WAGES AND PRICES 



47 



begins earlier. In Ireland wages have risen 

 progressively throughout the whole period. 

 The conclusions suggested by the survey are, 

 first, that the movement of wages in no way 

 accounts for rural depopulation, which has 

 gone on most rapidly when wages were rising 

 — namely, in 1861-71, in 1891-1901, and more 

 recently. Attention has been drawn to this 

 fact in a previous chapter, but its repetition 

 is in place here. The second conclusion is that 

 the condition of agricultural labourers has 

 substantially improved during the last half- 

 century. In 1866-70 the average wage was 

 IIS. 9|d., the price of wheat 54s. 5d. a quarter, 

 and that of beef at the Metropolitan Cattle 

 Market 5|d. to 8d. a lb. In 1906-10 the aver- 

 age wage was 15s. o|d., the price of wheat 

 31S. iid. a quarter, and of beef 4id. to 7|d. 

 per lb. The figures are worth tabulating : — 



Present Rates of Wages. 

 The upward tendency of wages shown 

 above has continued. The figures previously 

 given relate only to cash wages, as already 

 explained. When the various allowances are 

 taken into account the actual receipts are sub- 



