The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, JUNE 7,1909. AN EXERTION WAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2521, 7 June 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, JUNE 7,1909. AN EXERTION WAGE.

When Dr Findlay delivered his notable address on the Labor issue in New Zealand last year one of the points to which he drew special attention was the wisdom of employers offering what may he termed an “exertion wage” as a are capable of. accomplishing more work in an eight hours day than their fellows. This was to be arranged so as not to conflict in any way with the principle laid down by the- Arbitration system, namely, that every workman, no matter what his capacity—provided he oqu suo3jJO.iv osoqq.. O}. OAipueom juioods does not rate as an absolutely “incompetent” —shall receive what has been termed the “minimum wage.” As is itell-kiiown this system, whilst possessing some obvious advantages, has the effect of lowering the productiveness of the men individually and collectively. A carpenter knows that his employer must pay him 10s 8d per day whether ho works his hardest and best or -whether ho sipply “puts in his time.” Of course, if he absolutely loiters the employer may dismiss him, although such an extreme course is apt to be attended with difficulties, particularly if the workman happens to be of the glib-tongued persuasion that seems to easily command the interference of the unions. However, we do not suggest that Hie average, worker, unionist or non-unionist, deliberately “loafs”, but- it would be simply misunderstanding human nature to expect him to strivo liis utmost under the circumstances. There is, it is true, nothing to prevent an employer singling out a workman who appears to be exceptionally capable and energetic and paying him a fixed amount above tho minimum wage, and this is done occasionally. At the same time it .would appear to be much more satisfactory that a definite, standard should be set uji whereby every worker should be entitled to receive this additional recompense. Such a system is not easy to arrange and in the majority of trades it would probably be found impracticable to so allocate the work that a definite equivalent for tho minimum wage can be laid down. Thus it should be easy for a contractor to decide how many bricks per day should be set by a pair of workmen, and he could readily devise a scheme for paying thorn an additional sum for every score of bricks set in a day over and above the fixed quantity. With the carpenter, however, the position would be different, and we should imagine that it would be impos-, sible to make a definite estimate of production showing what was demanded as an equivalent for the minimum wage and what would merit additional reward. The contractors for the Otira Tunnel investigated this aspect of tho labor question and, came to the conclusion that the exertion wage principle could, with advantage, be applied to portions of their huge undertaking. They, therefore, informed Certain of their gangs that a bonus of £1 por foot would be paid to each of the men for every foot excavated beyond 132 feet in tho fortnight. - One would have thought that such a system would have been welcomed by workers generally as showing the disposition of tho employe s to coal "onerously with the mo A diligent of their employees. Howevir the p.an crave deep displeasure to the JraJis and Labor Council, who sent a remon stranco to the Minister for I uW.c Works and Minister lor Labor. Tho Minister for Public Works replied that so ,long as the Department’s contractors paid the rate of wages required by

tho award it could not interfere with thoir proceedings. The Council then demanded that the Government rhouid in future contracts “insert a clause providing that a proper wage no paid to all employees, and a further clause providing against anything in the nature of an exertion wagp.” To this the Prime Minister very properly replied that tho Government will not in the Otira or future contract works interfere between its contractors and their employees so long as the Arbitration Court award rates are paid. It is difficult to see how Sir Joseph Ward could adopt any other stand and the fact that such a request was ever put beforo him shows to what lengths unionists will go in endeavoring to give effect to what- they consider are their special interests. The difficulties of the prob’em which is created by tho apparent diversity of interest between employer and employee are very great, but it is certain that they will in no way bo removed by the adoption of any principle which has the effect of limiting the capacity of the individual worker* If wo aro to maintain tho very high standard of comfort which wo have in tho past demanded for our workers as compared with that existent in othercountries it is self-evident that wc must likewise expect to receive the utmost of productiveness that their skill is capable of giving. Otherwise we can only keep employment in the Dominion by an extraordinarily high protective tariff, and this in its turn must recoil at once upon the workers themselves, for they form the majority of the consumers who will be called upon to pay the duties. One of tho worst features of our arbitration system is its tendency t-o restrict production, and if tho introduction of an exertion wage can assist to lessen the evils attendant upon the minimum award then it is worthy of the utmost encouragement.