The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3956, 2 September 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881.

Following up the remarks in our last issue upon the subject of " profit sharing,' we give some extracts showing the opinions held by the managers of the establisments in which such a system has been introduced. The results cannot surprise anyone who gives the subject a little consideration, for operating upon that feeling of self interest, the masters secure workmen, who understand that their share

of the profit depends in a great measure upon their diligence, extra attention, and industry. Each man being so concerned, it is to his interest to see that his extra industry is not neutralised by the laches of his fellow workmen, so each man's example counteracts upon the others, the morale of the whole is much improved, and their industry stimulated. This increased industry probably more than pays the master for the share of the profits given to his men, and may be the secret of the success of the arrangement; which at first sight may appear as if it were a concession oh the part of the master, proprietor, or tiie man who finds the capital. In all the establishments in which the system is at present in force there is no mention of the men beiug paid less that the market rate of wages, so that the benefits are apparently altogether on the side of the workmen. M. Billon, the manager of a large French company, writes as follows on the subject: — "We soon became aware of the good influence which the prospect of sharing in profits exercised on our workmen. An entirely fresh zeal for work, and a lively interest in the house, showed themselves among them : a genuine solidarity was not slow in establishing itself, each man comprehending that all negligence in the performance of his duty was prejudicial alike to his colleagues and to himself. The task of superintendence became easy to us, and we were able thenceforward, without fear of ofiending any one, to insist on points of detail to which we had hitherto been obliged to shut our eyes. Moreover, the feeling of security with which the attitude of our workmen inspired us, permitted us to give ourselves up wholly to the development of our business. ... It has often been said to us, ' You have not had difficulties with your workmen; thanks to good years. But let an industrial crisis arise, and great will be your embarrassment when you are obliged to dismiss your employes.' This contingency, which assuredly we had foreseen when organising participa* tion, has presented itself; and we can say henceforward that it has done nothing but confirm our faith in the principle.

. . . The crisis has served to demonstrate that, in bad as in good years, we are better situated in reference to the men than are those who have sot applied the principle of participation. As to our work-people, it has made them understand, better than any arguments could have done, the benefits of obligatory thrift. Those among them who have shared in profits during these fivo years have received an annual average o'/ 20 per cent, on their wages, so that, if they have laid by the entire fruit of the participation, they possessed at the time of the last division a sum equivalent to one year's wages." In reply to a letter of inquiry, M. Billon gives the following as his most recent views, on November 15, 1880:—" You ask me my present opinion on the working of participation in our house. lam happy to tell you, that this principle continues to work to our entire satisfaction. . . . After ten years of experience we congratulate ourselves more and more on having adopted it. Its application has to such a degree become ingrained into our modes of doing business that we should not know how to get on without it; the management of an undertaking appears to us no longer possible without this element of justice, harmony, and peace."