MASS PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1934, Page 10

MASS PRODUCTION

'■■ TRAINING OP BOYS

DEVELOPING THE FULL MAN

SPECIALISATION ISSUE

An important question concerning the training of boys in industrial processes came before the Technical College Board of Governors last night. "An application which is somewhat significant was received from a firm recently. They asked for boys for employment in mass production work, and suggested that a knowledge of the industry as a whole was not required, and might even be a disadvantage, but the boys should be patient, and have considerable powers of application," reported^Mr. R. G. Bidling, director of tho college. "This is not the first occasion upon which it has been suggested that a knowledge of the complete processes required in an industry might be disadvantageous, but I must admit that when boys with a comprehensive knowledge have applied for work they have been given consideration by the employer. This is such an unusual request in New Zealand that it is ne.cessary to examine it in the light of scientific investigations of more industrialised countries into the proficiency of workers and the onset of fatigue as affected by the interest of the worker. It. is agreed that *n mass production work the processes become mechanical, and as such may be as efficiently performed by workers of varying degrees of intelligence, and yet the initiators of mass production work have found it desirable to establish in connection with their work training schools where the efficiency of workers might be developed and- tho training given therein is definitely based upon the industrial processes themselves." ' "THE FULL MAN." It was maintained by Mr. Bidling that there was mpro need for educational authorities to give consideration to training for the development of the full man. Interests other than those associated with labour must be developed, :and he foresaw more comprehensive courses being arranged for evening school work. Education for leisure had been freely discussed by leading thinkers, and some provision must be made in their evening school work for this.

"This year," said the director, "enrolments have been taken for advanced English and in musical appreciation. Certain of our art classes more or less associated with aesthetic development are full, and many students who have been unable to obtain work for which they wer,e trained in the day school have chosen to continue this in the evening school because of the abiding interest it holds for them.

Work with choirs is developing steadily, but the conductors .feel that insufficient time is available during the day to enable a high standard of work to be maintained. Permission has therefore been given for the boys' choir to meet on Saturday mornings. This will commence after Easter. I appreciate very much the interest shown by the conductor of the choir as it means his Saturday mornings will invariably be taken up. ■

CHEAPENING PRODUCTION COST. Mr. A. Mill asked what was the use of specialised, technical education if mass production was to be encouraged Mr. A. C. Blake drew attention to the words of the Director, "The de velopment of the full man." That was what the college and every school aimed at. They wanted to" give students as full an education as possible, so that if one industry failed the students in after life could get occupation in a kindred industry. Mr. Eidling said that personally he was not antagonistic to a worker being employed in work which required one or two operations, provided sufficient arrangements could be made for the worker to fill his leisure satisfactorily. Unless he could do that, there would be a gradual deterioration not only of his work but also of his personality. Mr. J. J. Clark said that mass production -vvas an effort of employers to che/ipen tho cost of production. He referred to what had been done by Henry Ford in that respect. Mr. Ridling remarked that the training given in the Technical College gave the student a thorough interest in his job, because he knew the whole job, and was more' efficient because of that training. . ;

Mr.'Mill pointed out that notwithstanding the result of mass production in America, they were often glad to get men from Britain who had received the general training given there. The chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth)' expressed the opinion that there was no reason why boys who took the courses given at the college should not take up outside work.