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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 215, 9 March 1912, Page 4

FRENCH EXAMPLES. ; France furnishes a still more striking j exemplification of what can.be done in | this direction, without trying socialistic experiments that spell failure and disappointment in almost every case. Jean Baptiste Andre Godlin, son of a poor locksmith, dreaming of social regeneration, started in 1859 as a small ironfounder at Guise, on the banks of the river Oise. Twelve years afterwards, when his theories had crystallised into splendid actualities, he ■ explained his views and chronicled his achievements in a book entitled "Solutions Sociales," and declared his conviction to be that the emancipation of Labor would be brought about by its association with Capital in industrial undertakings, and by an equitable participation in the profits resulting from their combined efforts. "This," he said, "is the most beautiful and holy task which Capital Can engage in at the present day. It is the true path to social safety and to the institution of a feeling of brotherhood among all classes of the society." In proof of the soundness and practicability of his scheme, he could point with pride to an immense group of factories, covering many acres of ground, comprising three palatial quadrangular blocks of buildings four storeys high; to the schools, theatres, baths, laundries, stores, bakery, butchery, restaurant, cafe, nursery. The stores on the workg supply employees at cost price, a savings bank 'receives deposits from the thrifty, in exchange for which shares in the industry are issued, and on these dividends are paid. In this "social palace," as it is well called, sanitary arrangements are carried out on the best lines, and a medical men is kept on the premises to give prompt attention to the ailments of close on 400 children and many hundreds of employees that tenant the famous Familistere et Guise. This splendid humanitarian has been dead more thai 20 years, but his eminently sane methods of dealing with a very difficult problem have been copied in many European industrial centres, in America, and in England, notably at Saltaire. There is also the well-known case of industrial partnership set up in the Yorkshire collieries of Henry Briggs, Son & Co., who 'divided £40,000 as bonuses on wages in nine years; but the system came to an end in 1873, when there was a heavy drop in the price of coal, and the men struck rather than submit to a reduction of their wages. In spite of occasional setbacks, the principle of profit sharing is progressing in the United Kingdom. In 1894 there were 101 such agreements in force, in 1901 the number decreased to 92, and in 1008 to 82. On the other hand, while in .1894 there were 28,000 employees participating in the profits of their employers, in 1906 there were 48,000 profit-sharing workers. In addition to these, it must be remembered that about one-quarter of the working men's co-operative societies in Great Britain are practically profit sharing. These latter have over six million shareholders, representing about 25 million souls, and for mutual help are in touch with the International Alliance, who gather information, distribute it, and hold periodical conferences to deal with matters vital to the interests of cooperators. In such directions as these lie the best hopes of workers desiring' te benefit themselves, rather than in 1 dreams of State collectivism, that would be the worst and most oppressive form of monopoly. The one remedy is within 1 reach; the others are such stuffs as 1 dreams are made on.