THE PERSONAL TOUCH IN INDUSTRY.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 39, 10 December 1920, Page 4

THE PERSONAL TOUCH IN INDUSTRY.

In the old days of last century, when large establishments were the exception rather than the rule, the employer regarded his workman as one of his business family (writes Sir Robert Hadfield, Bart., head of the great steel firm of Hadfield's of Sheffield, in the London "Daily Mail"). And, though it be true that no man is a hero to his valet, it is undoubtedly the case ' that this close association of master and man resulted in a personal understanding and regard which conduced to good service on the one hand, and fair and generous treatment on the other. The same close persohal relationship between the head of a.firm and the staff is not possible in the ordinary course of business to-day, but there is still room -for much closer co'-operation betweeft the two great brahch.es of the industrial machine. Many grievances on the part of the workers — and some whiclj have led to seri. ous consequences— liave arisen from almost trivial misunderstandings. The employer is misunderstood by the men he employs ; the employees' point of view is difficult of appreciation by the employer. The trend of modern industrial conditions has been to cut the employer off further than ever from his workmen. Whereas formerly he would wallc round the shop, chat with the men, and give them the opportunity of stating their troubles or their sugg,estions to him, he 'is now inade aware of their aspirations and demands only through the medium of their representHives whom he meets in round-table conference. With such conferences we have perforce to be content to-day, but their institution is all to the good. They have had the effect of proving to hoth sides that neither is as unreasonable as the other thought it was. They settle many difficulties and clear away. many obscurities, even though the employer knows only the trade union representatives and the shop stewards, and could not iridentify the men at the benches who are the real backbone of the business. The loss of the personal touch in industry is to be regretted, for it had a fine lium^nising inlluence,. but industry has grown to such an enormous size in these days of world-wide markets that its maintenance is practically impossible to-day. Many employers, however, thougu bound to follow modern methods in their dealings with their workers, still endeavoyr to keep the old personal : touch in some of the little things that oount for so much in smooth working. In doing so they are keeping aiive, at any rate, the spirit underlying the intimaey between master and man which was so prominent a characteristie f nineteenth century industrialism. -