364 LAND REFORM 



same decade of years, the general population of Eng- 

 land and Wales had increased by 3,525,318, or I2"i7 

 per cent. 



A Government Report on the changes in the rates 

 of wages has just been issued. It shows that the 

 decline in prosperity of the chief industries still con- 

 tinues. The Report deals with the United Kingdom, 

 and refers to above 800,000 workpeople belonging to 

 the principal groups of trades from which definite 

 returns are regularly received. Agricultural labourers, 

 seamen, and railway servants are excluded. The total 

 net decrease in rates of wages in last year (1904) 

 was ;i^39,200 per week. This followed a net decrease 

 of ;^38,300 per week in 1903, which followed a net 

 decrease of ;^72,595 per week in 1902, which in its 

 turn followed a net weekly decrease of ^76,587 in 

 1 90 1. The cumulative character of the falling-off 

 must be considered in order to realize the enormous 

 decrease in the rates of wages since the last Census 

 (1901). 



Two only of the groups of occupations show an 

 increase in the rates of wages in the year 1904, 

 namely, in respect of those engaged in the clothing 

 trade and those employed by public authorities. The 

 Report gives only the rates of wages which workers 

 v/ould receive for the time they were in work. The 

 actual earnings, of course, depend on the amount of 

 employment available.^ 



Another Government Report, just issued, deals with 

 the actual state of employment. It shows that, in all 

 the trade unions making returns, the yearly mean 

 percentage out of employment for the year 1901 (date 



1 " Report on Changes in Rates of Waycs, etc.," Labour Department, 

 Board of Trade, Cd. 2674, IQ^S- 



