WHAT ONLOOKERS THINK OF FREE-TRADE 61 



time, deprived them of quite a number of economic advantages 

 which enormously outwcvjh the single benefit of cheap bread ? 



This purpose cannot be served better than by referring here 

 to the Keport of what is called the "Gainsborough Com- 

 mission." * 



It will be borne in mind that a " Commission " of working 

 men was formed in 1906 at Gainsborough to study the conditions 

 of labour prevailing in German workshops and the social status 

 of German work-people. 



Six men were elected by ballot from among their co-workers. 

 Their names are : T. W. Mottershall, J. Mann, G. W. Brown, 

 G. Proctor, H. Beilby, and H. Calvert, and they were employed 

 by Messrs. Marshall, Sons and Co., Eose Bros., and Edlington 

 and Co, (all of Gainsborough). 



Some of them were recognised Free-traders. The object of 

 the journey was entirely uniMlitical, it being intended, mainly, 

 that certain fallacies prevailing in England, concerning the 

 rate of wages and mode of life of German workmen, should be 

 rectified. 



EivAL Labour Conditions in Germany 



The working men were conducted through Germany by 

 Mr. J. L. Bashfoi'd, the editor of the book, " Life and Labour 

 in Germany," which contained an account of their investi- 

 gations. 



The necessary facilities for carrying out such a task were 

 most readily given by the Secretary of State of the German 

 Imperial Home Office, by the Prussian Minister of Trade and 

 Commerce, by a number of manufacturers and others con- 

 nected M'ith industry, and by the organising authorities of the 

 Social Democratic Party. 



The members of the Commission represented more than one 

 phase of political thovight, hence the reports deal with the 

 various questions from several points of view. 



Throughout the tour the men applied themselves assiduously 

 to their arduous task, and were determined to carry out their 

 inquiry in as thorough a manner as was possible in the short 

 time at their disposal, namely, six weeks. 



On their return to England each delegate handed to ]\Ir. 

 Bashford a written statement of the impression made upon 

 him in Germany — a faithful reproduction of his own views ou 

 all he saw and heard — extracts from which are appended. 



* "Life and Labour iu Germany" (llcports of the Gainsborough Com- 

 mission). 



