362 LAND REFORM 



mously gained in numbers. Gamekeepers have in- 

 creased above 20 per cent during the last ten years, 

 and there are now nearly 17,000 men engaged in that 

 non-productive calling 



If, however, we turn to the industrial — manufactur- 

 ing and producing — classes, we find that the returns 

 tell a different tale. Up to 1891 these producing 

 classes were increasing in numbers, or at least holding 

 their own. But the census of 1901 shows that they 

 have since been losing ground considerably The 

 numbers employed in the several branches of the 

 great textile industry show a falling-off during the ten 

 years from 3 per cent to 45 per cent.^ 



The number of persons employed in the cotton 

 manufacture, which is more than half of the whole 

 number engaged in the textile industries, had lessened 

 by 3' I per cent during the same period. On this 

 reduction the Registrar-General in his Report remarks : 

 "The decline here shown of 3*1 per cent in the 

 number employed in an industry ot such magnitude is 

 unquestionably a matter of serious concern." 



The number of persons engaged in the carpet and 

 felt manufacture in 1901 was 12*1 per cent less than 

 in 1891 ; in the wool and worsted, 13*5 per cent; in 

 the hosiery i "5 per cent ; in the silk manufacture, 

 28'6 per cent; in the fustian manufacture, 31 "4 per 

 cent ; in the flax and linen, 45 per cent. In all the 

 branches of the textile industry there are but two that 

 show an increase in the number of persons employed. 

 One is the lace manufacture, which shows an increase 

 of 4'9 per cent ; the other is the coarse textile group 



* All these statistics must be read in connection with the great increase 

 of population during the same period. 



