BUSINESS EFFICIENCY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 2

BUSINESS EFFICIENCY

DISCUSSED BY COACHBUILDERS. “RULE OF THUMB” VOGUE CONDEMNED. At their afternoon session yesterday, the coachbuilders’ convention discussed in committee the present award and its bearing on war problems. The discussion was initiated by a paper on “Business Efficiency,” read by Mr Joll, of Auckland. Evidence proved, said Air Joll, that in the past the coachbuilding trade had not been given its rightful place among traces. This, he considered, was largely due to the lack of efficiency, which had been marked in both, employers and employees. Too many businesses had been run by rule-of-thumb methods ; and often, through ignorance of the proper way to work out costs, work had been taken at .unremuneraftive prices, an<s thus it was ultimately found that the business did not pay. To meet this difficulty, too, inferior work had been done, and thus the workman lost pride in his task, because he was not encouraged to do his best. Employers, urged' Mr Joll, should educate themselves up to the best methods of doing things, ivhicli they could do by means of trade magazines; and they should recognise the necessity for' continual improvements and keeping abreast of tho times. He dealt also with tho need for system in office work and accounts, and for a careful study of the best methods of dealing with work in the factory. They should consider how .a job could bo done with tho least expenditure of energy, and should show their men that the use of their brains saved their Associations, too, should take a definite interest in education, and see, to it that the children of all had equal opportunities, for education was at the root of national efficiency. National efficiency meant the sum of all their businesses, aud all could attribute to it. It was not, he would remind them, the solo property of the hustling American or the far-seeing German.