MEANS OF INCREASINGPRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 225, 21 June 1939, Page 8

MEANS OF INCREASINGPRODUCTION

Urgent Problem In Internal Economy LONGER HOURS AND PIECE-WORK SYSTEM The New Zealand Employers’ Federation and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, in conjunction, have forwarded the following statement to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and the Minister of Labour, Mr. Webb :■ — In the opinion of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of- New Zealand, the most urgent problem in New Zealand’s internal economy today is the need for increased production from all our internal industries as wed as from our export industries. These two organizations have therefore given consideration to the question of what practical methods may be applied with the object of increasing production. Their consideration of the question has resulted in the unanimous conclusion that there are two things which may be doue and to which it is reasonable to request the Government of New Zealand and the workers of New Zealand to give their favourable consideration. These two things are:— First: A legislative provision that notwithstanding anything contained in any award or industrial agreement, it shall be permissible for employers and workers’ organizations iu any industry in which the 40-hour week applies to arrange that the first four hours of overtime in any week shall be worked at ordinary time rates and may be spread over the first five days of the w-eek, or worked on the Saturday morning, as may be mutually arranged. This would have the effect of increasing production by approximately 10 per. cent., and it would be to the benefit of the worker in two ways. It would enable him to earn 10 per cent, extra wages to assist him to meet the increasing cost of living; and it would also tend to check the further increasing of costs and prices. Second: The adoption of piecework, wherever such a system can be easily and readily applied, would undoubtedly have the effect of increasing production and also of enabling workers to earn higher ' wages. It is realized that the workers’ organizations in many cases have a rooted objection to piece-work. But it is believed that the objections can be overcome, and that such safeguards may be applied to piece-work systems as will remove any possible fear of the workers being in any way “sweated” or unfairly treated. The two organizations concerned in this request do therefore most earnestly urge upon the Government that careful and favourable consideration be given to these proposals.