The recent introduction of the system of suggestion-boxes throughout the works has been a great success.  All employees are invited to make suggestions, which are dealt with each week by two committees, one for the men and one for the girls.  Prizes amounting to about L80 are offered every half-year for the best suggestions.  During the first seven months of operation over 1,000 suggestions were received, a very large percentage of which were found sufficiently useful to be adopted.  The result has been to draw all sections closer together, as each feels sure of getting due credit for original ideas.  Many important alterations in organization and methods of working have been carried into effect, entirely owing to this scheme.[17]

[Illustration—­Black and White Plate:  Bournville Village:  Linden Road.]

In order to encourage thrift (at the same time insuring privacy), a Savings Fund on a novel system has been working successfully for several years at Bournville.  The fund was opened in Jubilee year by gifts of L1 to each employee who had been three years in the service of the firm, and 10s. to those employed for a shorter time.  Deposits are received, and amounts withdrawn in the usual way during the year, through collectors in each department, the depositors’ cards being called in quarterly for audit.  At the end of each financial year, in May, interest at the rate of four per cent. is added to the amount standing to the credit of each depositor, and the whole amount paid over to the Post Office Savings Bank.  At this time also, Post Office officials attend at the works, and enter the amounts to the credit of each depositor, issuing new Post Office Savings books where necessary.  This system secures absolute privacy for the permanent savings, and places the fund upon a secure basis.  As some evidence that the scheme is appreciated, it may be stated that the total balance transferred to the Post Office Savings Bank has averaged over L3,200 per annum.

While in the district of Bournville, the opportunity must not be lost of becoming more closely acquainted with the village around the works.  Away beyond the factory stretches an estate of nearly 500 acres, set apart for the purpose of “alleviating the evils which arise from the insanitary and insufficient accommodation supplied to large numbers of the working classes, and of securing to workers in factories some of the advantages of outdoor village life, with opportunities for the natural and healthful occupation of cultivating the soil.”  As yet only some 450 houses have been erected, pretty, picturesque cottages all of them, for the most part semi-detached, each on its sixth of an acre, more or less, housing in all a population of about 2,000.

[Illustration—­Black and White Plate:  Fishing Pool, Bournville.]