, 1891-05-09

more industrious (5) that he is less dissipated
and lastly, that he is less liable to become an.
expense to the Commonwealth through power
ty or crime.
In particular, it was agreed on all hands
that q knowledge of the sciences that underlie
the occupation gives greatly increased value
to Its possessor as a labourer. 1t does this
(O by enabling him to avoid dangers in
mining for instance-to' which ignorant men
are exposed; (2) by enabling him to detect
and remedy difficulties which else would
cause expense or delay (3) by enabling him
to discover shorter and simpler methods of
work, thereby increasing his powers of pro-
ductlon a. by stimulating his qualities Of
contrivance, SO that he adjusts and modities
the tools or machines which he uses, and be-
comes eventually an inventor of simpler and
better machines, thus increasing the wealth
producing power not only of himself but of his
acknowledgements IN this direction it is est
mated that his value is increased 100 per cont,
while in certain exceptional cases the gain is
inealeuIable. But after admitting all these
arguments in favour of increased value of the
labourer who possesses this higher education
1t Is clear from the evidence of all, that the
chief value and greatest advantage of such in
creased knowledge arise from the fact that it
advances the we'll being of it's po8sessor. By
virtue of increased education he commands
higher wages for his services, and also ad IS
largely to the common production.
The testimony thus summarized on .Ameri-
can soil is supported by equally competent
testimony from all civilised lands. To every
well read man this so w~ell-known. that we do
not for the present deem it necessary to nd.
duce what is to be had on wider fields. But
we may quote 'one American witness, General
Thomas, an extensive employer of labour in
an lron-smelting and coal mining district Of
ONO. His replies to the questions above
given were:-
2. A marked difference, easily observed by
visitors.
3. None of our officers doubts the superiori.
ty OF men who can read and write, for com
mon labour, over those who cannot. Men who
have some education require less supervision.
The saving to employers in this way alone
amounts to fully 10 per cent. Employers
suffer constantly from ignorant employees do
ing their work poorly, and doing less OF it for
the same wages. This amounts to fully 10
per cent more.
4. A knowled.e Of chemistry, geology,
working of mines, and, in fact all the physical
sciences, would add to the efficiency of all la
bourers in our employ. Not that l expect all
to advance to the higher departments but
with their common school education. thew
should have some knowledge of the sciences
l have named. In many ways men with such
advantages could produce mora in twenty-four
hours with no more labour, and, as a conse-
quence, command higher wages.
8. All the labOur-saving improvements are
the result of the education awakening the
mind to struggle from something to save much
and throw the labour upon machines of iron
and wood, SO far as l have observed in our
works. The ignorant man initiates some one
else, and If he is watched continues to do so
day by day, and by these means earns his
living, but he is a great tax upon capital. We
pay 20 per cent more wages to q skilled la
bourer in our employ, with an education that
makes him worth it to us, over an uneducated
man struggling to fill the same kind Of place,
but not worth SO much. s
6. should prefer a man with some edu.
cation the more the better.
z. would not employ as a superintendent
or foreman. q man who could not read or write
all other things being equal, I consider a
man better, and better qualified for super
vision of labour, as his education increases,
8. The man with some education or some
mental training shows his superiority over
the ignorant man at home and by his social
and moral influence to a greater degree than
in the shop or at labour. He is more moral,
less disposed to be vicious, more Industrious.
AS a class they live in better houses, have
/ T. L. 4--s~