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Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1927, Page 3

piecework It is difficult to determine tlic exact period in history when payment hy results as distinct from payments by the hour! day or week, was first introduced. As far as one can learn, piecework’has always obtained in some trades, whilst remuneration by time lias always been the custom in others. For instance, until comparatively recently, bricklayers, carpenters engineers, masons, plumbers plusteieis, uid agricultural workers were invariable paid a daily or weekly wage (payment bv the hour was not, apparently adopted until well into the ninettenth century) a.ul the artisan class have always opposed payment by resuits. To this day building trade workers have succeeded in resisting the introduction of piecework, not because of the power of their unions, hut 115 reason of the fact that machinery has not affected these craft to any appreciable extent, and the absence of repetitive work makes it difficult to fix ] nrices. When carpenters and .minors find themselves in mass production ,s----tnblishmouts. however, they ' « accept payment l.y results spinners, tailors, cloth workers, farriers. furriers, brushmakors slmemak‘•s and hatmakers have a ways been remunerated according to value of yyo k done. This may be attributed hr tbo fact that those workers formeil.y ■ ried on their, trade in their homes. manv do at the present time, where. in the absence of any system of ohed in*, time payment is impossible orx o. in the case of the farner. factory methods are impracticable.—W. *; Watson in “The Fortnightly Review.