Auckland, Today (PA). - Some 240 business executives sipped imported French wine 20,000 feet above Northland last evening as a Wellington academic urged them to consider —introducing travel allowances as a fringe benefit for their employees.

The occasion was an hour-long "In-flight cocktail seminar" sponsored by Atlantic and Pacific Travel aboard an Air New Zealand DC10 jumbo Jet. The speaker was Professor O.F. Fogelberg, professor of business administration at Victoria University.

The businessmen tuned In on stereo headsets while Mr Fogelberg pacing up and down the aisles with an extension microphone as the big jet circled at 510 Miles per hour addressed his audience on the subject of how to motivate employees.

Money, he said, was not the motivating force It once was. An increasing number of workers were seeking other rewards such as more interesting work and fringe benefits.

"Many people today get their enjoyment outside their work place", he said, "they use their skills and knowledge sway from work.

"What have you done to give your employees the opportunity to participate in more interesting work?"

Mr Fogelberg said young people, particularly, were thumbing their noses at authority and choosing employment that offered a certain way of life rather than a mere career.

"No longer today are people prepared to follow decisions that they have not participated in." he said.

New Methods

He said companies overseas were experimenting in new methods of communicating with staff, such as "open-line" telephone contact with management, annual general meetings for employees only, and sabbatical leave for employees at all levels.

In return for such company concessions, he said, labour unions were giving up traditional practices such as feather-bedding.

Footnote: Yesterday was not the first time that an Air New Zealand DC10 has been chartered for a business function. One company recently took guests on a one day jaunt to Fiji and back. The Airline normally charges between $4,000 and $5,000 an hour for the use of a DC 10, but is is understood that Atlantic and Pacific was only charged half that amount.