CHAPTER III. 

 PIECEWORK AND " EXTRAS." 



THE word " piecework " may be freely translated into 

 the expression " payment by results.'* It would no 

 doubt be best for employers and employed if every 

 description of work could be done by the piece that 

 is, its value accurately assessed and paid for ; but in 

 many kinds of business such an arrangement is either 

 not possible or not desirable. A good deal of time may 

 have to be spent in planning or arranging work, in dis- 

 cussion with regard to it, and in other ways, for which, 

 as the saying is, there is " nothing to show." In pay- 

 ment by the week, with certain defined hours, but without 

 a very clear definition of the amount of work to be done, 

 there is always a possibility of " idling," which can only 

 be checked by a very severe system of supervision ; but 

 with the very best system of supervision the uncon- 

 scientious workman may get chances to " loaf." 



A large amount of farmwork is what is called of a 

 straightforward character that is, more or less of a 

 routine nature. The time required to do it can be easily 

 estimated. The value to the farmer of the work, 

 when done, can be easily calculated, and such labour, 

 it might be thought, would always be done by the piece 

 ploughing the arable, cutting grass, reaping corn, and 

 the almost interminable task of " weeding." The time 

 required for these labours can quite easily be practically 

 ascertained. We mean, there is an average time neces- 

 sary for their performance. Some men will do the work 



