ON WOMEN S LABOUR. 337 



occupations, by their restriction from working exti-a hours at times of 

 pressure ; but no &pecitic cases are given, and, considering that it is rare 

 that work is carried on more than sixty hours a week, or that women can 

 work ethciently for longer hours, any effect in this direction must be very 

 smalL^ 



Section Y.— Effect on Women's Rates of Wages and Total Earnings. 



A clear distinction must be made between changes of rates per hour 

 or per piece, and changes in total weekly earnings ; a second line of 

 division is between chaT»ges which took place immediately after the coming 

 into force of an Act, and the change that may be observed after 

 sufficient time had elapsed to allow a return to equilibrium ; and, thirdly, 

 in cases where greater regularity week by week has followed restriction, 

 we need to know how monthly and annual earnings have changed. 



It may be said at once that neither theory nor evidence enable us to 

 decide whether earnings increase or decrease after restriction. 



We will first look at it theoretically. The following circumstances 

 would tend to produce a fall : the substitution of other labour or 

 machinery (in rates and earnings) ; the diminution of the product in pro- 

 portion to the time cut off (in earnings, probably) ; the spreading the 

 .same output more regularly among the same workers (in earnings, but 

 only if overtime had been paid at a higher rate). The following circum- 

 stances would tend to produce a rise : the attempt to produce the same 

 output in a shorter time by workers of the same class, causing a demand 

 for more workers (in rates, earnings might fall or rise) ; the diminution 

 of the product, increasing the demand for it relative to the supply (in 

 rates) ; the greater efficiency of the worker caused by the regulation of 

 hours (fall in piece- rates, rise in time-rates, and in both cases rise in 

 earnings) ; the more rapid output per hour caused by the attempt to make 

 the same earnings in the shorter time ; the greater demand for women 

 workers caused by the introduction of machinery. 



Together with these we may put the other well-known arguments, 

 which connect efficiency with a diminished duration of weekly work, and 

 the general problem of discovering for each class of labour the time in 

 which the product (and in the long run the earnings) is a maximum. 



From this brief analysis it is clear that it cannot be said a priori 

 whether either rates or earnings will rise or fall after restriction. ^ 



Nor can statistical evidence help us to a certain and general conclu- 

 sion, for the effect of legislation is in most cases very much less than that 

 of many other concurrent events. If we had evidence of specific change 

 in a particular industry, it would tell us nothing of indirect effects possibly 

 counterbalancing, and general statements of change would need to be o"f 

 a completeness and detailed character quite impracticable to obtain, before 

 they would support definite conclusions. 



Under these circumstances the Committee can only record the particular 

 facts as to date and nature of change that have come under their notice, 

 without drawing any but negative conclusions, 



' The number of women who manage laundries can be shown to be increasing by 

 the figures given in Appendix II. below. See also the report on Coventry. 



2 Of course, a particular operative, who finds herself prevented from making a 

 httlo overtime on a particular occasion, does not see either that there may be no 

 ultimate loss to her, or that if she loses her companions may gain. 



1 y UO. n 



