A FRENCH CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYER.

Evening Star, Issue 3102, 28 January 1873, Page 2

A FRENCH CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYER.

(From the Pall Mall Gazette.)

A man has just died in Paris whose name should be honored in the laud—M. Lecaire, painter and glazier, who solved a problem, with the interference of the Government, and carried on a large business on amxed co operative system, which it would be Well to see extensively followed. M. Lecaire employed no fewer than 500 workmen, and for thirty years long he applied with un* interrupted success a system of salaries which he himself initiated. He desired to associate Jiis workmen in the gains of his house; at the same time he was aware that his men, possessing no capital, would not be able to support the losses to which trade is ever exposed, tie felt that it was indis*

pensable to assure their existence, as well as that of their families ; also that their handiwork could not be subordinated to the risks of speculation. M. Lecaire, therefore, considered it imperative that each workman should receive a fixed salary for his day’s work. In 1842, M. Lecaire began to pay his men their day’s wages, and to give them a certain share in the profits. At the end of each year he assembled his workmen and laid before them the result of his operations and divided the spoil. From the moment M. Lecaire adopted the system all the persons employed by him worked better, his business increased in prosperity, and a moral and material amelioration was noticed among those engaged in his establishment. This system was applied with the greatest success for 27 years, when M. Lecaire, feeling himself growing old, desired to complete his work, and established the following scale: — 25 per cent, for the capital, 50 per cent, to be distributed among the workmen, and 25 per cent, for the sick and for pensions. M. Lecai-e died a fortnight ago, and the house is now managed by M. Charles Robert, exCouncillor of State and Secretary to the Minister of Public Instruction. In spite of recent events (which must, however, have furnished work to the glaziers) the house cleared last year 150,030f., or Lb,ooo, threefourths of which sum was banded to the workmen or paid into the mutual succour society. The man who earned during the year 1,500f. had for his share 182f.