134 EMPLOYERS AND WORKMEN 



could, it is said, afford to part with anything 

 beyond bare wages to its workmen. To put the 

 matter shortly, where there are no profits there 

 can be no percentage for workmen. 



New undertakings may be divided into three 

 classes. First, those which are urgently and 

 really required, such as the railways now being 

 constructed in Western Canada. As works of 

 this class earn profits from the outset, nothing 

 more need be said about them. Second, those 

 undertakings which would succeed if a strong 

 monopoly were broken down. This is just one 

 of those cases where Government should inter- 

 fere, though it very seldom does. It is not in 

 the interest of the State that monopolies should 

 be allowed ; they should not be permitted to 

 establish themselves ; they are of the nature of 

 a trust, than which there is nothing more in- 

 jurious to the welfare of a people. It follows 

 that those new undertakings which might come 

 under this head only do so where proper pre- 

 cautions have not been taken by the Government 

 of the country. Third, those undertakings which 

 are not really required, or are brought into 

 existence prematurely. Schemes such as these, 

 being intended for the enrichment of individuals, 

 or small groups of financiers, at the expense of 

 the public, are objectionable ; and it would be 

 only proper that the inquisition into their pro- 

 spects should be made much more severe than 

 it now is. 



But, after all, these difficulties, and many others, 

 are not nearly so great as the two to be now 



