EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 24338, 20 January 1941, Page 6

EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS

MORE CO OPERATION ADVOCATED MINISTER’S REPLY TO ' MANUFACTURERS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 18., “I am glad to know the Manufacturer’s Federation at least recognizes the importance of the point I raised about the desirability of greater co-operation and goodwill between employers and employees,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, tonight in commenting on the federation's statement relating to absentees from factories. “I hope they keep this consideration in the forefront of their minds and make happy, human relationships a leading plank in their platform. It is pleasing to know that the federation has brought the matter before its executive committee, and I trust due heed will be taken of my comments by manufacturers throughout the country.” The Minister said he was sorry that some apparently resented the inference that greater co-operation could be obtained by the institution of more human relationships between manufacturers and employees. The federation in its statement made it clear that its criticism was not directed to the majority of the workers, but only to a section which did not accept the responsibility that employment in a modern factory imposed on it. The Minister added that he made it perfectly clear in his previous statement that those employees who absented themselves from their work were doing New Zealand a serious disservice. He also made it clear that he held no brief for a person who, without adequate reason, absented himself from his work and he had also said, and definitely adhered to the statement, that a greater measure of co-operation and better understanding of human relationships had brought about better results in various instances, which he quoted, and that an extension of that form of management and control to other industries would aid a solution of the problem under discussion. IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS The Minister instanced cases of industrialists in the larger manufacturing countries spending large sums and devoting a great deal of study to the improvement of relationships between employer and employee, and said that the federation quoted conditions in Russia and said that dire penalties were imposed on workers. “I could quote othqr alien countries where even worse conditions obtain,” said Mr Sullivan, “but who wants to live in those countries.” He added that all he suggested was that manufacturers should consider the desirability of greater co-opeiation between themselves and employees and the institution of more human relationships. Was there anything wrong with that, he asked. If not, why was there any resentment. Mr Sullivan added that he had received letters from manufacturers commenting favourably on his statement, and concluded that he had never suggested that manufacturers whose staff stayed away were bad employers. He did not wish to suggest that. He was arguing for a special positive study and effort to achieve improved human relationships in factories, as something which a number of New Zealand firms had proved by experience would produce good results.