68 
II.—PRIVATE FIRMS AND COMPANIES. 
“ have been so uniformly harmonious that the sharing of profits has 
“ only increased the good feeling, not created it. In a number of 
“ cases extra zeal has no doubt been exhibited, but this applies more 
“ particularly to men who are generally zealous. Every two or three 
“ years a meeting of the workmen takes place at which the meaning 
“ of our profit-sharing is explained, and all are exhorted to do their 
“ best for us and for themselves. Good points are extolled and 
“ cautions given against failings. The last and most important 
“ departure, now in its thirteenth year, has been the giving our 
“ workmen a summer holiday, the period varying with length of 
“ service. We pay the usual rate of wages for the days allowed as 
“ holiday and make a contribution towards the cost, provided the 
“ holiday is spent at least 8 miles from Slipper baths with 
“ hot and cold water, dining rooms with hot water and facilities for 
“ cooking and supplying meals are provided on the premises.” 
“ R. P.,” bookbinders and stationery manufacturers, write : — 
“ Satisfactory. We believe that the principle of giving the em- 
“ ployees an interest in the business (beyond their weekly wages) is 
“ a right one and we find that it tends to harmonious working. We 
“ have had no dispute or strike since this scheme was begun and we 
“ have been considering an enlarged scheme.” 
Mr. E. 0. Greening', of the Agricultural and Horticultural 
Association, Ltd., writes: — 
“ The adoption of Co-partnership in our case has proved quite 
“ satisfactory. I believe it has been helpful in enabling us to steer 
“ our Association safely through serious difficulties and to restore it, 
“ after great losses, to prosperity. It has saved us from strikes and 
“ conflicts when adverse circumstances have stopped usual rises in 
“ salaries and even compelled reductions in salaries and wages. It has 
“ kept our people loyal under a prolonged depression.” 
The Women’s Printing Society writes : — 
“ The result of Profit-sharing has been entirely satisfactory in the 
“ case of our Society. The relations with the workers are harmonious, 
“ and the latter, regarding the business in a sense their own, are keen 
“ to make it pay.” 
The Secretary of the Tollesbury and Mersea (Blackwater) 
Oyster Fishery Co., Ltd., writes : — 
“ My personal opinion is that our Co-partnership system cannot be 
“ termed satisfactory, as the dredgermen have control of the situation. 
“ The Board consists of twelve Directors, six being supposed to 
“ represent the ‘ A ’ shareholders or capitalists, and six to represent 
“ the ‘ B ’ shareholders or dredgermen. The latter, however, have 
“ secured a majority on the Board and are able, at times, to dictate 
“ their views as to what work shall be done and, consequently, what 
“ amount shall be spent on wages, whereas from the financial stand- 
“ point and profitable working of the Company it would perhaps be 
“ more beneficial for such work to be left undone, having regard to 
“ the heavy proportion the wages bear to the other expenditure of 
“ the Company.” 
Messrs. Cassell & Co., Ltd., printers, publishers, etc., write : — 
“ The Company’s Provident and other Funds no doubt tend to pro- 
“ mote harmonious relations between the employees and the 
“ Company.” 
Messrs. Fidler & Sons, seedsmen, farmers, etc., write : — 
“ The system of Profit-sharing has tended to promote harmonious 
“ relations between employers and employed, and also created greater 
“ desire on the part of those employed to watch over the interests of 
“ the firm.”