PROFIT-SHARING ON THE LAND.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Some interest has been aroused among social reformers by a description which I gave in my book, England To-day, recently published, of an adventure in farming co-partnership Instituted by Mr. J. F. Mason, of Syvsham Hall, Witney, Oxon. In that ease a farm upon Mr. Mason's estate came into the market, and he sold a portion to a number of interested village workers, who registered themselves in the name of The Northleigh Land Co. Even in its initial stages the company worked with great success. It now consists of 56 members, working 120 acres, and possessing property valued at nearly £5,000. In various ways the members, mainly composed of gardeners, carters, village craftsmen, and factory hands employed in the Witney blanket mills, are learning the duties as well as the privileges of land ownership, and the scheme, small as it is, may be set down as a valuable social experiment in which Mr. Mason's zeal has been completely justified.
In the first place Mr. Mason (who will be remembered as a former M.P. for Windsor) addressed a circular to all the
workers, and then called them together for question and discussion. In brief, his plan was this : (1) to give labour, as such, a definite proportion of the profits, and (2) to allow all concerned to invest their savings in the capital of the farm. Rent was fixed at 22s. fld. per acre, and the interest on capital at 5 per cent. Of the remaining profit, after providing for reserve, one-tenth was to go to all engaged on the farm during the previous year in proportion to their money receipts, overtime, piecework, allowances on results, and harvest money, sharing equally. The management, of course, remained in Mr. Mason's hands, but he at once urged that those who had reasonable suggestions to make for improving the work would not find him difficult of access, or likely to turn a deaf ear. He proposed that any worker might leave the bonus described, or put his own or his wife's additional savings into the farming capital, on condition that it was their absolute property and not borrowed money, that no person held more than £100 without special permission, the investment to bear 5 per cent. guaranteed interest, and to be withdrawable, with interest to date, at any time on a week's notice. So long as agriculture prospered and there were profits to divide the scheme was quite successful, not merely financially, but also in giving the workers in general a reason for endeavouring to attain the best final result. In producing, suggesting improved methods of working, in finishing crop harvesting when bad weather threatens, and in preventing others from slacking or doing poor work, the experiment has justified itself, and, still existing, it will again function financially so soon as there are profits to divide.
May I, in conclusion, commend Mr. Mason's disinterested and high-minded example to those who are searching for a means of preserving our ancient landed industry from the ruin which an awakened, discontented population, moving so swiftly to the towns, seems to threaten ?—I am, Sir, &c., GEORGE A. GREENWOOD. 17 Craven Hill Gardens, Lancaster Gate, W. 2.
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