Socialism -- Great Britain; Unemployed -- Great Britain; Working class -- Great Britain
Another point of importance is, that the organisation of the whole
community under an official director, whose rule must necessarily
at first be despotic, is not intended to be permanent. When the
colony became thoroughly self-supporting, and its inhabitants fully
appreciated the benefits they enjoyed under the co-operative system,
and had been gradually trained in the principles and methods essential
to success, the organisation would be steadily modified in the
direction of a self-governing community.
With this end in view, the Director, as well as the several heads of
departments of industry, would, after the first year, each choose a
few of the more intelligent and industrious workers to form small
Consultative Committees. With these he would hold informal weekly
meetings, to talk over the special affairs of their departments, and
consider whether any improvements in organisation were advisable,
either in the interests of the workers themselves or of the whole
community who consumed or utilised the products of the work. Later
on these committees might be added to by the introduction of workers
chosen to represent the rest; or, perhaps better still, by the
admission of those who had been longest in the community, and were
therefore best acquainted with the needs and wishes of all its members.
These would automatically become members after a certain period of
work, the older retiring as the younger entered, and would ultimately
constitute the whole committee. Suggestion-books should also be kept in
the public rooms, in which every member, without exception, could, if
he wished, make proposals or suggestions on any matter affecting the
well-being of the whole community, or any section of it. These books
would be examined by the committees and by the Director, who would
decide upon their merits. Public meetings would also be held monthly or
quarterly, at which the decision as to each of the suggestions would be
announced, and the reasons why some were adopted and others rejected
explained, while occasionally a suggestion would be given a trial and
afterwards the opinion of a general meeting taken upon its adoption.
This plan was, I believe, first tried at Ralahine (in 1832) by Mr.
E. T. Craig, and it has since been adopted by a few great industrial
concerns with excellent results. It is found that useful suggestions
are made by quite ordinary workmen, and even by boys, affecting both
the convenience of the workmen and economy of production. But more
important is its educational and moral value, which would be especially
great in a co-operative association, by giving to every worker a
definite status, and making him feel that he is not only a labourer in
a great organisation, but that he is allowed to express his own views
as to what is essential for the good of all. This feeling, and the
careful attention given to all suggestions, tends to give confidence in
the management, and ensures willing and thoughtful attention to duty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account