INDUSTRIAL WELFARE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1921, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL WELFARE.

THE BRITISH EXAMPLE. CAN IT APPLY TO NEW ZEALAND. During the war period a great deal of attention was given in the Motherland to what is known as welfare work, more especially in connection with the Ministry of Munitions. The motive idea governing this movement is service directed towards meeting the human needs and improving the general wel-, fare of industrial operatives with the object of rousing their status as workers, as citizens and as human beings. We have received supplies of literature from the English Industrial Welfare Society and extract [the following from one leaflet on the society’s aims: FOREWORD. The Council of the Industrial Welfare Society fee] sure that you will be interested in the following statement regarding the aims and work of the society.

Industrial Welfare work is furthering the cause of industrial peace by helping to secure for all workers the best possible conditions of working; recognition of their needs in connection with all those matters affecting their wellbeing which are not covered by negotiation between employers’ federations and trades unions; and_ by increasing in a practical way understanding and goodwill all round. Whilst the promotion of efficiency is not the motive force behind the movement, yet it can scarce be denied that ultimately the best worker is the contented worker. The exact application of welfare principles varies with the circumstances of industries and firms, but the movement Is concerned with the questions of housing, transport, engagement, progress, dismissal, health, working conditions, canteens, sanitary and lavatory arrangements, -sickness and convalescence, education, thrift, recreation and social activities.

The introduction of organised schemes of welfare work provides a means, perhaps the best means of bringing together in common purpose all the sections of a business undertaking, and produces what has been so aptly deccribed as “esprit-de-firm.” A little more than two years ago the Industrial Welfare Society was formed by a number of well-known industrial leaders for the purpose of continuing upon a voluntary basis the work thus started by the State, and during the short period which has since elapsed, the work of the society has attracted worldwide attention. The society exists for the purpose of serving employers and others, and. along the following broad lines, places its organisation at the disposal of those who may desire to use it: - By assisting employers to introduce organised schemes of welfare work. By providing men and women com petent to undertake the task of welfare supervision. By retaining interest and maintainin’l, progress by means of lectures,visits, literature, etc. By supplying firms with information and by pooling the experiences of others in all parts of the world, NEITHER CLASS NOR PARTY. This movement in Great Britain is neither a class nor party one. but is broadly human in its outlook and purpose. The president is IT.R.H. the Duke of York, K.C., and the chairman is Lord Invernairn. There are the heads of firms on the council and there arc such Labor men as the Hon. J. R. Clynes. Arthur Henderson, John Hodge. J. 11. Thomas, Haverlock Wilson, and others. The statement that ‘•industrial welfare work is furthering the cause of industrial peace” we think is right, and the question we wish to have considered by the employers here is whether a similar movement may not be advantageous to our industrial affairs if applied in New Zealand. At its last annual conference the Employers’ Federation discussed at some length proposals for bringing more closely together the employers and employed. What we would like to see 'brought into active existence is an industrial welfare movement representative of both employers and employed. There have already been conferences hold of both representatives of the employers’ associations and the trades and labor councils. Cannot permanent societies and committees of this join! character be established for the purpose indicated herein? It is a question that only the workers and the employers’ organisations can settle, and we desire most respectfully to urge that they take it into consideration as early as possible. In the present state of our country s affai-rfc it is for the welfare of all that we should pull together. Here wo believe is a line which affords good opportunity in the industrial life of the Dominion. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).