PRODUCTION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 April 1927, Page 5

PRODUCTION

UNITED STATES SYSTEM.

SECRET OF PIECE-WORK,

AUVfIIA LI AN DEFICIENCIES.

BY CABLE —JPIIESS ASSOCIATIONS- -COPYRIGHT.

Received 11.35 p-ni. to-day. NEW YORK, April 9. The Au.strahui Industrial Mission has arrived in New York from Schenectady, where the members w.eue tendered a .aiewell nm-neon by the Chamber of Commerce. .Mr 11. -McColl, general manager of American Locomotive Company, presided. He said that since 1913, notwithstanding a reduction in hours from ten u> nine daily, wages increased in his company by 120 per cent., but average cost of output per ton increased ov only 85 per cent. The reason for this result was the spirit of co-opera-tion between the employers and workmen. Industry would never succeed without team work. His men were well contented, but would never be satisfied. That was natural. Ninety-nine and a half per cent, of labour was on piecework. There was no limit to the workers’ earnings. Piece rates were fixed ilte:- discussion with the workers. All- Valentine, in. responding, said the mission watched one man controlling tool machines making 18 separate cuts on six engine frames. This demonstrated the difficulty, where one worlcr, probably receiving 20s per day, was working one machine, making one cm. Me hoped Australian employers would abandon old ideas, and obtain the latest machinery. He personally would not stick to old prejudices. If American methods of dealing with emplovccs wcre better titan the Australian me 1 hods lie would advocate them. Mr. .McNeil also responded. He said Australia’s policy of obtaining migrants for settlement was a slow process. The Commonwealth must consider, without interfering with the White Australia ideal, a wider scheme of migration.

AMERICAN BUSINESS SUCCESS.

WORKERS’ OUTLOOK DESCRIBED

NEW YORK, April 9

Messages from Schenectady state that five minutes after the speeches of four members of the Australian Industrial Mission, broadcast at 5.30 this morning, William Jackson, of the amateur radion station 2AHM, Schenectady, picked up W. T. Watkins, of. Hobart, Tasmania, who reported that, in a test message, he heard every word from WGY. He could even hear the microphone mstle. Mr Guy said ho believed that Australian employers and employees would adopt those principles which the mission had discovered -were making for a feeling of contentment and happiness among American workers. America had developed efficiency into a science. Australia must pay more attention to scientific research. America had granted every facility- to inspect any plants the mission desired to see. Mr Valentine said that, in view of the hostility displayed towards the employees’ members before the mission left Australia, and threats to prevail upon the American Federation of Labour to refuse recognition of the Australians, they would be interested to learn that in the United States the Labour bodies refused to extend the hand of welcome and good fellowship. Many things were to be learned in America. “Some of your methods we should adopt. Others we should avoid. The unions generally believe in encouraging higher production and efficiency. ”

Tim mission continued its investigation of the plant of the General Electric Company, members being amazed at the development of research laboratories, including a talking and singing cinematograph lilm, which is projected on the screen. The mission questioned the officials of the company, which has a larger percentage of skilled men than the majority of other industries inspected. The a verage wage at the Schenectady plant i» nearly three shillings per hour. Women are earning upwards of 3s 4d per hour on piecework, placing and connecting coils in motors. They are better than men at this work. Moulders, on big jobs, are earning upwards of os 3d. Unskilled piecework moulders on the machines, are earning an average of 3s 4d.

The company is employing 35C apprentices on a four years’ course, but with no legal binding. Mr H. Smith, the works superintendent, said they feared a shortage of skilled labour. Companies like the General Electric arc being penalised for the general good. The automobile industries were horrible examples where skilled men were not required. All-round skilled men would be made sick doing repetition work. _ Recently the Australian mission inspected the American locomotive company’s works at Schenectady. Scotch pattern makers stated that frequent sympathetic strikes in Schenectady had destroyed unionism several years ago.

One foreman, who had served his apprenticeship at Glasgow, said the “Daily Mail ’’ mission missed the point in its inquiry. The real lesson to be learned in America was that workers were not afraid to finish a job quickly. The idea in Britain was that workers wanted to see another job coming before finishing the one in hand. Americans work rapidly, hoping to secure more jobs. British migrants to America always must be taught the proper idea of production.”