602 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION F. 



definitely ascertained. I think there can be very little doubt 

 that this is the operation of the law. It is the only hypothesis 

 which is possible to account for the equality of incomes 

 between the two divisions of workers at the centre and the 

 circumference. 



It is a question for speculation whether the law, which is 

 apparent, assuming it to be the outcome of civilisation, is 

 only a stage in its development, or whether the same 

 operation may be predicated in the future time ; and it 

 would be of interest to ascertain whether the law existed in 

 past times, prior to the increased production which science 

 and invention have secured, and, if so, to learn the period 

 of its development. The question also arises whether there 

 is the like result in European or other countries where the 

 same proportion does not exist between the primary and 

 secondary workers. I have given particulars as to some 

 of the European countries in an Appendix. However it 

 may be, the United States and England possess greater 

 capital — the result of accumulated wealth — and have attained 

 a greater supremacy in manufacturing industry, and there 

 has, I believe, been no such improvement in the condition 

 of the labouring classes in the European countries as that 

 which has taken place in England or the United States 

 during the last fifty years. If one-half of the secondary 

 workers in any one of the countries for which I have given 

 figures were transferred to the side of the primary, there 

 would be an additional production to the amount of 50 per 

 cent. It may be assumed that half of the additional product 

 would go for services, and possibly duplicate, — still giving 

 the remaining secondary workers equal incomes. 



The law would not be indicated if the figures of production 

 included that of an impoverished population owning small 

 areas of land, of which the cultivation only yielded sufficient 

 for their own bare requirements, with an insignificant outlay 

 for anything beyond food. The incomes of such workers 

 yield but in a very small degree secondary incomes in the 

 expenditure which gives the higher civilisation. 



The great problem is, how to give increased wealth to the 

 largest number ? The most obvious mode is to increase to 

 the fullest extent all production which can be disposed of; 

 and, so far as possible, in such a way that the wealth may be 

 generally diffused. The application of the profit-sharing 

 system, working regularly on a proper basis, would appear 

 to be the mode by which this could be carried out as 



