The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-28 00:00:00

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v4i4:Dri4e ObserVer.

SATURDAY. MAY 28th, 1881.
_
INDUSTRY AND COMFORT. .

THERE are few problems more important, and
demanding the attention of statesmen, pbiloso-
pliers, and political economists, than those which
affect the social well-being of the industrial
claeses. Dr. Charming once described the
elevation of a human being to consist in the
exercise, growth, and energy of the higher
principles and powers of his soul; but it must
be borne in mind that this should be aided by an
liopre ement in the outward condition of the
individael. A powerful influence is exercised
by ezernai good on the inner life; but it is not
easy to define the agencies by which a general
amelioration of the circumstances of the working
population is to be brought abeut. Temperance,
economy, thrift, hygienic knowledge, and tech-
nical education have successively been invoked
and pressed into the service. The workman
who becomes a member of a friendly society,
who effects on insurance, however small, on his
life, or invests even a trifling portion of his earn-
ings in a savings' bank, has done tuneh to im-
prove his personal material condition, and that
of his family, and shows a good example to his
fellows. Yet it will be generally admitted that
something more is wanted to secure the elevstion
of the industrial claesee as a body. Co-operative
le.t.lnershipa hive offered a solution of the pro-
blem, but scarcely a perfect one. It is possible
that much good might be effected by local or
national systems of compulsory insurance; but
such schemes are repugnant, if not antagonistic,
to the feelings and opinions of British workmen,
and the question then arises whether there be
any other way to secure the real elevation of the
operative clasaet. A part, at least, of the answer
may be found in the participation by workmen
in the prefits of enterprise.
Experiments of this kind have been made in
the Unite,' aingiionn but they have not proved
pertacularly successful. It can, however, be
enewn that frequently, in casts of failure, nor.-
success has been attributable to causes entirely
extraecous to -Ito principles of profit sharing.
On the Continent the plen has been tried under
differeot conditions, and io various ways, with
niarked success. The simplest method adopted
is that which distributes the workman's share in
his employer's profits at the end of eAch year's
account without attaching any condition as to the
disposal of the sums so paid over. In M. Bard's
pianoforte-making establishment in Paris, where
about 400 men are employed, after ten per cent
bits been deducted from the net profits of the
business as interest on the capital embarked in
it, the remainder is divided into two parts—one
proportional to the amount of interest on capital,
and the other to the whole sum paid during the
year in wages to the workmen. The former of
these two Darts goes to M. Bord, and the latter
is divided amongst all his employes who can show
months' continuous presence in the bons up
to the day of the annual distribution.
The industrial and gOdiat results of such ex-
perients as these have been described as in
freryway satisfactory. Good and thrifty employ-
went is made in nearly every case of the
dividends paid, while the effect of the system in
attaching the workmen to the house, and its
influrnee on their relations towards their em-
ployer, are excellent. Increased pertnsnenee,
steadiness, and assiduity have been witnessed
on the part of the employes, who willingly make
redoubled efforts at the seasons ofheavy pressure
of business. Each man strives to fill up his
time with conscientious exertion, to effect the
utmost possible saving ou the materials, to col-
lect carefully the fallen chips of metal, and to
guard in every way against needless waste. The
op.,ratires, having Abe sanie interests as their
einployers, work with energy and sourege. The
elements of justice, hero-.eny, and peace are
supp!ied by the workiug of perticipation. While
the workman in sucn circumstances brings his
fall plr:sical and intellectaal cayacities to bear
aims his daily employment, he increases the
home comfort and happiness of himself and his
dependents. Negligence ceases to invade the
family life; the husband aspires to something
higher than the public-house, and stays at home
while hi 2 wif.- strives to make he fireside as
piensant to him as poa,zible, and to support him
in any enterprise which he may take in hem].
In these branches of BrLieh industry where the
skiii of the loi,onrer pLys the leading pert, this
principle might be Applied in callings e here;et
eoeeee form Eno I,,ading element of cost, nod
wit, re the ripernlives have, it in their power to
leceeese the quantity, ice prove the quality, • r
kit..tmis!, the cost price of their st4p3-: of pro-
ductio!) hy means of increased care!tilnees and
more eff::ctive ixertion whereby a surplus profit
would bs realised.