The Life of Sir William Hartley

Among the best-known features of Mr. Hartley's business was his system of profit-sharing. He saw the account of a Frenchman who had adopted the system, and this first set him thinking on the subject. But in his own opinion he would never have adopted the practice but for the training he had given himself in systematic and proportionate giving. The Rev. George Trusler has told me that he said to him that the greatest battle of the kind which he had fought turned on the question whether he should introduce profit-sharing into his business. He added: "No one asked for it, no one expected it, no one had a claim upon it, it might be resented by some in the trade. I paid a little more than others for the work done, but I felt it my duty and privilege and shall continue to do it."

Before I describe his method it will be well to indicate his views on co-partnership. He dealt with the subject most fully in an address he delivered in 1921.