570 INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



But now, lias not the resulting aversion to piece-work 

 been unawares carried into another sphere, in which its 

 effects must be quite different? Evils like those arising 

 from antagonistic interests, cannot arise where there are no 

 antagonistic interests. Each cooperator exists in a double 

 capacity. He is a unit in an incorporated body standing 

 in the place of employer; and he is a worker employed by 

 this incorporated body. Manifestly, when, instead of an 

 employing master, alien to the workers, there is an employ 

 ing master compounded of the workers, the mischiefs ordi 

 narily caused by piece-work can no longer be caused. Con 

 sider how the arrangement will work. 



The incorporated body, acting through its deputed com 

 mittee, gives to the individual members work at a settled 

 rate for an assigned quantity such rate being somewhat 

 lower than that which, at the ordinary speed of production, 

 would yield the ordinary wages. The individual members, 

 severally put into their work such ability as they can and 

 such energy as they please ; and there comes from them an 

 output, here of twenty, there of twenty-five, and occasionally 

 of thirty per cent, greater than before. What are the pe 

 cuniary results? Each earns in a given time a greater sum, 

 while the many-headed master has a larger quantity of goods 

 to dispose of, which can be offered to buyers at somewhat 

 lower prices than before; with the effect of obtaining a 

 ready sale and increased returns. Presently comes one of 

 the recurring occasions for division of profits. Through the 

 managing body, the many-headed master gives to every 

 worker a share which, while larger all round, is proportion 

 ate in each case to the sum earned. What now will happen 

 in respect of the rate paid for piece-work? The composite 

 master has no motive to cut down this rate: the interests of 

 the incorporated members being identical with the interests 

 of the members individually taken. But should there arise 

 any reason for lowering the piece-work price, the result 

 must be that what is lost to each in payment for labour, is 



