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of tho raw material for a qualitative as well as quantitative goodresult, every practical mail is aware (1 7 ).
This is not the place to speak in detail about the way in whichtechnical education is being energetically pressed forward at thepresent time in England . In that it affects the working classes ina high degree, it differs from the acknowledged splendid efforts inthe same direction in Germain'. The latter produces distinguishedtrained technical men, not only for Germany —whose demand hasnot kept pace with the supply—but also for competing countries ,especially England , whose laboratories, mills, and technical educa-tional institutions are filled with German experts. As opposedto this over-production on the one hand, technical instruc-tion in Germany has up to now drawn the operative very littlewithin its folds. But how important for the industrial prosperityof a country is a technical training as extensive as possible isacknowledged in general by the great English industrial employers.Thus, one of the greatest of these, Sir William Armstrong , says :•—The ignorance of the great mass of persons engaged in industry asregards natural science and technical knowledge is a bar to theprogress of the individual, as well as a loss for the nation. Almostevery branch of skilled labour could be developed if the personsengaged in it were trained in the elements of natural science,which come into account in the labour (18). As a fact, in England
17. Compare Marsden : “Cotton Spinning ” (London , 1888), p. 130. “It
requires the closest attention of the carder in order to prevent the cotton beingdelivered before it is sufficiently carded, by which bad work would result; and,on the other hand, to prevent it remaining in the card a moment longer thannecessary, as this diminishes the product. Cottons differ in the amount ofcarding they require —some needing more, some less ; others, again, contain alarger proportion of short fibre, and fill the cards sooner, rendering it necessaryto strip oftener. On changes being made in these respects the carder shouldgive the closest attention to his cards, in order that he may make .anyalteration that may be needed in time,” etc., etc. In a similar way the natureof the raw material determines the changeable distance of the drawing rollersin the mule, which the spinner has to regulate. The adaptation of the rawmaterial as a variable natural product to the regular working machine is moreand more the task of the operative engaged upon it. Compare also“Prot.der Reichsenquete,” p. 0. “ A clever operative makes less waste than a new
beginner. In this respect I believe that we have rather more waste in Germany than in England .”
18. Compare “ Technical Education ” (London , 1889, National Associationfor the Promotion of Technical and Secondary Education), p. 30. This bookgives a glance at the valuable efforts and the extensive literature of thissociety. In his essay, “ Ueber das Wesen und die Verfassung der grossenUnternehmung,” Schmoller has drawn attention to the importance of thepossession of “ skilled labour,” and compared it correctly with a state ofinstabilitv and frequent change of calling. Compare “ Zur Social und Gewerbe-politik ” (1890), pp. 102, 401, 411.