Once  more,  we  are  not  concerned  with  opinions,  but
with  facts.  As  co-operative  production  has  been
attempted  under  very  difficult  circumstances,  we  may
be  quite  sure  that  it  will  be  under  the  particularly
easy  ones  we  shall  have  now,  and  we  are  safe


92  LECTURE   III

also  in  saying  that  some  degree  of  success  will  be
attained.
Co-operation  that  really  is  co-operation,  succeeds
on  a  small  scale,  but  fails  on  a  large  scale.  The  suc-
cesses it  has  obtained  in  large  enterprises  have  been
won  by  modifying  itself  so  as  to  differ  in  nothing
very  essential  from  ordinary  enterprise.  As  far  as
all  the  indications  we  have  can  guide  us,  ordinary
enterprise  will  be  wanted  to  co-ordinate  the  efforts
of  co-operative  groups.
Firms  might  make  their  labour  contracts  with
co-operative  groups  instead  of  with  individuals,  the
groups  arranging  to  deliver  the  required  number  of
pieces,  if  it  is  piece  work,  or  to  give  workers  for
the  required  hours  of  labour  in  the  factory.  The
workers  then  could  spend  part  of  their  time  culti-
vating a  holding,  making  their  arrangements  among
themselves  for  the  work  in  the  factory.
Economically  also  this  would  be  a  good  plan.  It
would  admit  of  »reat  concentration  of  labour  on  the

o

industry  in  busy  times,  or  on  the  farm  at  harvest  time,
especially  as  the  families  are  an  important  labour
factor  on  the  farm  in  such  times.  There  are  special
reasons  for  developments  of  that  kind  after  the  war.
