LEADERSHIP IN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 12

LEADERSHIP IN INDUSTRY

Sir,—The illuminating discourse by Mr. Fulton, reported in the Tuesday issue of the Dominion, accentuates one of the most culpable errors of administrators of New Zealand industry, more • particularly Government and City Council officials—viz., the suppression of new projects formulated by the junior assistants. So keen, are some of these assistants that not infrequently we hear of one or more going abroad entirety at their own expense for the acquisition of entirely new ideas in connection with t’-yty respective vocations. On return- •' i* they are usually relegated to their pievious subordinate positions, where they lie dormant until the obligatory retirement of their immediate chiefs is effected, and by which time a junior’s mind has. reached such a state of stagnation that he is an appropriate successor.

It is amongst such zealous assistants that we should watch for our future superintendents, and on selecting these send them first to U.S.A, to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of laboursaving machinery and the most modern ideas in relation to the speedy expedition of engineering contracts, then to England to study “craftsmanship” and the construction of “jobs that last.” —I am, etc., VOLUNTARILY RETIRED. Wellington, October 5.