ON women's labour. 401 



Commissioners should endeavour to discriminate between changes 

 aflPecting the employment of women which are due to the legislation and 

 those which result from other causes. 



The Committee awaits the reports of the several Commissioners, and 

 would be glad to receive offers of assistance from any other persons who 

 are able to procure and furnish the information sought with respect to any 

 particular field in which women's labour has been regulated by legislation. 



The Committee begs to thank the Secretary of State for the Home 

 Department for having given permission to the Inspectors of Factories to 

 furnish the information required with respect to their several districts. 



The Committee received an offer of information from the Freedom of 

 Labour Defence, of which it would be glad to avail itself. 



As the reference to the Committee is general in its terms, and includes 

 the economic efifect of legislation in every country regulating women's 

 labour, the Committee addressed the following circular to the heads of 

 the statistical bureaux of various countries and to other persons of 

 authority, not only in Europe, but also in the United States and the 

 British Colonies. 



Circular to Foreign and Colonial Authorities. 



' The above-named Committee, having been appointed by the British 

 Association to enquire into the economic effect of legislation I'egulating 

 Women's Labour, are desirous of obtaining information relating to that 

 subject in industrial centres outside of the United Kingdom, and have 

 directed us to ask the favour of your assistance. 



' They will be greatly obliged to you for any information you are able 

 to furnish them in answer to the subjoined questions with regard to your 

 own country. 



' 1. Did any enquiry precede the enactment of the statutes regulating 

 women's labour ? Kindly give full reference to any record of such 

 enquiry. 



' 2. Has any enquiry been made into the results of such legislation 

 since its enactment 1 Kindly give I'cference to records. 



' 3. What are the particular industries in which women's labour is 

 regulated ? And what proportion do women and girls employed in such 

 industries bear to tlie whole industi'ial female population o£ the country 1 



' 4. Are any statistics available with regard to the industries affected 

 by such legislation of — 



(a) The number of women employed \ (A) At or shortly before the date 



(b) The wages paid to them of the enactment ? 



((') The number of men employed 



(d) The wages paid to them 



(e) Other economic data 



-(B) At or shortly before the 



present time ? 

 (C) At any intermediate period ? 



Kindly give full references to records. 



' 5. Can you favour the Committee with any observations of your own 

 on the matter ? ' 



The Committee has received from its foreign correspondents a great 

 quantity of valuable information, for which it has returned its thanks. 



The Committee has thus taken the necessary preliminary steps towards 

 the investigation of the subject referred to it. The subject is a large one, 



190L D D 



