'THE OPTIMISTS.'

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 9

'THE OPTIMISTS.'

"The Optimists" are a new body of business men who have banded together for the encouragement of wakenp schemes in connexion with the country's trades and industries. They believe that the reasons for class strife, strikes, and the sullen rosentfulness of the working classes to capitalists aro ignorance on the part of the workers of the interdependence of capital and labour—ignorance of the mutual benefits that flow from the aggregation of capital, not only to capitalists, hut also to the workers. Beginning at the lowest rang of the industrial ladder, "The Optimists" throw out a suggestion for the solution of ''one of the ■greatest business problems of the day i :ii -the office boy." The scheme is this*: —"Every three months a badge, card, 'or similar token of merit for effiency, punctuality, and general smartness," both in work and appearance, based, of course, upon what. the boy has done in that three months, should be awarded. At the end of the year to the boys who have won three or more complete marks of merit there should be an award of a cash bonus of

10a for each one—which means a lot to an offk<? boy. He must get at least three to receive any bonus." "What facilities and opportunities." the Optimists ask, addressing tho managers of business firms of the country, •do you give your staff—all and any one of them —of 'having a word with you'? Are they afraid of beine 'fired' for approaching you directly? How often do you arrange staff dinners, or in a similar way meet and mix with your workers?" These and other searching questions are put by this enterprising society with a view to creating "tho business spirit."