AUTOMATION WELCOMED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29224, 7 June 1960, Page 14

AUTOMATION WELCOMED

“Benefit In Many

Fields”

Automation properly introduced can in many fields reduce arduous labour, and to the extent it offers lower costs, higher standards of living and a vista of more leisure, it will be welcomed, says Mr J. Neale, national secretary of the New Zealand Engineers’ Union, in a paper to be delivered to the industrial development conference in Wellington next week.

Automation is not something new that has suddenly burst on the industrial scene. In essence, it is no more than a logical development of techniques and philosophies that have guided the industrial revolution since its earliest days, says Mr Neale.

New Zealand, for its size, undoubtedly has achieved a very high degree of mechanisation in both primary and secondary industries. The primary industry, with its decreasing labour force, has increased output in most fields to a remarkable extent through mechanisation. However, in an expanding economy such as there is in the country, automation should be encouraged wherever the “runs” and markets justify the initial capital expenditure, he says. Care will have to be taken to preserve full employment, which might- entail a provision for the transfer of redundant workers to other suitable employment. Close liaison with employment agencies of the State and consultation with the trade unions concerned would be necessary to ensure co-opera-tion on any changes likely to affect workers. Older workers faced with the necessity of changing their occupation were a grave problem. Experience has already taught that automated programmes of production will fail unless resultting savings in unit costs are passed on to consumers in lower prices, Mr Neale says. If this is done wider ' markets can be opened up with advantage to all concerned.