Cooperative Production At Auckland Gasworks

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 56, 9 March 1944, Page 6

Cooperative Production At Auckland Gasworks

INTERESTING EXPERIMENT PLANNED. AUCKLAND, March 6. Full details of the plan under which the Government is to supervise the cooperative production scheme at the Auckland Gas Company arrived in Auckland today. In addition to the proposed conditions of Government supervision the draft provided for a production bonus of 3d. an hour to the men and dealt with the proposed constitution and functions of the works. The Production Council plans as sent by the Government might be subject to modifications by the men or the company, said Mr. W. A. Leggett, who is deputy for Mr. C. H. Benney, supervisor under the scheme. Mr. Leggett said the proposals were fully discussed today by representatives of the company and of the men. The plans were receiving consideration by the company’s solicitors and they would be placed before a meeting of all the employees of the company. If the proposals were accepted by Wednesday, he said, the men would receive a bonus of 3d. an hour retrospective to March. “The proposals allow for the scheme to come into operation as from March 1 and to continue for six months when the position will be reviewed,” said Mr. Leggett. “The supervisor is mainly concerned with increasing production and reducing costs although it will always be the supervisor’s object to use and extend the Works Production Council. For these particular purposes the technical aspects of supervision will be carried out by such persons as the Government considers are necessary. ‘ ‘ The production bonus of 3d. an hour will be paid by the company each pay day provided the amount of gas produced is not less than that fixed by the Production Council and approved by the supervisor,” said the* speaker, “As mentioned by the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) safeguards have been made to protect workers against a fall in production brought about through no fault of their own.” If the economies expected under the scheme were not effected the company would have a claim on the Government for an adjustment of any loss, said Mr. Leggett. It was not expected that that position would arise as the whole scheme would be directed primarily towards an increase in production. If the ideas already coming from the men were any indication the desired result should be easily achieved. It all depended on a continuation of the cooperative spirit already shown by the : men in regard to the scheme. The Production Council as proposed in the draft would be set up on the usual lines, said the speaker. It would consist of representatives of the management and one representative of each separate section of the workers. The manager of the company would be the chairman and a representative of the workers would be vice-chairman. Its fuuetious would relate to the welfare of employees and the promotion of harmony between them and the management. The council would also assist by consultation on the general production and organisation of the works to maintain a full supply to the community, it would consider means of improving efficiency, economy and cooperation in the works. ‘ ‘ The Works Production Council will not deal with any industrial disputes which is rightly the function of the unions at present represented at the works,” said Mr. Leggett.