SELECTING WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1934, Page 6

SELECTING WORKERS.

The practice which is being increasingly adopted in industry and commerce of setting scientifically devised intelligence and psychological tests to applicants, for employment lias now Lecu put into use hy Messrs. Peek, Frean and Company, Ltd., who employ some 4000 people at their works in Bermondscy (says "The Times"). Mr. J. 11. Fullwood, employment manager at the works and president of the Institute of Labour Management, stated recently that investigations showed that the labour turnover at the works was too high and uneconomic. The National Institute of Industrial Psychology were approached, and certain specifically designed tests were supplied. The tirm had now adopted a four years' plan for the scientific of juvenile workers, and already the results indicated that the tests were sound, and he was hopeful that they would bring about a substantial reduction of the wastage of labour turnover. Applicants carried out the tests more satisfactorily if their parents were not present. Generally speaking, girls of fourteen years were more intelligent and came through the tests more creditably than did boys of a similar age. The tests include arranging dummy biscuits in piles; inserting strips of corrugated packing .paper in boxes of dummy biscuits; making rubber stamp marks in defined circles; quickly detecting faulty biscuits. The tests given to lads who wish to be van boys include placing strips of tin in and assembling common objects such as a bicycle bell, an adjustable spanner, and various clips. Many applicants also have to complete an examination paper in arithmetic, grammar, copying and general intelligence.