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ions of that service were the best possible。
‘As for the different branches of the State Service； they could be organized on somewhat the same lines as the different branches of the Public Service are now … like the Navy； the Post Office and as the State Railways in some other countries； or as are the different branches of the Military Army； with the difference that all promotions will be from the ranks； by examinations； and by merit only。 As every recruit will have had the same class of education they will all have absolute equality of opportunity and the men who would attain to positions of authority would be the best men； and not as at present； the worst。'
‘How do you make that out？' demanded Crass。
‘Under the present system； the men who become masters and employers succeed because they are cunning and selfish； not because they understand or are capable of doing the work out of which they make their money。 Most of the employers in the building trade for instance would be incapable of doing any skilled work。 Very few of them would be worth their salt as journeymen。 The only work they do is to scheme to reap the benefit of the labour of others。
‘The men who now become managers and foremen are selected not because of their ability as craftsmen； but because they are good slave…drivers and useful producers of profit for their employers。'
‘How are you goin' to prevent the selfish and cunnin'； as you call 'em； from gettin' on top THEN as they do now？' said Harlow。
‘The fact that all workers will receive the same pay； no matter what class of work they are engaged in； or what their position； will ensure our getting the very best man to do all the higher work and to organize our business。'
Crass laughed： ‘What！ Everybody to get the same wages？'
‘Yes： there will be such an enormous quantity of everything produced； that their wages will enable everyone to purchase abundance of everything they require。 Even if some were paid more than others they would not be able to spend it。 There would be no need to save it； and as there will be no starving poor； there will be no one to give it away to。 If it were possible to save and accumulate money it would bring into being an idle class； living on their fellows： it would lead to the downfall of our system； and a return to the same anarchy that exists at present。 Besides； if higher wages were paid to those engaged in the higher work or occupying positions of authority it would prevent our getting the best men。 Unfit persons would try for the positions because of the higher pay。 That is what happens now。 Under the present system men intrigue for and obtain or are pitchforked into positions for which they have no natural ability at all； the only reason they desire these positions is because of the salaries attached to them。 These fellows get the money and the work is done by underpaid subordinates whom the world never hears of。 Under Socialism； this money incentive will be done away with； and consequently the only men who will try for these positions will be those who； being naturally fitted for the work； would like to do it。 For instance a man who is a born organizer will not refuse to undertake such work because he will not be paid more for it。 Such a man will desire to do it and will esteem it a privilege to be allowed to do it。 He will revel in it。 To think out all the details of some undertaking； to plan and scheme and organize； is not work for a man like that。 It is a pleasure。 But for a man who has sought and secured such a position； not because he liked the work； but because he liked the salary … such work as this would be unpleasant labour。 Under Socialism the unfit man would not apply for that post but would strive after some other for which he was fit and which he would therefore desire and enjoy。 There are some men who would rather have charge of and organize and be responsible for work than do it with their hands。 There are others who would rather do delicate or difficult or artistic work； than plain work。 A man who is a born artist would rather paint a frieze or a picture or carve a statue than he would do plain work； or take charge of and direct the labour of others。 And there are another sort of men who would rather do ordinary plain work than take charge； or attempt higher branches for which they have neither liking or natural talent。
‘But there is one thing … a most important point that you seem to entirely lose sight of； and that is； that all these different kinds and classes are equal in one respect … THEY ARE ALL EQUALLY NECESSARY。 Each is a necessary and indispensable part of the whole； therefore everyone who has done his full share of necessary work is justly entitled to a full share of the results。 The men who put the slates on are just as indispensable as the men who lay the foundations。 The work of the men who build the walls and make the doors is just as necessary as the work of the men who decorate the cornice。 None of them would be of much use without the architect； and the plans of the architect would come to nothing； his building would be a mere castle in the air； if it were not for the other workers。 Each part of the work is equally necessary； useful and indispensable if the building is to he perfected。 Some of these men work harder with their brains than with their hands and some work harder with their hands than with their brains； BUT EACH ONE DOES HIS FULL SHARE OF THE WORK。 This truth will be recognized and acted upon by those who build up and maintain the fabric of our Co…operative Commonwealth。 Every man who does his full share of the useful and necessary work according to his abilities shall have his full share of the total result。 Herein will be its great difference from the present system； under which it is possible for the cunning and selfish ones to take advantage of the simplicity of others and rob them of part of the fruits of their labour。 As for those who will be engaged in the higher branches； they will be sufficiently rewarded by being privileged to do the work they are fitted for and enjoy。 The only men and women who are capable of good and great work of any kind are those who； being naturally fit for it； love the work for its own sake and not for the money it brings them。 Under the present system； many men who have no need of money produce great works； not for gain but for pleasure： their wealth enables them to follow their natural inclinations。 Under the present system many men and women capable of great works are prevented from giving expression to their powers by poverty and lack of opportunity： they live in sorrow and die heartbroken； and the community is the loser。 These are the men and women who will be our artists； sculptors； architects； engineers and captains of industry。
‘Under the present system there are men at the head of affairs whose only object is the accumulation of money。 Some of them possess great abilities and the system has practically compelled them to employ those abilities for their own selfish ends to the hurt of the community。 Some of them have built up great fortunes out of the sweat and blood and tears of men and women and little children。 For those who delight in such work as this； there will be no place in our Co…operative Commonwealth。'
‘Is there any more questions？' demanded Philpot。
‘Yes；' said Harlow。 ‘If there won't be no extry pay and if anybody will have all they need for just doing their part of the work； what encouragement will there be for anyone to worry his brains out trying to invent some new machine； or make some new discovery？'
‘Well；' said Barrington； ‘I think that's covered by the last answer； but if it were found necessary … which is highly improbable … to offer some material reward in addition to the respect； esteem or honour that would be enjoyed by the author of an invention that was a boon to the community； it could be arranged by allowing him to retire before the expiration of his twenty…five years service。 The boon he had conferred on the community by the invention； would be considered equivalent to so many years work。 But a man like that would not desire to cease working； that sort go on working all their lives； for love。 There's Edison for instance。 He is one of the very few inventors who have made money out of their work； he is a rich man； but the only use his wealth seems to be to him is to procure himself facilities for going on with his work； his life is a round of what some people would call painful labour： but it is not painful labour to him； it's just pleasure； he works for the love of it。 Another way would be to absolve a man of that sort from the necessity of ordinary work； so as to give him a chance to get on with other inventions。 It would be to the interests of the community to encourage him in every way and to place materials and facilities at his disposal。
‘But you must remember that even under the present system； Honour and Praise are held to be greater than money。 How many soldiers would prefer money to the honour of wearing the intrinsically valueless Victoria Cross？
‘Even now men think less of money than they do of the respect； esteem or honour they are able to procure with it。 Many men spend the great