Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Third of a Century.] THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1905. THE LABOUR CO-PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8277, 19 October 1905, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Third of a Century.] THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1905. THE LABOUR CO-PARTNERSHIP MOVEMENT.

A recent very interesting and important development is that known as labour copartnership, which appears to be gaining ground in popular estimation in England. An exhibition in connection with the movement was held in August in the Crystal Palace. The scheme has a Socialistic basis, and is of a communistic character, though it is not identical with co-operative work as generally understood. It is an attempt to enlist various energies and enterprises in a common effort at production, in order to get rid, if possible, of the capitalistic incubus. It is, in fact, a revival of the old " Christian Socialist" movement initiated in the earlier years of the last century by Kingsley, Maurice and other philanthropic reformers , and it would appear from the accounts which are to hand that the revival has been attended with a gratifying measure of success. The promoters, at any rate, are sanguine; and much surprise is expressed at the practical and effective conduct of the concern by mere groups of workmen, who have little or no experience in the building up of a business. There are now in Great Britain one hundred and twenty-six productive Societies under the auspices of the Co-partnership, with a capital of nearly two millions, and producing goods to the annual value of over three millions. The promoters, now that the movement is fairly under way, are turning their attention (o the housing problem, and Mr AVill Crooks, the popular M.P. for AVoolwich in the Labour interest, made some very pertinent remarks on the question at the opening of the Exhibition. .He emphasised the fact that if the workers had better facilities for employing their skill and industry profitably, and more attractive homes,; the public-house would Cease to allure them so much as at present.

The principle on which the movement is based appears to be a sound one. It is held that under tho conditions of labour, there is no chance for inialive, no opportunity, or only limited opportunity, and encouragement for the exercise of individual skill or special talents, whereas when the worker becomes a partner in a concern (as he is under the copartnership arrangement) his interest is stimulated and his intellect quickened. The Association claims that it renders strikes, lock-outs, etc., impossible, and further, that no other agency, except co-operation, can bring about this happy state of things. It is impossible not to admire a movement so rational, so practical, and so well-organised. It seems to indicate that the self-reliance and common-sense of the British workman are as operative to-day as ever they were ; and the story of the Association affords a bright contrast to the sad tidings that now reach us so often of distress among tho workers of the Old Land. Such a movement, based on sound and economic principles, and having the noblest humanitarian aims, can hardly fail to succeed.