CO-OPERATION IN INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 69

CO-OPERATION IN INDUSTRY.

WELLINGTON, March 1. There is no reason why New Zealand should not be just as prosperous as America. You have a population just as intelligent as any in the world, but there must be closer co-operation between the employer and the employee.” These views w.re expressed by Mr H. Haddsell, of the General Electric Co., of America, who is at present visiting New Zealand, at the Rotary Club’s luncheon to-day. ' In introducing Br Haddsell, Mr J. R. Simpson said that their guest was a New Zealander by birth, and had received his earlv engineering training at Canterbury College, and at the Addington RailwayWorkshops. , • • . The conditions in .America, particularly since the war, had been such, said Mr Haddsell, as to interest the rest of the world. In his opinion, her prosperity was attributable to the co-operation and friendly relationship that existed between the employer and the employee. The conditions had improved tremendously- during the last 25 yea-s. The American worker was much better off to-day than lie had ever been. America was a great moneymaking nation, but. at the same time, she realised that it paid to consider the employee. who, in many- cases, was given an interest in the firm by whom he was em-

ployed. The United States had always been jn the fortunate position of being able to absorb ..11 the labour offering. To have the confidence of the worker wast, 'essential, and the only way to obtain it was to. convince him that he was getting a square deal. Continuing, Mr Haddsell pointed out that in America thousands of pounds were paid out .nearly by the business establishments to their employess for offering suggestions in order to increase production; and, generally, to bring about improved conditions. In New Zealand a somewhat different s'-sterr. was in operation, legislation having been introduced which favoured trade unionism. "Now. 1 am not in favour of that kind of legislation at all,’’ remarked Mr Haddsell. “You can get better results by dealing with ; your employee direct than through the trade unions. z Your endeavour should not be to make your men work harder, but. rather to increase, the standard of, efficiency. There is no reason why New Zealandshould not be just as prosperous as America. You have a population just as intelligei t as any in the world, but you must co-operate more than you have done in the past.”