CONTROL OF INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1919, Page 5

CONTROL OF INDUSTRIES.

J THE SYSTEM IN GERMANY. r f THE WORKERS' VOICE. . By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Cop}Tlsht. # ) Received Dec. 2fl, 5.35 p.m. , London, Dec. 26. i Mr. Peacock (the special representative of the Sydney Sun), writing from Berlin, says that the system of semi-Sovietism which is operating in connection with German industries looks like becoming permanent. It is called Botriobsracte, Every workshop lias a bank and an insurance company in combination with the enterprise, ana has an elective workmen's council, with the right of consultation in the general management in regard to the undertaking, dismissal, sanitation, hours and social questions. The workmen's councils do not deal with sales or finance, whilst wages are left to collective bargaining between employers and the trades unions. He adds: "I discussed the system with many big manufacturers, who oppose its threatened extension to complete socialisation, but they agree it. is a right of the workers to have a voice in the workshop affairs, and they admit that in half of the .councils much closer sympathy and goodwill exists between employers and labor in (Sennany than in Britain. Hence the system iias been received more favorably than might have been expected. "The Ministry of Labor informs me that a Bill, which will shortly be introduced, and which will become'law, is the result of discussions between most able industrialists and financiers. It gives the committees the force of the law in every undertaking employing more than twenty workers. ■ Employers must consider the committee's advice on the general administration of workshops and finance. In smaller undertakings a shop steward has ■ the committee's rights. In joint stock companies workers' delegates sit on the directorate. They cannot give orders, but ' they must attend the councils. District 1 councils send delegates to a Central Em- 1 |iire Council, composed half of employers J and half of employees, and with large powers to settle disputes and govern eoo- ' nomie and social questions. Solicitors, J dentists, and artists' undertakings are included. One of the great objects is to ] keep industrial committees free of pot- j tical activities."—lgnited Service. * ;