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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.”