THE LABOUR PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 6

THE LABOUR PROBLEM

PROFIT SHARING ADVOCATED. (Feom Oue Own Coeeespondemt.) -AUCKLAND, July 27. References to the industrial unrest of the day were mad© at tho annual dinner of the Auckland Land Agents' Association on l'riday evening. Mr PL C. Tewsley, who proposed the toast of "Law and Commerce," said that there was a need for the services of men of sound commercial knowledge and ability in Parliament, and also to aid in the settlo-rc-ent of the industrial question. . The solution of the latter problem, he thought, lay in the adoption of tho profit sharing principle. Hβ had noticed with pleasure that this system had been adopted by an important New Zealand commercial firm— Messrs Ross and Glendining. Mr M'Callum (president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce) said that Mr Tewsley had touched the real crux of the question. The only way to deal effectively v/ith the problem was by giving labour its fair dues. Several largo firms in New Zealand in addition to Messrs Ross and 'Glondinmg had adopted tho profit sharing system, and in fact a number of houses for a considerable time past had been in the habit in good years of giving bonuses to their employees, particularly to managers and heads of departments who were largely instrumental in the earning of the increased profits. A great deal of the labour trouble could bo eliminated if employers v/ere prepared to give a square deal, and if all tho employees also were prepared to do the same. —("Hear, hear.") It now cost two or three times as much to get work done as it cost 10 or 15 years ago.