key teams, besides bowling, tennis, swimming, and other sports. One
of the most interesting events of the Cricket Club is the annual match
with a team representing Messrs. Fry and Sons, of Bristol, the oldest
established cocoa firm in this country. In friendly opposition to the
"Bournville Club" are the teams drawn from the "Youths' Club," and
other outside organizations. A summer camp of over a hundred boys has
been successfully held at the seaside for some years past.

[Illustration--Drawing: SUGGESTION BOX.]

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are received, and amounts withdrawn in the usual way during the year,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