FACTORY CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 6

FACTORY CONDITIONS

Inspection By National Party Members HUTT VALLEY INDUSTRIES Industrial conditions at. three important Hutt Valley factories were studied at tirst-haml yesterday by' n group of National members of Parliament. The of--forts of the workers, the initiative of tiie firms and their executives and the amenities provided for the comfort of the staffs impressed the Parliamentarians, most of whom represent country electorates. In continuation of their study of industry, they will today visit a number of factories in Wellington. The group (Comprised: Messrs, n . J. Polson (Stratford). W. J. Broadfoot (Waitonio). T. L. Macdonald (Alataui'a). M. 11. Oram (Manawatu), W. A. Sheat (Palea), E. P. Adcrman (New Plymouth), W. S. Goosman (Waikato), C. M. Bowden (Wellington West) and E. C. I'owell (secretary) and Mrs. Broadfoot. War activity at the Eord Motor Co.'s works at Lower Hutt was seen, and the party, after inspecting every department, iiad nothing lint praise for the work, particularly that of more than 500 women, many employed in the hazardous occupation of filling bombs and others operating latites making the components of fuses for shells for Britain. Though most, ol the women workers had been directed to the works, their work had been “marvellous.” the visitors were informed by Mr. George Jackson, the general,manager. Thousands of vehicles have been produced at the works for the defence services. and millions of hand grenades, fuses and mortar bombs have been turned out. Marine engines for war Vessels have been reconditioned, and now the works arc completely reconditioning motor vehicles. Mechanical personnel is also being trained for the army, the total trainees un to last month exceeding 1500. No Labour Troubles. The visitors were impressed by the information that since the works were established not one serious labour disturbance has arisen. They had nothing but praise for the attention given to staff welfare, the cafetaria and the medical and nursing services being specialty studied. The adaptability of the New Zealand worker was also noted; only three members of the executive staff came from the United States and the remaintier of the employees are New Zealanders. Not one hud had experience in munitions making when the company’ switched to war production; the same quantity ot one item turned out in the first 19 months is now being produced in five months and on onejype three reductions in the cost of manufacture have been made. Tile production of paints and enamels, mainly for the services and essential industries.. was seen at the factory of the B.A.L.M. Co., which began manufacture only a short time before the war broke out. Materials for other paint manufacturers, the Parliamentarians were informed, were also being produced. Extensive additions to (lie factory are shortly to be undertaken. The bonus-on-prodnetion scheme recently introduced at Griffin’s biscuit factory, aS explained by Mr. Charles Grilhu, commanded the attention and the admiration of the visitors, who congratulated this company also on the amenities being provided for the workers. To meet the contracts for service biscuits, the demands of canteens here and overseas and the curtailed civilian market, tiie factory is working two shifts daily and nt tiie end of every .12 weeks a computation is made for oil workers of production per man-hour above that for a fixed period of previous production. Since the scheme was introduced, the bonus has been paid at the end of every period. The working conditions in this modernly-equipped and delightfully situated factory on the banks of the M’aiwhetu Stream met. with the full praise of tiie Parliamentarians, who were informed that, the company s interest in the welfare, of its employees had been well repaid.