19 
OUR INDUSTRIAL PROBLEMS. 
gy “Caterpillar” (W. M. PLAISTOWE, (7 Victoria-avenue, Claremont.) 
Output 1m terms ot ‘nan-power only is 
a thing of the pust. The productive cap- 
acity of labour can be’ increased by the use 
of time and labour saving machinery. [tg 
importance is not fully ~ealised by the ma- 
jority of Australian empioyers nor by the 
Government. The w@tter can encourage the 
continual modernising of equipment by al- 
lowing a rebate of tax on all money aec- 
tually spent on improving or replacing 
plant and buildings. rinuipment should be 
considered ‘fnerely as a means to an end 
~the end being profit, 
The elimination of waste is another es- 
sential. Research and experimental work 
are also important factors in progress, 
Where great organisations, such as the 
Ford Company, can afford to run their 
own research and experimental depart. 
ments, the lesser concerns of this country 
might co-operate in the formation of 
similar institutions for their mutual bene- 
fit. 
But the adoptiorf ot (pe foreging me- 
thods will not of itself bring industrial 
peace. There is the human element to be 
considered. We ar inclined to talk rather 
too much about the workers as a class 
and too little as human dividuals. If a 
man is paid in relation to his output 
and no. limit placed on his weekly earn- 
ings, there is an incentive to work which 
can be given by no other means. He ig 
nore interested in working efficiently, He 
is more content if he ean increase his 
earnings according to his skill. Graded at 
a level of mediocrity as at present, with 
no chance of reward ‘n relation to in- 
dividual ability, can it be wondered that 
the average worker is discontended with 
his lot? Tettering restrictions kill initia- 
tive and self expression. To him there 
seems no. greater chance ahead by exerting 
greater effort. Ile therefore gives the least 
he can in retura for his wages. It is this 
which creates the distrust that causes the 
system of nacment yy wilt to he viewed 
with suspicion by the wen kers and pres 
vents its introduction. Payment by time 
is general throughout the Commonwealth, 
Trade unions oppose payinent by results 
on the ground that it leads to abuses. They 
contend that limitation of output is the 
only way to maintain waze rates and em 
ployment. With this end in view the 
unions endeavour to limit the maximur 
output of each worker uy artificial ree 
strictions. Under these conditions any ine 
crease in wages raises the cost of produce. 
tion and is opposer by ‘he employer. Thus 
employer and employee nave opposite aims, 
Our problem is to provide » new relations 
ship between them, 
No adjustment in industry can be cone 
sidered worth while or of ultimate benefit, 
anless it also results in lessening the cost 
of service to the consuiner. In this \pro- 
tection fails. Industrial Arbitration is also 
unsuccessful because it works on the prine 
viple that labour disputes are properly to 
be decided through process of law rather 
than on a commonsense. man to man 
basis. 
The workroan of to-day is the product 
of years of free, compu'sory education, 
This has given him a desire, conscious or 
unconscious, to take a better place in the 
organisation of which he wn « member than 
that of a mere hand, working for his mage 
ter’s profit. He wishes to be a partner, 
rather than a wage carner without voice 
in the control of industiv. In a word he 
desires representation, 
A system should be adonted which given 
the worker the 
Most Direct Possible Voice 
in administration, An opportunity for 
democratie expression will aitract and hold 
hig interest by giving Him a means of 
stating views. and airing grievances in a 
constitutional mauner ind having them 
seriously considered by a kody of his own 
electing. 
Briefly the plan is to organise any fae 
tory or other business info a miniature 
lemocracy with a representative govern. 
nent. The style of such a zovernment will 
naturally vary with the size wud manner of 
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