THE FOREMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1244, 2 October 1875, Page 3

THE FOREMAN.

The duties of the foreman are, like the busy housewife's work, never done. If he is alive to the interests of his employers, he is not the last man in the factory in the morning, neither is he the first one out at ni<<ht. To him belongs the duty of knowing that every operative renders unto his employer a just and equitable day's labour. To him belongs the duty of knowing that every operative performs his work to standard perfection. To him belongs the duty of arbitrating justly and fairly between employer and employed, and not unfrequently does it become incumbent upon him to settle various disputes between operatives ; in fact, he is or must be, aa nearly as possible, an omnipresent factotum. He knows I of all the little domestic troubles of his subordinates, and has to advise and su<r- ( gest means of bringing about (amicably) the marital relations of more than one of ; those under his control ; not sufficiently burdened with his own troubles, he carries the troubles and secrets of subordinates securely locked up within his own breast. If any of the operatives in his department meet with reverses, he ia the first one appealed to ; he is the first to add his name to the subscription for a certain amount 5 no matter whether he is prepared or not, he must, to prevent calumny, subscribe. Thus we might apeak of him on the subject for years, and fill volumes without end, and then not finish this portion of our story. All employers or factors are not practical men. In such cases, the success of the manufacturing portion of the business devolves wholly upon the foreman. Not only is he held strictly accountable for the superiority of. the work, but he must ever tire his never resting brain in producing fresh novelties : novelties which will bring the work to a greater state of perfection, and novelties which will cheapen the production, without lessening the wages of the operatives. If it becomes necessary to reduce force, to the foreman belongs the unpleasant task of saying, "We shall have to dispense with your services." If a reduction of wases be determined upon, the foreman becomes the agent for promulgating the same, and if he is not possessed of the necessary amount of tact and eloquence to present the same in such a phase as to prevent the immediate withdrawal of a part or the whole of the operatives employed, his fate is anathema. To become a thorough foreman does not necessarily imply that he should be a thoroughly practical mechanic, or thoroughly skilled in that branch of handiwork over which he is to preside. That he must have a thorough theoretical knowledge of the same ia absolutely necessary. He must be intelligent, affable, and favoured with an eventempered disposition. In fact, he must be so favoured with all the features that make up the character of man, which will allow him at once to be the engineer, general preceptor, judge, spiritual adviser, and friend. He must be above temptation of every kind. His disposi- , tion must be such as will allow him to chide a man gently for any fault unwittingly done. He must have firmness enough to defend his subordinates against encroachments by his employers. He

must be generous enough to advance others claims or inventions without coveting or stealing them. He must be wise enough to know right from wrong, and impartial enough to deal justly with fnend or foe. He must be frank in all things, and liberal in all his expressions, and must be humble enough to be as courteous to his most humble subordinates as he »to his employer. Such are the duties and attributes which belong to a foreman. How many have them must be determined by others than ourselves. — Ihe Carnage Monthly.