The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1946. EMPLOYER—EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21977, 22 March 1946, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1946. EMPLOYER—EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

AMONG the many interesting topics introtluceil and discussed at the conference of Rotary Clubs in Napier was the relationship between employer and employee. Mr. Erie T. Beaven’s pica for better understanding between employers and employees particularly in view of the vital subject of the re-absorption of returned servicemen into industry, deserves much thought, And the further the matter is taken beyond the realm of thought and applied in practice the happier the country will be.

It is a subject which has been taken up by various organisations throughout the Dominion conscious that more could be done to improve the relationship. In by-gone years too high a percentage of inconsiderate employers undoubtedly consolidated the trade union movement. In order to raise the standard of living for themselves and their families to a reasonable level workers bad no alternative under the conditions then existing other than to band together on their own initiative and fight the industrial battle. Under the Arbitration Court system great advances have been made. Generally speaking, the position to-day is satisfactory but the feeling among a large section of the employers is that tics of a more comradely nature than can be attained under bard and fast bargaining should be added to the set rules governing wages and hours of work.

Mr. Beaven supports as a basis for happier relationships the following suggestions: A welfare committee, a group incentive bonus system, the payment of an annual bonus, sick fund societies, superannuation over and above social security, and a personal officer for large establishments and for small and medium set-ups. Some of these plans are already in practice; others remain too idealistic at a time when employers, struggling under heavy taxation imposts, hardly know where to turn for the ready money with which to modernise their well-worn plant. If early taxation relief is afforded by the Government, there will be much more incentive to carry out a programme of this nature in its entirety. Chambers of Commerce in various cities and towns are also strongly interested in the study of better relations. "While extremism on the part of the section of employees who have no scruples about breaking the spirit of arbitration is deplored, it is realised that there are often faults on the employer side which should be eradicated.

The general need is for clear recognition of the interdependence of capital and labour—management and men. The Associated Chambers recently stressed the importance of a frank exchange of views between employer and employee organisations in exploring common ground. It is considered that organised commerce and industry and the trade unions together have a clear-cut obligation to the community as a whole in the fulfilment of an economic and efficient service.