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.”