FUTURE OF INDUSTRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23114, 31 January 1945, Page 5

FUTURE OF INDUSTRY

New Spirit Necessary

(Rec. 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 30. "There must be a new understanding and a new spirit in industry,” said Sir Herbert Gepp, managing-director of Australian Paper Manufacturers, Ltd., addressing a summer school of the Institute of Political Science.

“If capital, management and all the other working forces will co-operate to increase the size of the national cake instead of squandering their energies in fighting over the division of a smaller cake, then the advance of Australian industry will be sure and rapid. The prime task of leadership is to raise the efficiency of industry, and so produce a better standard of life. Good work must win good rewards. These rewards may be monetary, but there arc also rewards of recognition, prestige, position and opportunity and satisfaction for a job well done.” Declaring that economic security was the basic objective of the trade Union movement, the president of the Australian Council of Trades Unions, Mr P. J. Clarey, M.L.C., said: “The old order is doomed. It is a question of whether it prefers to die violently or simply fade away." Sir Herbert; Gepp referred to the report on industrial relationships which had been prepared by a group at Nuffield College, Oxford, after months of investigation. This group came from all sections of industry. He asked if Mr Clarey would help to form a similar representative group of employers and employees In Australia tn try to find some solution to the many problems of industrial relationship. Mr Clarey said that if such a proposal were put to the A.C.T.U.. he would be prepared to support it. Industrial observers throughout Australia applaud the possibility of such a “first step to reasoned industrial 00-cneration.”