SWEDISH EXAMPLE TO NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22251, 16 November 1937, Page 14

SWEDISH EXAMPLE TO NEW ZEALAND

APPLICATION OF BONUS SYSTEM URGED

(PEESS association' tilegbam.)

AUCKLAND. November 15.

After spending a month in Sweden Inspecting industrial plants, including sawmills and mass production joinery factories, Mr James Fletcher, managing director of the Fletcher Construction Company, believes that no country in the world can compare with. Sweden for industrial efficiency. Mr Fletcher, who returned by the Aorangii said tljat he was greatly impressed by the Swedish system 'of wage payment, consisting of a minimum wage plus an additional payment for each unit produced over a given standard.

"The system has, resulted in a high wage standard and considerable increase in production," he said. "Without penalising the inefficient or inexpert workman, it has encouraged the diligent and conscientious workman to give his best and has encouraged an extremely high standard of workmanship,"

Mr Fletcher said that he had discussed this method of payment as applied to the building 1 industry with Swedish contractors, and he was convinced that such a system could be applied to ,suit New Zealand conditions. Speaking generally, Mr Fletcher said it would pay the New Zealand Government to secure details of the operation of Swedish mills for the benefit df New Zealand sawmillers.