﻿72

II.—PRIVATE FIRMS AND COMPANIES.

“ their connection with all trade unions which is a great benefit to the
“ employer. I was on the Executive Council of the Plumbers’ Trade
“ of the United Kingdom, and was sent to Manchester and Sheffield to
“ settle strikes in those cities and settled them on the mutual conces-
“ sion principle to the satisfaction of employer and employed. But I
“ learned by experience that the best thing to prevent strikes was the
“ Bonus system when the workers were steadily employed from year’s
“ end to year’s end.”

Messrs. Spillers & Bakers, Ltd., millers, biscuit manufacturers,
etc., write : —

“ The system has not been found to call forth extra zeal on the part
“ of the employees. Although the recent critical labour conditions
“ have somewhat severely tested harmonious relations between
“ employer and employed, we are inclined to think that had we not
“ had this profit-sharing arrangement matters would have been worse
“with us; it certainly cannot be pronounced a ‘cure,’ but it might
“ possibly become such if it had not so strongly aroused the resentment
“ of the more advanced labour leaders.”

Messrs. John Stow, Ltd., cabinet makers and upholsterers,
state that the system has probably called forth extra zeal on the
part of the employees, and add : —

“ Our men are non-unionists, and we reciprocate by abstaining from
“ joining the Employers’ Federation, although it is not a condition
“ on either side, and we often employ unionists when we want
“ additional hands.

“ We pay the union rate of wages.

“ 11) _pase of a general strike our men would not cease working,
“ and in case of a general lock-out we should still continue
“ working, .	.	.	.”

The Secretary and General Manager of the Chester United Gas
Co. writes: —

“ Yes. The scheme has been in operation 10 years, and it is esti-
“ mated that the amount awarded as Bonus has not exceeded one-half
“ of the amount realized by the Company by the additional interest
“ taken by the employees generally in the Company’s prosperity.
“ Personally, I think success is dependent upon the interest taken in
“ the scheme by the most responsible officials and by checking any
“ tendency to withdraw Bonuses unnecessarily.”

Sir Herewald Wake, Bart., farming, writes: —

“ Most satisfactory. On the few occasions any profit has been made,
“ all the hands were much pleased and appeared stimulated in their
“ work.

“ The more intelligent men are not discouraged by a bad year like
“ 1910-1911.

“ My relations with my employees have always been most har-
“ monious, our mutual object being to make all the land I work,
“ 1,130 acres, as productive as possible.”

The Engineer and General Manager of the Commercial Gas
Co. writes: —

“ The adoption of Profit-sharing has, in my opinion, proved entirely
“ satisfactory. The system which has been in vogue in this Company
“ for a period of nearly 10 years has undoubtedly had the effect of
“ interesting the employees in the Company’s undertaking.

“ In regard to the latter part of your enquiry, I have to say that,
“ during the recent labour troubles, it was undoubtedly largely due
“ to the influence of Profit-sharing that the Company’s employees
“ loyally observed their duties, although I have good reason to believe
“ that attempts from outside have been made to counteract its
“ influence and undermine the loyalty of the employees to the Com-
“ pany, attempts which, I am happy to say, have been unsuccessful.

“ In conclusion, I feel that I cannot speak too highly of the merits
“ of the Profit-sharing system. It has been a boon to the needy and
“ a guarantee of fidelity.”