PAYMENT BY RESULTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 9

PAYMENT BY RESULTS

STIMULUS TO PRODUCTION RESTORATION OF INITIATIVE DEFECTS OF AWARD SYSTEM (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. In a speech at the opening of the conference of the Employers’ Federation, the president (Mr W. Machin) emphasised two matters which he considered were important at the present limeproduction which was vital to our prosperity, and the proposal that the decisions of the Arbitration Court should in future be subject to appeal. After stating that New Zealand's great production in primary industries had been based on payment by results, Mr Machin said he was certain that New Zealand was missing its highest production in many industries where wages were being paid at time rates, particularly in the present atmosphere of strictly limited marking time by law. For the duration of the war at least, he therefore thought that we should revert wherever possible to piece-work and payment by results and suspend for the time being the present rigid limitation of working hours which, he was sure, was inducing in many corners, consciously or unconsciously, a limitation of effort which was slowing up production. Mr Machin quoted the Government Statistician’s estimate of factory production for the years ended June, 1939, and June. 1940—£30.500.000 in each case—which, if correct, showed that production last June must have been lower, because prices had risen, and the value was estimated at no more. If the Prime Minister’s exhortation of “ Work for your lives ” was to be given the meaning he intended (and the meaning this grave hour demanded) it was surely not too much to ask that serious consideration should be given to the question of payment by results. In regard to the Arbitration Court, Mr Machin said that if trade and industry were to flourish, it must be recognised that the arbitrary apportionment of wage charges on industry on a basis of assumed and anticipated volume and price return, which might or might not eventuate, must give way to a sounder and more ordered method. Otherwise, industry might languish oecause it would have lost part of its intangible, but most important, capital of enterprise and willingness to adventure. because of arbitrary and discouraging impositions by the power or the State. Before, therefore, the State wielded this power it should be satisfied, and all concerned should be satisfied, that judgments which might seem to be ill-founded had been impartially reviewed Election of Officers At the annual meeting of the Federation, Mr B. Sutherland, Wellington, was elected president in succession to Mr Machin. Mr J. A. C. Allum, Auckland. was elected vice-president and Mr G. W. Morgan Wellington, was reelected treasurer. . The meeting placed on record, its appreciation of Mr Machin s services as president durin. the past year. FIXED HOURS OPPOSITION BY BUSINESS MEN (Per United Press Association) HASTINGS, Sept. 25. Opposition to the proposed legislation giving the Arbitration, Court power to fix the hours for shopping and deciding the statutory half-holiday was expressed at a meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce last night. Members resented the treatment being accorded to retailers 5y the present Government, and contended that any attempt to shorten the hours of work should he strenuously opposed.