INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1920, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT.

RELATIONS BETWEN LABOUR

AND CAPITAL

In his able and interesting address i delivered to the Federation of British ' Industries, Sir Vincent Caillard refer- [ red to tile extraordinary suspicion with which labour too frequently regards ' those who create and find employment for the implements of industry. To no little extent h e admitted some employers have themselve 8 been to blame. The suspicion has been in part created by organised propaganda, and there has , been no corresponding organisation to discount the effect produced by these exparte statements. “STATE LAGS BEHIND PRIVATE ! EMPLOYER. j

It has unfortunately not been the practice to associate the men with the management even in matters of mutual con c ern. ,It is only within recent years, for example, that works safety committees have been appointed, in which elected representatives of the men concert with the management in mitigating the dangers inherent in so many .industrial" undertakings. Those who have served on such committees and learn how much thought the management expends in pursuit of safety, will not easily fall a victim to the belief in the theoretical capitalist of the Fabian Society, actuated solely by motives of cupidity. How many of those who have seen the nationalisation of the mines advocated on the grounds that, the safety of employees would thereby be promoted, realise that in such matters the State has always lagged behind the private employer? Every important safety device has, in fact, been due to private enterprise, and has only been enforced by legal enactment after having come n into pretty general use as the result of voluntary action.

“LET THE WORKMEN KNOW.” There are other industrial matters besides questions of safety in which assistance may well be sought from the men. In most manufacturing industries there are no doubt bounds to the degree of partnership possible. The attempt to develop a new industry, to tap new sources of wealth, or prncticalise a patent specification, involves the assumption of gambling risks. Lord Washam, for example, is said to have expended £20,000, before he solved the problem of utilising silk waste. Workmen cannot fairly be asked to share either the risk or the- responsibility for such ventures all essential as these are to our progress, and consequently the more enterprising firms may have greater difficulties in securing the cooperation of labour than those content to lead a more humdrum existence, copying and adapting ideas In place of originating them. Nevertheless, even the most progressive firm would benefit by letting their workmen know more of their aims and achievements. There is, however, the danger that if the abilities of the abler men are not utilised for the benefit of the industry, they may bfe porvered to its detriment.

This has undoubtedly happened frequently in thp past-, where output has been of set purpose restricted, in circumstances requiring considerable ingenuity to achieve this anti-social end. —“Engineering.”