The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AAUGUST 12, 1927. INDUSTRIAL METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AAUGUST 12, 1927. INDUSTRIAL METHODS.

Ti.k world is very much cjncei iu.d ..»« adavs in indnst.n.l methods and America has attained a pre-eminence i„ regard to industry and the methods by which high wag- and high production are maintained to too c\i nsm or serious labor truuldes. \\c ■ soon hear what the recent mdusti iul mission Iron. Australia, thinks ot conditions for work and production m the United States. The mission was sent hy the Federal Government or Australia and has now returned nssthrough New Zealand recently the returning delegates declined to give publicity to any of their findings till the report he presented to the authorising quarter. The Australian ,s only one of the many delegations sent from different parts of the world by those astonished at the success «» td production in America. One of the best reports on conditions in the l n.ilcd States, .says a. contemporary, was made by the Belgian delegation (of workmen chiefly), whose verdict was that thore is much valuable material in the American conditions for the profitable study of the great problem of industrial peace thrpughout the world. The riddle offered hy American industry is the fact that it pays higher wages than are ever dreamt of in most ! other countries; that it produces double the output per mail .shown by any other country; and yet. so it is said .the American workman is not the superior of any other workman. Then how it is that the American can, without, any increase in his hours of labour—in very many instances lie works no more than II hours a week—turn out so much more than bis rivals of other countries? And the agreement between men and masters in many establishments is wonderful. and this, in spite of the widely continued animosity of employers against trade unions and the relentless stand 'made hy the American Federation of Labour for the right to strike and the practice of collective bargaining. The conundrum seems more difficult than the riddle by which the Sphinx riveted the attention of the world of yore. There are many answers. They rely respectively on the increased use of machinery. better management—called scientific and organised as a science—mass production, so specially favourable to standardisation, and organisations of various kinds of capital and of labour by which good understanding is established in many great factories. 1 he report of the Australian delegation will throw most interesting light on tins problem/ We have had signs from the delegation during their American travels of the results of their observations. There seems to have been differences of opinion, but their report should be illuminating. This not only on the conditions of American industry, but upon the question of the effect of that industry's competition in the markets of the world. At present file export of American industry is not more than ei lit per cent, of the whole, whereas that of Britain is not less than twentyfive. What will happen when this American percentage is largely increased as in the ordinary course of things human may be expected. Tt is a case for the world’s adjustment to conditions as yet unknown. The Australian delegation’s report will get these conditions better understood in the Commonwealth, where industrial development has come into greater prominence than here in New Zealand. The suggestion has been made that this Dominion should send a delegation of investigation to the United tates. It would certainly bring us into the fashion, but would it be of real value to our industrial development. The

conditions here with our small population and limited local market are so different to those prevailing in America that the game would not be worth the price of the candle. For the present. we can content ourselves with the views and experiences of other delegations. But there is always the lesson before us that America docs not use go-slow methods. 11 1 J:1 lest y in work Mini production no doubt accounts for a great deal of the ;... I output, and it is manifest it is this achiovenienet which helps to pay the increased wages bill A study of the quest ion from all angles is alike essential for employer and employee, and in that regard the Australian report liken it is available will he of a aide public use and service.