FACTORY CANTEENS IN SOUTH GERMANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XLI, Issue 3346, 7 December 1893, Page 9

FACTORY CANTEENS IN SOUTH GERMANY.

It appears that made by ff any employers, jn South, Germany to establish canteen sin. th eir factories where the; men can ge|food' of good quality be: low, cost price.has not,been successful as yet., ..The British .Consul at Mannheim says .that..after the first sense of novelty has passed away, the workmen ceased from visiting the, dining halls.. Thus, one factory with 1,900 Lands, has only 300 dinners, another with 380 hands only 50; at a third, ..with 700 workmen, barely 70 visit jth.p dinner hall, and at a fourth, ■with;2so. .workmen,'only, 30 avail them? selves of it. ;i Many.,and; somewhat contradictory, . reasons r are : given for this. Onefirm observes il'.Theresult confirms our. first opinion concerning the social political legislation. "iWelhink that the workmen.should be afforded opportunity to .help, themselves and in their,ewn fashion.. Benefits conferred or enforced upon' them, although. accepted, are by.no means fully appreciated. . The workmen regard them with indifference, whereas fill self-effort in the way of improvement, as provision against illness and disability, and better and cheaper food and the liko, produces niore satisfaction; and increases the sense of independence. In short, we think it would be better to point out to the'workman how he pan improve his position than with outlay of money to force honefitsiipon him." The Consul is inclined to ascribe its failure to the interference with the customs and sense of iridendence of the men. It interferes greatly with one of the customs. They had previously been in the habit of having their dinners brought by their wives, children, or friends. Fettered as a work•man's life is by hard necessity, the dinner hour brought him freedom 1 and society. He sat down wherever he pleased, in any place or corner that yielded some protection against wind, rain, or sun. He was free, and though there was, perhaps, little or no conversation, he had < society. Invited to dine like a herd, hundreds together, was,a ;great contrast, and; as circumstances: show, a change not at all to his satisfaction. The superior and cheaper fare was not sufficient compensation ; there are.many people who prefer the society of thoir family at dinner even though the dishes be loss luxurious than at a tabic d'libti, while everybody, if he may not dine alone, likes to have* the choice of company. The workmen seem to feel xhe same, It may everywhere be observed that even when a number of workmen have brought their dinners in their pockets or bundle.'', when the dinner hour strikes they do not Bit down tcgethr 'but, every man somewhat apart. The supply of coffee by ihe factories, either gratis or at noniiial price, to the work* men during work in hot weather is a decided advance.—VTimes.'