24

PULLING TOGETHER.

competent judges upon it. The only way, then, in which we can give a money amount for this second proposal, is by saying, that if the abstract question were asked, 'What would be the money difference between 3,110 hours and 3,006 hours for the whole of those to whom you propose to give the holiday, supposing the speed and quality of the work to be alike in the two cases?' the answer would be, 'About £1,200.' But let the real question be asked, 'What is the difference between 3,006 hours of such labour as you will have, and 3,110 hours' ordinary labour?' Our answer would be, 'Some hundred pounds, but we cannot tell how many, in favour of the smaller number, so that we should prefer it to the other at the same price.'

From the same paper we transcribe another extract, which the advocates of long hours and no half-holiday will find somewhat perplexing.

"The present year promises to be a very good one as regards profit, in consequence of the enormous increase in the demand for the candles. No mere driving of the men and boys, by ourselves, and those in authority under us, would have produced the sudden and very great increase of manufacture necessary for keeping pace with this demand. It has been effected only by the hearty goodwill with which the factory has worked, the men and boys making the great extra exertion which they saw to be necessary to prevent our getting hopelessly in arrears with the

BARRIERS BROKEN DOWN.

25

orders, as heartily as if the question had been how to avert some difficulty threatening themselves personally. One of the foremen remarked with truth a few days back, To look at them, one would think each was engaged in a little business of his own, so as to have only himself affected by the results of his work.' * * * * It is the result of the feeling for the factory shown by the Company at its last annual meeting."

There is something quite beautiful in this statement. It shows how identical are the interests of masters and men, and how possible it is to break down those class barriers which have been too often raised as if for the express purpose of keeping them distinct. Depend upon it that exclusiveness of caste, and that pride which leads men of small minds to isolate themselves from those whom they consider beneath them in society, so far from tending to maintain the rightful distinctions of rank, form the very flood-gates through which, in times of difficulty, the tide of democratic feeling may be expected to pour.

Lord Ebrington has stated that he regards the Half-holiday question as "a natural supplement to the Ten Hours Bill." Take, then, another quotation from Mr. Leonard Horner's Report. It shows that, in the opinion of a most competent judge, business does not suffer by the limitation of labour.

"The restrictions," he says, "now regulating the labour of children, young persons, and women in fac

tories, which have immensely improved their condition in many respects, have not been attended with the injurious effects upon trade which were apprehended.”

We will now add to these clear and, we would fain hope, convincing statements, a number of brief but equally conclusive assertions.

Mr. F. Bennoch, who has tried the Half-holiday in his establishment for several years, testifies to "the excellent working of the system." Mr. Henry Milward, of Ridditch, needle-maker, says, “My orders are got out quicker and better than they were previous to it." Messrs. Paton and Charles affirm, "The men are grateful for the Saturday Half-holiday, and we do not find the work get behindhand in consequence of it." Mr. Hitchcock says, "My opinion is, that the employers want it more than the employed we have not only physical labour, but we have also superadded much mental anxiety and toil. * * I have no hesitation in affirming that more business would be done in the five days and a half than during the six." Messrs. Guest and Chrimes state, "Our works, employing one hundred and fifty hands, were the first in this place (Rotherham) to adopt the Half-holiday, viz., by closing the works at twelve o'clock on the Saturday; this took place some years since, and both employers and employed would be very loath to alter the arrangement. The workmen are more orderly, sober, and attentive to their work." Messrs.

*

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SATISFACTORY RESULTS.

27

Alexander Grant and Brothers state, "The two o'clock closing on Saturday has been very beneficial to ourselves, as well as to our people, for whose advantage it was adopted: we get quite as much if not more work done, and a better class of men offer themselves for employment." Messrs. J. R. Bousfield and Co., "having tried the early closing on Saturdays for one twelvemonth (1858), have every reason to be satisfied with the result as far as all parties are concerned." And Messrs. Boucher, Mortimer, and Co. find "the early closing on Saturday beneficial both to employers and employed."

It would be easy to multiply these statements, and to show still further, from the direct experience of employers, that instead of being injurious to business, the Half-holiday tends, on the contrary, to promote the interests of those by whom it is granted. But the force of our argument would not be strengthened by a lengthy accumulation of proofs. The man who collects statistics by way of carrying his point is often in danger of doing himself harm by overburdening his subject; we have drawn upon these testimonies enough to render our ground impregnable, and any additional material might possibly prove an encumbrance.

But before quitting this portion of our subject, there are one or two points which seem to call for observation. Our readers will have observed that, while some employers advance their testimony in

28

THE EMPLOYER'S HOLIDAY.

favour of the holiday, they lay at the same time great stress on the personal advantage in point of health and comfort which they themselves derive from it. It stands to reason that, while work is proceeding, the eye of the master should be over it; he cannot wisely take his weekly quota of holidaytime, if in his absence the business must be left to the care of foremen or assistants. The difficulty may indeed be partially met, when the firm consists of working partners, who can share the executive administration between them; but there are countless cases in London in which the real success of a business depends upon the physical stamina and the mental activity of a single master. With him rests the entire burden, to him will come the prosperity, on him will fall every liability. Doubtless, oftentimes, such a man is wearied utterly with heavy heartcares; he has great risks to encounter, he needs great energy to meet them; but his courage, his clear-sightedness, his promptitude in action, all depend very greatly on his bodily health. He feels that to be fully prepared for threatened evils, he requires recreation and rest; that it behoves him for awhile to throw aside his business cares, and enjoy some timely relaxation. By all means let him. do so; no business was ever the worse because its owner sought at judicious intervals a breathing-time from the care it entails; but how much greater would be his enjoyment, how much more legitimate