The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1927. PAYMENT BY RESULTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland, N.Z. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1927. PAYMENT BY RESULTS

A GOVERNMENT Bill to amend the unsatisfactory law of industrial conciliation and arbitration is promised for parliamentary consideration this session. No official hint as to the scope and purpose of the prospective measure has yet been given, but the scribes who keep their (jars to the ground in political territory have heard whispers of the Government’s intention to make provision for payment by results and piecework rates of wages. If such should prove to be the main aim of the new Bill, its enactment will rank as a notable piece of industrial legislation. Payment by results ? It is a revolutionary idea for the great majority of this country’s workers who, for the past thirtythree years, have been spoon-fed by the Arbitration Court in proportion to the cost of their porridge. The principle of payment by results is so excellent in theory that its prospective adoption will he welcomed with enthusiasm by all those outside the sheltered industries, but its application to industry generally will be extraordinarily difficult in practice Many forms of service which are characterised by the servants as hard work do not offer a promising field for the exiaeriment of payment by results. Parliament itself immediately leaps into vision as the most notorious exemption. The wages pf politicians, who are deemed worthy of hire nowadays, would indeed be meagre if their payment were based on the principle of payment by results. And think of the embarrassing plight of many departments of State and professional men, such as physicians and barristers, if they, too, should be paid by results. But these mercifully are placed outside the hard laws and rules of plain industry. The success of piecework payment depends on the practice of an industrial ruthlessness that is foreign to the present working generation in this easy land for workers. It demands efficiency, speed, and thorough effort all the time. Under the present system in New Zealand too many industrial workers are like the waters of Shilvah; they “go softly,” knowing that the minimum wage is also the maximum, and that the speed of their work need only be the pace of the slowest worker. Under the American system to which so many New Zealanders, in blissful ignorance, look wistfully, the worker must maintain the efficient factory’s pace or go. Of course, high wages are paid to those who can stand up to discipline and speed, but the system has no generosity for the slacker or the agitator. Work is the test and the wise employer pays well for results without whining or attempting to reduce the piecework rates. As a result, a good unskilled worker in the United States is paid up to £5 a week, while first-class skilled workers earn up to £l2 a week and even more. The cost of living is higher than here, but the difference is not enough to swallow up the difference in wages. It is not likely industrial unionism will agree easily to the introduction of compulsory payment by results in industry. It involves too much hard work for the money.

/ NEW ZEALAND’S AIR FORCE

NEW ZEALAND’S air policy consists mainly of hot air. It has years been the subject of discussion in Parliament and on the platform, of investigation and reports, of the visits of advisers from abroad, of intensely acrimonious debate by the Navy League, of arguement in train, tram and ferry, of feverish mental activity on the part of flying men, naval men and military men—and of little jaunts oversea by experts commissioned by a Government that is fairly fascinated by the overwhelming importance of aviation to this country. And with the exception of a few trainees at Christchurch and one or two planes that do not appear to have the flying radius of an inferior homing pigeon, it is all air and no force. There is something really humorous in Mr. Coates’s remarks concerning “the air force” yesterday being described as a “reference to the Government’s aviatjon policy.” The Prime Minister was told by a deputation of the Navy League that the time had arrived when more attention should be paid to the seaplane defence of the Dominion. Mr. Coates replied that the Air Board had found very little opportunity of making recommendations recently, as the Government had always to consider the resources of the Dominion, which could not afford to do much in experimental work in aviation. It thought it better to take what had proved to be sound in other countries. However, he had discussed the question of providing more airplanes and seaplanes with the Minister of Defence, and he had discussed naval, military and civil aviation with the British Air Ministry. Later on, the Government would be able to announce what it would do . . . hut the actual machines required had not been purchased. The Government was constantly being advised . . . Captain Isitt would make a report on his return to the Dominion. . . . Imagine it to be the year 1937. Chinese warships sighted from Tiri. Mr. Coates is obtained by wireless telephone from Auckland: “What’s that? Can we send out seaplanes to drop bombs on the enemy? We haven’t got a seaplane. Cabinet is discussing air defence—you shouldn’t interrupt . . . We can’t afford to experiment . . . We’re waiting to see what other countries are doing ... I assure you we are being constantly advised . . . Captain Longone will be returning from Faroff next year with a special report . . . What’s that? . . . Enemy drawing near cost? Signa them to stand off . . . tell ’em we’ll wireless London to send out a bombing 'plane by next steamer if they don’t . . . What’s that? . . . Enemy planes over city? . . . Bombing Auckland? . . . I’ll call for a special report on that . . . I’ll—! ! !” It may he hoped that if Mr. Coates’s Government is still in power in 1937, it will prove a little more energetic and resourceful in matters of moment than it is to-day, thus justifying its long hold on office and its reputation for “getting things done.”