472 REPORT—1890. 
arranged bichromate batteries, which was of great use in the experi- 
ments ; as well as to Professor Schuster, F.R.S., and Mr. Haldane Gee for 
assistance and advice. 
The probable Effects on Wages of a general Reduction in the 
Hours of Labour. By Professor J. E. C. Munro, LL.D. 
[Ordered by the General Committee to be printed in extenso. | 
Section I. Introduction. 
A ‘GENERAL REDUCTION’ in the hours of labour implies, strictly speaking, 
a reduction of working hours in all trades. It would be interesting to 
discuss the effects of such a reduction, assuming that the amount of the 
reduction in each trade was proportionate to the hours worked previous 
to the change. But no one has made such a proposal, and in order to 
avoid the charge of introducing before this Section a practical question 
of the day in too academic a form, I propose to assume that a general 
reduction of the hours of labour means a reduction of hours in those 
industries in which the hours of labour greatly exceed what may be 
called ‘a normal day.’ By a ‘normal day’ is not to be understood a day 
of a fixed number of hours—e.q., an eight-hours day. A fixed, unvarying 
day for every worker is impossible because (apart from the varying degrees 
of intensity of labour in different industries) of the necessity for prelimi- 
nary work before the bulk of the labourers can begin their daily toil. The 
miner, for instance, cannot go down the mine until the engineman has 
started the necessary machinery. Hence the more rational proposals to 
establish a short working day recognise that some latitude ought to be 
given in particular industries. In textile factories the present working 
hours are 563 per week. We may assume, however, for the purposes of 
this paper, that a ‘normal weck’ for all skilled industries, due allowance 
being made for preliminary work, would correspond to 48 hours. From 
this point of view industries may be divided into three classes:— 
1. Those in which a normal day has already been established. In 
Cornwall, for instance, an eight-hours day has been in force for a long 
period of time in the mining industry. 
2. Those in which the reduction would be of a moderate amount. 
Under this class may be placed industries where the reduction would not 
exceed 8} hours per week—e.g., if the working week was reduced from 
565 to 48 hours. 
3. Those in which the reduction would be very substantial in amount. 
The abolition of overtime would merely reduce still further the hours 
of labour in those industries where it is practised ; and in order to avoid 
any difficulties as to overtime it will be assumed that all overtime is 
reduced in the same proportion as the hours of labour. 
‘Wages’ I take as meaning ‘real’ wages as opposed to money or 
nominal wages. 
The method of obtaining the reduction in hours does not come within 
the scope of this paper. It will be assumed that whether a general 
reduction in the hours of labour be brought about by agreement or b 
the State is immaterial as regards economic effects, though it is of the 
highest importance as regards economic friction, and as regards fixing 
the moment of time when the reduction is to take place. 
It is proposed to discuss the main subject from three points of view, 
viz., produce, capital, and international trade. 
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