Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-13
Value of Piece Work
i'm Industry Shown

In the early development of our
country, industry was largely car
ried on by the individual workers.
Each worker was his own boss. He
made his W product and disposed
of it, either by sale or barter to his
own best advantage.
His work resulted in gain to him
self, resulting in this individual be-
coming strong and independent in
thought and action.
AS this country grew in popula-
ton and the demand for goods in
creased, industry likewise grew IN
size and Importance, resulting in
our industries developing into what
they are at this time highly special
lied.
This specializing in industry has
resulted in the production Of better
and cheaper goods, in greatly in
creased quantities, which has fur
Their made possible q wider distri-
button Of the articles manufactured.
The general results from such
specializing while proving good and
economically sound there is a feel
ing that due to the lack Of effort
required after the work has been
learned has caused the loss of per-
sonai interest and the work has be-
come monotous, resulting in loss of
production, poor work and a general
falling off in the quality of work.
After considerable thought some
of our most efficient Industrial en-
gineers have decided that the an
swer lies in q well worked out sys-
tenn of piece rates. which is founded
equity for the employee receives
pay for what he does and the en-
ployer pays for what he receives.
the advantage to the en-
ploye " greater than to either the
employer OF the public, for the
public and the employer profit mere
ly through the lowering cost of
the product. The employee partici-
pates not only in this profit, but
profits through this increased earn
ings, and thus becomes the gamer
a both ends OF the transaction.
Where a worker takes UP piece
work he Ia practically in business
for himself without having invested
any OF his money, the employer fur
nishes the plant machinery, tools
and material. the employer invests
his brain and Drawn, the success
of this enterprise will be decided by
what use he (the employe) makes
of his surplus earnings.
Piece work while not new in in
dustry, yet the favorable advan-
tages as to its particular effect on
the worker has been berry little uu-
derstood in the past, and those thai
fail to appreciate or grasp the ad-
vantages of such methods are moi
only missing an opportunity fof
good, but are falling short Of the1r
duty.
It is most important that piece
rates be established on an equita-
BILE basis at the time they are set.
it being understood. however, that
Der. There is adequate employment
in all the local industries, with
shortage Of common labor. The
basic industries are operating at full
capacity.
Improved employment conditions
are shown by the report to exist al
so in Jersey City, Newark, Camden,
Trenton, Paterson, Passaic, Eliza
beth and Perth Amboy. The most
remarkable feature of the survey
are the highway construction pro-
grams which have been so mapped
out by the engineers that it will be
possible to employ their mel
througout the winter. while In other
states highway construction work
will be pushed forward until wealth
er conditions make 1t impossible and
impracticabie for continuance.
Increased employment vas noted
particularly in eailroad shops, iron
and steel, paper and printing, chem
ical and allied products, textiles and
their products, and stone, clay and
glass products. The report Of the
Employment Service Of New Jersey
in general and for the cities Of the
State for December show thai
throughout New Jersey building OPP
e~rations will be continued through
the winter and skilled building
craftsmen are in demand. A short
age Of skilled silk workers, machin
lists and wood workers is reported.
Conditions point to continued in
dustrial recovery and indicate I'M
provement in basic industries, II
Newark and vicinity. There seemi
to be little unemployment existing
around Passaic and satisfactory en-
pigment conditions are reported II
all manufacturing plants. In Jerse!
City industrial capacity in most al
industries show gains. Basic INDUS
tries rapidly Advancing in norma
capacity and employment In Eliza
beth is very favorable.