A NOTABLE CO-OPERATIVE FACTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 25 June 1912, Page 2

A NOTABLE CO-OPERA-TIVE FACTORY.

Every photographer is familiar with the name of Carl Zeiss. It is a synonym tor high quality, and, incidentally, high price, in optical apparatus of every description. . It is not generally known, however, that the Zeiss works" at Jena, m southern Germany, have for over 20 years been conducted on a co-operative basis. Carl 2eiss, the founder of the business, died in 1889, and the sole control _of the undertaking fell into the hands of Ernest Abbe, for many years his partner. Abbe is the man * who evented and perfected optical devices which have made the reputation of the hrm. Iwo years after the death of L,arl Zeiss, Abbe foreswore his great fortune, and created the "Zeiss Stifumg, under which the ownership of the works was practically vested in the workers of the factory. The Government ot Saxe-Weimar ratified the arrangement, and assumed control of the foundation, subject to a charter. Ihe administration is vested in a committee representing the works, the Government and the University. Income in excess of expenditure is devoted to improvement and extensions of plant increasing wages of the operatives, and the betterment of social conditions AM * ISi. nV piriLof Paternalism in Abbes charter. The document enunciates throughout the principle that the worker is entitled to the full product of lis labor. The "wages of superintendence," as the political economist puts it, are limited. No departmental head or other official may Wceive more than ten times the average wa<*e paid to n-en of over three years' service who are over twenty-four years of age. The highest salaried officers receive about £1000 per annum. The eight-hour day has been adopted throughout the works and it is stated that the annual procK is now, proportionately to the 'number ot men employed, 4 per cent, greater than when a nine hours' day was worked. Day overtime is paid for at a '>o per cent, rate and night overtime at of) per cent On holidays double rates are paid. Each year a part of the surplus income is distributed in bonuses, and these for the past fourteen years have averaged 8 per cent, on the annual pay ot each worker. Old a« e pensions, a week's holiday annually, sick pay and free medical service are amongst the advantages of employment at the Zeiss works. "