Learning Quality One cardinal advantage of" subsistence production" is that
the co-operators get food, and indeed clothes, that are quite first class in quality. The farm and the factory produce the best. The bread is better than most baker's bread and much more nutritious. The milk is at least Grade " A " and contains much more cream than the usual commercial milk, much of which is now kept down to the legal minimum, in order that the superfluous butter-fat may be sold separately as cream. This means that the produce is a good deal cheaper even than it seems to be. Since everything is distributed among the members and virtually no outside marketing attempted or indeed allowed, the usual economic tests do not apply. You cannot measure the value of such an endeavour by calculating the theoretic remuneration of the workers. They work for the most part either because they would rather work than be idle or because the idea of such co-operative effort appeals to them. The scheme was made possible only by the organising zeal of" the Friends" and by private bene- factions; but it is none the worse on that account, and as it proceeds grows steadily more and more self-supporting.
Previous page
