PORT SUNLIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1958, 15 January 1914, Page 6

PORT SUNLIGHT.

A GARDEN VILLAGE.^-;|| MODERN IDEALS "Our aim is to socialise f arid,"'-■ Christianise business relations,'"and ■■'' got back again in the office,'factory;]; and workshop, to that close, family "M brotherhood that existed ■ iii' ; ' the" ■'■.■ good old days of hand labour.".;:;. The above is Sir William Lever's own description of the aims of the founders of the Port Sunlight Industrial Garden. Village. As works are to bo established by.tho firm at Pcionc special interest attaches, to the following account. in tho Sydney "Horald" by Mr. J;.D. Fitzgerald, of what, has been done'.at Port Sunlight. ■ -j:, •. *^s£; y. In Port Sunlight, says Mr. '■ Fitzgerald, tho. founders have sought to create' ideal, conditions in connection with a ■ groat industrial undertaking and have succeeded. It is one of the most iiotablo and successful of European experiments.' It is a many-sided venture. There is', first of all, tho settlement of the hous-' ing problem. .Of all the English gar-, don villages, none baa been mors, successful than this. ~ . ~,'£,S.' Town-Planning, ' :^- Finding that tho rapid growth., of their business operations called for an extension of their works, the Levers 25 years ago chose a new site at Brainborough'Pool, an inlet from the River Mersey. ; . 'Upon this site a village lias been built, which in every respect fulfills tbo-exacting demands aud reaches tho high ideals of the modern planner, and eugenisf. Every device which modern planning teaches is embodied in the Port Sunlight Village. The. streets follow tho contours and undulations of the land; the house's are varied in' type, in colour, in architectural decoration; in the fronts aro garden spaces, boautifiilly kept; trees aro a charming feature'of tho village. TTiero, are parks and playgrounds, and decorated waterfronts. Five houses per acre is ' tbo average, and at tho backs of tho blocks aro allotment gardens, a device which has been followed in Hampstead Gardon Suburb, near London, and in other places. Consequently there is.no danger of oyercrowdiug. The architecture and grouping are a delight to tho eye; the former being early-English, and an architectural harmony has been preserved throughout. Tho public buildings are ornate, especially the churches. In the houses, we. find a full conformity to the Australian standards. There are bathrooms; pantries, Eculleries, and other, conveniences, which are almost unknown in the ordinary British workman's house. Tiio rooms', are well lighted,_ and special earn is paid ...to ventilation. The rents are low, and are fixed upon a commercial basis, buMbe low rents are part of tho scheme of profit-sharing, and "industrial- insurance," which.is the basis of the.?pro-, prietor's -plan. ';;■"■ ;■; ,-iA Great Firm. '' :.'■:!? C , The Port. Sunlight Sodpworks cover ■an area of 90 acres,'and the magnitude of the commercial side or the enterprise! may bo gauged from that.: Tho operations.of the firm are new world-wide. Though tho process of soap-making is. generally associated , with undesirable odours, and is classed with the- noxious trades by some, in Port Sunlight every objectionable feature has been eliminated, and by care and skiil the works and processes are rendered clean, wholesome, and sanitary. The buildings aro architecturally' fine, and thus they differ from the usual industrial buildings, which_ have a raol-likc~- appearance. ?ifcdic.-il examination to seeuro the health of tho employees is conducted on the chtrftneo. of the individual into the corporate servico, . and ' in such branches of tho industry as aro dangerous, such as the paiiit rooms, etc.,' monthly medical examinations aro conducted.

Tho grcato.-t care is taken to secure, healthy and comfortable condition* in the workrooms. Thus there is artificial heating and forced ventilation, tho allowance of cubic space per employee insisted upon by the law in Britain i 3 exceeded by more than fiftea.i times in tho Lever workshops- All ports of devices for the safety of the workers are iiji_ use. Powerful fans dratf off deleterious substances, such as sawdust, metallic and mineral dust, ote. The machinery is guarded by bulwarks, and snecial committees are in existence •to devise means for the minimising "of accidents, and to inquire into accidents when they occur. These committees aro composed of representatives of tho firm and of tbo workers themselves. Surgeries and ambulances are. provided in the works, and trained ambulance pud first-aid exports -re found among the workers. Elaborate precautions .are taken against fire. " v. '■•..;.'

