LOOK OUT FOR YOUR EYES.
INDUSTRIAL WELFARE MOVEMENT.
The literature wc receive from England tells us of a very live movement there named “Industrial Welfare.” v Leading Industrialists both on the side of Labour and Capital are taking an active part in the work. The Industrial Welfare Society is under the presidency of H.R.H. the Duke of York and such men as Lord Invernairn, Mr, J. R. Clynes, M.P., Mr James Denny, Mr Will Thorne, M.P., and Mr J. Hnverloek Wilson are on its council. There comes to us every month its published journal which contains most interesting matter relating to the activities of the Society and the welfare work being carried out in connection with many industries. As an indication of the magnitude of the movement in some directions we learn that on November 3rd last the Miners’ Welfare Fund of West Yorkshire showed: —Statutory allocations £908,402, grants allocated £339,105, grants paid £60,759, net credit to District Fund £847,282. This is only one out of the many districts throughout Great Britain where such work is being done. We may ask here what are the industrialists of New Zealand doing in this direction? Have the employers associations, trades and labour Councils and other Industrial bodies given there attention to this movement of the new Industrialism which aims at efficiency and humanity in the operation of our industries. Here is a specimen of the work of this movement from the last journal to hand. CARE OF THE WORKERS’ EYES.
“Much lias bee'll written in a broad and indefinite way about the importance of caring’ for the eyes of those who are engaged in industrial occupations. It is the purpose of this article to get away from vague generalities and to "place before the reader the practical details of a scheme which has been carried out. In July of last year the magaging director of the Thames Paper Company Ltd., of Purfleet, Essex, wrote to me in the following terms: 'We have been interested in the ‘Journal of Vision,’ and it has brought to mind a query as to whether you have.made it a practice to visit neighbouring works and attend on the spot to any eye irregularities. I do not know whether our workpeople have generally good eyesight or defective, but it struck me that possibly it might be well to consider such a schemle under our Welfare Work.’ In turning my attention to this subject I first of all attempted to formulate the advantages which would accrue. — (a) to the firms, (b) to the workers themselves from carrying out of such a scheme. ADVANTAGES TO EMPLOYERS. I came to the following conclusions : Prom a purely business point of view the firm has a supreme interest in the efficiency of its employees. Its reputation is built up on the quality of the work which is turned out. Anything which increases the efficiency of the workers, therefore, and enables them to turn out better work, improves the reputation of the firm and increases its chances of success in the open market. “The correction of optical defects by glasses would increase the efficiency of the workers in three ways:—
(1) In some cases directly, by improving the vision and enabling the workers fo perform their jobs more accurately. (2) In many more cases, indirectly, by removing eye-strain and consequently getting rid of head- | ache —a constant source of poor ! work and absence among girls. (3) In all cases by improving the general comfort of the workers, both on and off duty, which enables them to put their best into their work. BENEFITS TO WORKERS. To workers themselves the scheme should mean:— (1) Their work would be easier and more pleasant; (2) Their eyes would keep in good condition; (3) Increased earnings where payment by results is in operation; (4) Reading and other occupations 'undertaken in leisure hours would be rendered more comfortable and 'agreeable. For all these reasons, therefore,
it is obvious that the examination of eyesight, and the supplying of spectacles is eminently suitable for consideration as welfare work. “The number of employees examined was 151, of these 74 required optical treatment. The following financial requirements were adopted. A fee of 5/- was charged for examination. The sight testing fee was paid by the Welfare Association, which also made a grant of 5/- towards each pair of spectacles supplied, these being secured at a specially low price. The Thames Paper Company have now decided to make these arrangements a permanent part of their Welfare "Work.” We fear that it is a side of industrialism being neglected in New Zealand, and as such work would benefit employers and employed it. is time that Industrial organisations gave more attention to such 'Welfare work. * (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2549, 1 March 1923, Page 4
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795LOOK OUT FOR YOUR EYES. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2549, 1 March 1923, Page 4
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