SHARING PROFITS

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1919, Page 1

SHARING PROFITS

EMPLOYERS FAVOURABLE

SATISFACTORY RESULTS IN

NEW ZEALAND.

In the Industrial Bulletin issued under the auspices of the New Zealand Employers' Federation the principle of profit-sharing is referred to in terms of approval, and satisfaction is expressed that it has met with the support of several industrial concerns in the Dominion. It h hoped that these examples of profitsharing will induce the heads of other firms to follow suit, and will point the way towards enlightened methods of recognising the human element underlying the wage contract. It is not contended that the adoption of such schemes means the solution of the whole question of industrial relations, but th"ey involve important principles which must be recognised and adopted if New Zealand industries are to progress and bring greater prosperity a/id contentment to employers and workers. The article continues: "We venture to again commend this matter to the earnest, consideration of employers in industries where employment is at present, or can become, permanent in its nature. The principle of bonus-sharing may be considered the first step; profit-sharing—on whatever basis may suit each business or industry—can follow, and finally co-partnership stands as a complete and unassailable success in cases where it can be reasonably and honestly adopted. To secure a full measure of active co-operation between the business and its employees, and to bring about harmony, stability, and general progress and benefit for all, some recognition and some material incentive must be granted to the individual units which constitute the operative enterprises as a whole. Particularly in the earlier stages of the adoption of any plan of this nature, a sacrifice on the part of the employing capitalists may be involved, but this monetary sacrifice must ( if the scheme is honest in intention and sound in principle, bring in the long run benefits which can be secured in no other way."