318 REPORT — 1903. 



There are many modifications to suit special circumstances, and some 

 important exemptions. 



For the purpose of tabulating the information gathered, it is con- 

 venient to consider the effect of these laws. I. On the hours worked by 

 women ; (a) the total weekly number ; (b) the distribution through the 

 day, week, and year. II. On the hours worked by other persons. III. On 

 factories or workshops of different sizes, and on the prevalence of out- 

 work. IV. On the employment of women in particular processes, and on 

 the general demand for their labour, and on the re-arrangement of pro- 

 duction by employment of other classes of labour, or the introduction of 

 machinery. V. The effect on women's rates of wages and total earnings. 

 VI. On the efficiency of women as industrial agents. VII. On the 

 efficiency of productive processes in general. These subjects are dealt 

 with in the following sections : — ^ 



Section I. — Effect on the Hours worked by Women. 

 (a) The Total Weekly Number. 



In the great majority of cases the hours in textile trades were reduced 

 from 60 to 56^ in 1874-75, in consequence of the Act {Lanes,, Yorks., 

 Kidderminster) ; in some cases the hours were only 59 before 1874 

 (Yorks.). Though in many cases the hours were reduced to 55^ hours or 

 less before 1902, yet in the majority the work on Saturday was curtailed 

 in consequence of the Act of 1901. The hours are increased illegally in 

 many places in Lancashire, and some in Yorkshire, by ' cribbing time,' 

 that is, working a few minutes before and after the legal hours ; an 

 hour or more a week can easily be added in this way.'^ 



In non-textile trades in general the Acts have had comparatively little 

 to do directly with fixing the normal week's work. In many industries 

 the hours were under 60 before they were regulated by the Acts.^ 



In more recent years the hours in industries regulated by the Acts 

 have often been well under the legal maximum ; while in men's industries 

 influenced by trades unions the hours are very rarely so many as 60. 

 Examples of regulated industries where the normal weekly hours are 

 below the legal maximum are the trades of Sheffield, Nottingham, 

 Coventry, Derby, the boot and shoe trades of Bristol and Leeds, the 

 wholesale clothing trade of Leeds, most of the Liverpool trades, and the 

 list might easily be extended. There are other cases where the hours 

 used to exceed 60 per week, and are still in times of ordinary full work 

 up to the maximum. Thus, match-making in Liverpool used to extend 

 over very long hours, but now a firm reports that they work 10 hours a 

 day, and do not take IOtj, only because it would not be worth wliile to 

 have the necessary additional meal-time.'* The hours in rope-walks in 

 Liverpool were long and irregular before the 1867 Act. In the London 

 tailoring workshops the hours are up to the limit, though below it in the 

 larger factories. In some of the industries dealt with below, where over- 



' Reference to investigators' reports are italicised, thus : Lancasldre. 



2 TorMiire; Factory Inspector's Report, 1897, p. 106; 1899, p. 20 ; 1900, p. .311 ; 



1902, p. 119. 



* Factory mid Worltshoj) Commission, 1876; Factory Inspector's Report, October, 

 18G9, p. 37 ; and October, 1879, p. 20. 



•* A woman must not be employed continuously more than 5 hours without an 

 interval of at least -J- hour. 



