ON THE REGULATION OF WAGES IN THE COTTON INDUSTET. 307 



given time depends mainly on its fineness. Yarn can be spun so fine that 

 it takes 150 miles of it to weigh one pound. Whenever wages are paid by 

 the weight of the yarn it is necessary to increase the rate per pound, if the 

 necessary equality is to be maintained between the wages of the operatives. 

 Such increase does not necessarily diminish the profits of the employer, 

 as the finer the yarn the higher the price realised in the market. The 

 allowance for fineness may therefore be regarded as a sharing by the 

 operative in the increased value of the produce, and corresponds to some 

 extent to the allowance given by the sliding scales in the coal industry in 

 respect of a rise in the value of coal. 



Fineness is technically indicated by reference to the number of yards 

 in one pound. A hank is a length of 840 yards, and the number of hanks 

 in one pound indicates the fineness. For example, 32's (i.e., 32 hanks) 

 means a yarn of such a degree of fineness that there are 32 hanks, or 

 32 X 840 yards, in one pound. 



In the Oldham list wages are paid, not by the weight, but by the length 

 of the yarn spun, and therefore it is unnecessary to make any allowance 

 for fineness. 



The following tables show the variation for fineness under the different 

 lists. The leading principle is that the wages vary in proportion to fine- 

 ness, estimated by the number of hanks in a pound, but for the higher 

 counts an extra allowance per centum is made. 



Blackburn 

 From 



Over 



Burnley & 

 From 



Over 

 Bolton 

 From 



Hyde 

 From 



Over 



Stockport 



From 



Ashton 

 From 



14's to 20's . 

 20's to 24's . 

 24's to 30's . 

 30's to 34's , 

 34's to 40's . 

 40's 

 40's 



Preston 

 14's to 18's . 

 20's to 23's . 

 24's to 30's . 

 32's . 

 34's to 70's . 

 70's 



48's to 32's . 



50's 



50's 



lO's to 20's . 



22's to 36's . 



38's to 44's . 

 44's 



lO's to 16's . 

 16's to 24's . 

 24's to 30's . 

 30's to 50's . 



34's 30's to . 



36's 



40's 



45's to 55 's . 



55's to 65's . 



65's to lOO's . 



1. Weft. 

 add in proportion to the counts + 1 ^fe for each hank. 



the standard. 



+ 7i %. 



+ 6 96 for every 5 hanks. 



add in proportion to counts + 1 % for each hank. 



the standard. 



add in proportion 



deduct about 

 the standard 

 add about 



add . . . 

 the standard 

 add . . 

 add . . 



add . . 

 add . . 

 the standard 

 add . . 



deduct . . 

 the standard 

 add . . 

 add . . 

 add . . 

 add . . 



to counts + 2 % for each 2 hanks. 

 ,, + 2i % for each 2 hanks. 



2 % for every 2 hanks. 

 2 % for every 2 hanks. 



2 % for every 2 hanks. 



2*4 % for every 2 hanks. 

 2-45 % for every 2 hanks 



3 % for every 2 hanks. 

 2^ 0/0 for every 2 hanks. 



2|- % for every 2 hanks. 



^d. for every 2 hanks. 



Id. for every 5 hanks. 

 id. for every 5 hanks. 

 \d. for every 5 hanks. 

 X2 



