THE RIGHT TO "CA' CANNY."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—" Lancastrian" admits not having seen the Ironfounders' rules, but produces a Press version of an assault charge wherein the prisoner is said to have stated be had been fined £1 for "doing too much work" (Spectator, November 28th). No sociologist would make sweeping deductions from such unreliable data. An authority is another man's opinion, which is worthless unless supported by facts. This Society Las no rules stating that a man shall be fined as suggested. My statement is based on the Ironfounders' rule-book, not on an ill-informed, sensational report printed in a halfpenny newspaper. The members work daywork, piecework, bonus, or setwork. Where the three last-mentioned systems prevail an agreement is entered into between the men and employers respecting the time and price of the work. Should any member break an agreement or enter into a secret understand- ing to reduce prices he might be fined. For example, if the employers and men agreed upon ten hours' pay for making a particular casting, a member would be guilty of violation of contract if he accepted less for the same. An agreement is subject to revision, but must be adhered to while it lasts. "Lancastrian" admits that decent employers would not expect an " unreasonable day's work," words conveying the same meaning as " too much work." It is playing with the King's English to pretend otherwise. He states that to sign his name might damage his company. There is greater danger to a workman in divulging his identity, since he must obtain the sanction of landlords and capitalists before he can earn a living. Their prejudice might result in his being weeded out as unfit. If his men are as bad as his letters aver, his company is doubtless worked at a loss and its shares worth little. With many of his remarks I agree. But the man with technical training is considered a theorist or book crank. Some employers prefer the ignorant bully with the soul of a flunkey, servile as Uriah Heep to those above, but a petty tyrant to those below. Like the man who praises you to your face, be is usually a hypocrite, and is only " umble " to employers because he makes more out of them
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