Y/ornsn Employees,

A suggestion bo- is placed in every department, and a suggestion committee considers those sent in. Prizes are givon for valuable suggestions, and if patented tho inventor" receives royilties. Employees arc supplied free with overalls. The •<B-hour week for men md 45-hour wook for women omplovees has been granted voluntarilv by tho Lever firm. The men and girl employees beam and leave, off work at different hours, and thus "the mobs are not boxed"—to use an Australian expression—on! those occasions. The advantages of this can easily he perceived are are realised by those who have- seen factory conditions, say, in Bradford. Full trades union rates aro paid, even though the hours *ro shorter than the union, rates prescribe. Rest-rooms are provided for the women emnloyees. Only single- women are employed, and a woman ones married is not allowed to work in the factory, save in a few jn-stan.-es where widows are e-tnnloyed. Tho benefit of this rulo to tho future race can be easily imagined. TWo are cheap restaurants'.for men and ( ijirl workers. Gladstone Hall, a beautifully-designed restaurant, can seat POO persons at a sitting. .This hall is also used for theatrical • and mcturo entertainments, meetings, music, dancing, . etc. Tho dining arranttements are managed by "dinner clubs" of male and female employees. Leer Bros, supply utensils, crockery, and coal. . Holme Hall, another restaurant, which' cost £Ifi,of)o. is one of tbo great features of Port Sunlight. It stands in a garden, and is brilliantly lighted and decorated internally. \ About 18f)0 r>'cnle can dino therein simultaneously. This restaurant is for thogirla, and is a communal institution, which pavs working expenses, but mnkesno profit, for the nroprietars, who receive in another way by hindna their, liP"m'. contmited. well f/>d. nrv^'ho.-.l^r'. t cannot have snace to dwell on tho old a:;e nenslons scheme for enir>loTees. tb.e holi'.lay ceheme, nor the emnlnwen' benefit fund. Tlie eonditiona of tena.niry aro interesting. There aro special rules ■vvfomiardinir the family life, and oschidinc the lodser esccftt under certain Ono rule is interesting; in view of tho effort.s of c'vio roformers in Sydney. It forbids _ tlw kecnip:? of poultry. sav» in specinl allotments set apart for the purpose. Commercial Institutions, The la:t feature of the Port Snnlijrht is the communal institutions. Mr. .. W. L. Georco, altcrnatelv critic and '*.extoller of the schema, in his pleasant and instructive book. "Labour and Honsinw at Port Sunlight," says :—"To ■ teach sobriety, cleanliness, and respect' for the law. something more is wanted than a good cottage " Hones the necessity for institutions to organise the communal life and recreation. There aro several churebes,Chu.7clt of Englaad,

>atioiial;;air*being%TeprcsciitcyvSSThc auditorium, was intended as aiv,open-air . theatre,'? Initjit. is nowjroofed in?-- ; Com:.'niurials.dances.J.'.arO;:.arraiiged,''.:"so .that :evoryfgirl.?in'jtlib?o"bnimunity is. invited 4wicp%ltiriiig?the'iWinter^ , arc' ; "cohtrblledsby J ja: committeo/'SiSThen; there .is' the collegium,, which'-is used for, a-'mutual iniprpyeniont.eentre/.j.Tl'ieire'is .a'beimtiful : :inii^whielr'isja ! -r|sl,auraiit; and; fc'iwas- ;till inriijynit:'public' where' alcoh6!i^driiilc^iiir ? libranVaii'd^ajfin^ with'Va fulli'mcdical-'and;nursing?. sialf ; r n\ beaui t ilul .i)ntiis,'^clul>3/|sc<?iotic's^ ::, '^:'rfg?'S; ; ~jTl!e>:Vhole";villrtgb 1 2,wit'h*industrialpis; woll.asHheTesidcritial.'sid6,'\arb;aiteati-' liiony-tGVtho.wond'erfu! brgai!isiiig"eapar ; city 'of tbo founders'.® It by "socio 'America asT'cne' of ; '' ■.worth studying 'iWßritaiiftMn^cgard;to modern social 'experiments;! at '■.. increasing iWealth,. and happiness!'of r :ths';race£:.t ;