American manufacturers had devised a scheme of twin apprentices. ' Two boys were taken into the trade at tho same time, and they worked at the bench alternate weeks, the other weelv being devoted to technical education and general study. By this means a boy gained practical knowledge and technical education at the same time. Then there, was the matter of "scientific research. Clearly this concerned the manufacturers', diieotly. and it ought to attention.

Suggestions Discusseg. In'the course of a general discussion, a delegate said that the twin apprentice system- could not be adopted id New Zealand owing to the Timiumon in the mtmbc-r of apprentices imposed by the law. Mr. Ferguson: "The law can always be altered if need is shown. This is a time of war and change." The Efficiency Board would welcomo suggestions from tho conference, with a view to placing recommendations before Parliament.. Mr. H. A. Whitaker (Hamilton) said tho shortage of labour was already acuto in the coach-bui'ding trade. Tho employers found that they could not get the work done without paying much overtime, and he considered that in war time the workers ought to be prepared io vvcrk mora than 47 hours per week at ordinary ratei of pay. The unions wore not making any sacrifice to assist tho country. Tliav wsio simply taking higher wayies, which tho consumer had to pay. Tho men in his own shop would have been willing to work longer hours under the special conditions created by ths war, but they were not allowed to do so. He suggested that the board should try to have tho kvr modified during the war period, ordinary conditions io be resumed after the war. Mr. J. W. Scurr (Duncdin) said that the National Government ought to have given the country a lead by prohibiting •much lion-essential work. " The use of pleasure cars ought to be prohibited.

Many motor-cars, oil the other hand, were essential. Several delegates expressed the opinion that a percentage of the motorcars were non-essential, and simply involved unnecessary work in various directions. Mr. J. Lock (Gore) said that an important economy of labour could be effected by the amalgamation of smithing businesses. There were too many small blacksmithing shops. He had suggested the formation of a company in his district to put all the coach-building into one shop and all the shoeing and smithing work into .another. . Mr. L. Joll (Auckland) urged the need for compulsory technical education. Many of the boys were .'wasting their spare time, and it would be better that they should - be attending classes and preparing themselves for the keener competition they would have to face in the future. The chairman said that the coaclibuilders were prepared to make sacrifices. But they were entitled to demand that the Government should insist upon other sacrifices being made. He mentioned the wasto of shipping space in the transportation of alcoholic liquors, and referred to the question of a modification of industrial conditions during the war period. Mr. Ferguson's Raply. Replying to some of the points that had been raised in the course of discussion, Mr. Ferguson said that when a man was summoned for military ser-., vice, liis first duty was. to try to make arrangements for. the conduct of his business during his ' absence. If he could not make arrangements, then, the work would have to be undertaken for him by the efficiency committees or by such organisations as the builders' Association. The fullest posr sible information would have to be collated regarding the business, which would, then bo classified under one of three headings:— (1) Sound and profitable. (2) Probably successful with caroful management ' (3) Unsound or actually bankrupt. The man whose business belonged to tlio third class very often did not recognise the fact, but it' would be useless for tho committees to attempt to . carry on ventures-of that; kind. The owners must be told the, truth and directed to up their businesses on the best, terms possible, or leave the winding up in the hands of the committees. Referring to tho businesses in the second group, Mr. Ferguson said it ■would be the duty of' those entrusted with the management l of the soldier's affairs to see that lio loss was incurred; The soldier must not find on' his return that he had been run into debt. This obligation might involve the trustees in a great deal of very hard work, but tho responsibilities of the position must be faced. The business somehow must he-kept in such condition that it could be handed back to the soldier in no worse state than when- he went !

into -camp. The trustees must be the most capable men available- for the work. ' • *, Referring to motor-cars, Mr. Ferguson said it .was very difficult to determine if tho motor was a luxury'or a necessity. He had 110 doubt at all that m the country districts the motor-car could lairly bo regarded as a. necessity. ■The cheap cars had made an enormous and beneficial change 'in, the, conditions •of work 011 the farms. They had lessened the monotony of farm' life, economised the time of the farmer, provided improved means of communication and-helped to.keep the farmers' families happy anil contented/ On tne other hand there were. in' tho ' towns man.y cars tlat must be reckoned luxuries. They, were simply pleasure vehicles, . distinct irom tiie commercial business cars that were playing an increasingly important part.in city activities. Nobody could draw 1 any hard and fast line, though a good deal might he. dono -in tho. direction ot classification. _ In conclusion, Mr; Ferguson emphasised" tho value of combination in every branch of industry., He'said that lie believed one big' shop.was better than several small , shops from the point of view of economy; efficiency and labour. A big shop could effect im-. portant savings in overhead charges.' It could provide itself' with the best tools, and could give its .workers better conditions and wider opportunities .to; perfect themselves in their craft with the best appliances than a small shop could, hope to do. Combination in industry ought to Be encouraged, and it became more than ever important'in war time, when the country was demanding' the best possible results from its workers and its industries: The conference thanked Mr. Ferguson warmly for his advice and information, and proceeded; to the discussion ot some of the points lie had. raised.