FRENCH CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 124, 20 February 1873, Page 2

FRENCH CO-OPERATIVE EMPLOYMENT.

A? man lias just died in Paris whose name should be honoured in the land— M. Lecaire, painter and glazier, who soived a problem withouttheinterfprerceof thejGovernment, and carried on alnrge business on a mixed co-operative system, which it would be well to see extensively followed. M. Lec.ijra employed no fewer than &G0 workmen, and for thirty years long he applied with uninterrupted success a system of salaiies which he himself initiated. He desired to associate his woikmen in th« gains of his house ; at th,e 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* He felt that it was indiapensible to assnie 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 wxed salary for his day'q, work. In 1542, M. Lecaiie began to pay his men their day's wages and to give them a certain share in the profit" At the end of each year ho assembled his workmen and laid before thorn the result of hi* operations and divided the spod. From the moment M. Lecairo adopted, the system all the persons employed by him worked better, his bu*ine«s increased in prosperity, and a moral and material amelioration wa* noticed among those who engaged in his establishment. This system wm applied with the greatest success for 27 years, M. Lecairo feolmg himself crowing old, desired to complete his work, nnd established the following soale : — 25 per cent, for the enpital, 50 per cent, to be distributed among the. work-nen. and 25 per cent, for tlie sick nnd for pension?. M. Lecaire died a fortnight ngo, and the, houso is now managed by M. Charles Robert, ex-Councillor of State and Secretary to tho Minister of Public Instruction. In spite of recent events (which must, houe\cr, havo furnished work to the glaziers) tho houqo qlearcd last, year 150,000f. or £ 6,000, three-sbu.rths of which sum was h,iiule I to the workmen or paid info tho iniitu.il succour society. The man who cirued during the yonr 1,500f had ior his share 182f. " '

A Faithful Bevule. — Hi; Pall Mall Gazette relate the following .is having taken place at oue of our highest churches. The verger, in reporting progress to the chief curate, said that a stranger had asked how the church was warmed. «• You should have told him it was wanned with devotion," said the curate. « Well, sir, ' put in the verger. another gen Iman did ask me whore «ho rnmmao'lmeiits was written up, iwd I told him they were writteu in our 'arts.