INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23005, 7 October 1936, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY

PROPOSED LEGISLATION SUPPORTED BY MANUFACTURERS (Per United Press Association > WELLINGTON, Oct.. 6. Commenting on sevfcral requests from chambers of commerce that the Industrial Efficiency Bill should be held over, Mr lan Matheson, president of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, said to-day that this attitude did not surprise him as much as might have been expected. "For at least two years the manufacturers have been applying themselves to find a solution of some of the difficulties with which they are faced," he said. " I view the Bill as a genuine and honest attempt to provide a means of dealing with many of those difficulties, such as the overlapping of plant, services, and competition from small manufacturing units where the conditions of employment are not fully controlled. It must be recognised that to deal with these and other problems so as to achieve a greater measure of efficiency in industry further organisation is necessary. The Industrial Efficiency Bill is a further step in the organisation of our- society, and should be regarded as such. It seems to be purely a matter of history that every attempt at further organisation throughout the ages has been attacked by certain elements of the public and supported by 6thers. Without for one instant suggesting that every attempt at further organisation has been along the line of progress, it is nevertheless significant that the same element in society usually aligns itself against progressive organisation. "Having studied the points dealt with in the Bill for at least two years, Wellington manufacturers are of the opinion that this further step in the organisation of society is a progressive one. For this reason the policy in the Bill has their support. Although there are undoubtedly one or two points which require adjustment so as to provide legal safeguards, these could quite easily be provided without in any way interfering with the general policy set out in the Bill. lam one of those who believe that it would be just as much a tragedy to stop progressive organisation at this stage or civilisation as it would have been to have stopped it 200 years ago, or at any other stage. In fact, it is a common thought to view some peoples of the world as being 200 or 300 years behind the times in the organisation of their society."