ON THE REGULATION OF WAGES IN THE COTTON IND0STET. 305 



been adopted on the principle that the advantage arising from the nse of 

 large mules should not be appropriated solely by either the employer or 

 employed, but be divided between both parties. The extra amount of 

 yarn spun gives an increased wage to the minder ; the lower rate of wages 

 gives a share to the employer. 



(3) The fineness of the yarn. — The spinning of the coarser yarns is paid 

 at a less rate than the finer yarns. The fineness of yarn is denoted by the 

 number of hanks or lengths of S40 yards in 1 lb. For instance, 32's 

 {i.e., 32 hanks) means 32 hanks to the 1 lb. 



A certain fineness being taken as the standard, the rate of wages per 

 100 lbs. increases as the fineness increases. Were such a principle not 

 adopted, the minder spinning fine yarns would not earn as much wao-es 

 as the minder spinning coarse yarns. To spin 100 lbs. of fine yarn 

 requires a much longer time than to spin the same quantity of coarse 

 yarn ; and it is said that under the Oldham and other similar lists, apply- 

 ing to one-half the spinning trade, fine spinners earn less than the coarse 

 spinners. 



(4) The number of turns. — The length of yarn that can be spun in a 

 given time by the minder varies, not only according to the fineness, 

 but according to the amount of twist in the thread, because the greater 

 the number of turns each inch of yarn receives, the shorter will be the total 

 length. Two minders spinning yarn of the same fineness but with differ- 

 ent number of ' twists ' per inch would earn different wages. To equalise 

 wages the number of twists must be taken into acconnt. 



It is evident that the amount of twist in a thread may be infinitely 

 varied, and in order to avoid difficulties arising on this point the lists 

 adopt a principle known as Scott's rule, for calculating the standard turns 

 for any count of yarn. The rule is this : Multiply the square root of the 

 count by 3-25 for weft, and 376 for twist, and you obtain the standard 

 turns for that count. E^tra turns are usually paid for by allowing two- 

 thirds of the proportion. 



The lists are therefore characterised by the following principles : 



(1) Wages depend on the amount of the produce. 



(2) All advantage arising from improved machinery is divided between 

 employer and employed. 



(3) An equality is maintained between those spinning fine and coarse 

 yarns, except in so far as the former require greater skill. 



(4) Any extra work not coming within the normal duties of the 

 minder is paid for separately. 



The following analysis of the lists will show the method in which these 

 principles are carried into practice : — 



Analysis of Variations. 

 1. Weft and Twist Standards. 



a. Weft, 

 s. d. 

 Blackburn . 35-5 per 100 lbs. of . 30's on Mules from 631-649 spindles 



• 41-5 „ „ 32's „ 



Burnley . 42-75 „ „ „ 640 



Preston . 4275 



Bolton . 18-56 per 1,000 hanks of 50's , 420 



Stockport . 1600 „ „ 30's 



Hyde . . 1466 „ „ 36's '', 



Ashton . 1 4i ,. , 



1887. 



360 

 660 

 360 



