ox women's labour. 31-5 



the regulation of women's work. The Acts have not directly influenced 

 women's wages ; and they cannot be said to have appreciably lessened the 

 employment of women or to have modified the evolution of the industrial 

 processes. The efficiency of women has certainly been increased by the 

 improvement in the general conditions of work.' 



ludderminitter. 

 (Condensed from a liejMrt hij Mr. G. H. Wood) 



In the census of 1901 there were 2,740 females returned as engaged 

 in the carpet industry in the town, and 3,432 females in ' other textiles,' 

 which consist chiefly of worsted spinning for the carpet manufacture. 

 The number of women engaged has increased rapidly since the introduc- 

 tion of the 'Royal Axminster loom' in the town in 1878, which was 

 sufficiently light for women to work ; previously they had been confined 

 to the preparatory and finishing processes. Though overtime is sometimes 

 desired, employers have in nearly all cases refused to employ men on this 

 new loom ; men are employed to prepare, ' tune,' and keep in order the 

 looms. The factory carpet industry has grown up under the Factory 

 Acts ; the power carpet loom was not invented till about 1852, and till 

 then the industry was domestic. The factory system was fully developed 

 before 1874. The effect of the Acts of 1874 and 1901 has been dealt 

 with above in Sections I. and II. In 1875 there appears to have been a 

 general decrease of earnings both for men and women, though not propor- 

 tionate to the reduction of hours ; it was made up in the course of years 

 through gradual improvements in the machinery. The 1901 reduction 

 did not affect time-workers, and the effect on piece-workers over the year 

 would be inappreciable. In one firm the hours were only fifty six before 

 1901 ; since the reduction to 55^ hours they have insisted on greater 

 punctuality at the start, and the output has not diminished. 



The demand for carpets is not uniform throughout the year, and but 

 for the Acts the output might fluctuate more ; but in any case the manu- 

 facturers have to keep a large stock. 



The prohibition of overtime for women winders &c. prevents the men 

 working overtime ; it is with great effort that the women can get a stock 

 ready for the men in advance. The men's Trade Union discourages over- 

 time and the employers find it very expensive, and think that the present 

 maximum is as long as the women can work efficiently. The division 

 between men's work and women's is nearly rigid, but on very rare occa- 

 sions men work overtime on women's looms. 



Coventri; and Derbij. 

 {Condensed from Rejjorts hy 5Ir. G. H. Wood.) 



The numbers employed in the silk industry of Derby and of Coventry 

 tind neighbourhood have been decreasing steadily for many decades ; the 

 ratio of adult males to females has not changed much. Manufacturers do 

 not attribute the decline in any way to Factory Legislation. The reduction 

 of hours in 1874 is said to have affected earnings little ; that of 1902 did 

 not aflTect time-workers at all and piece-workers very little. The curtail- 

 ment of hours has hastened the improvement of machinery and pro- 

 cesses. 



In the elastic web manufacture of Derby and Coventry employers 



