ON WOMEN S LABOUR. 



353 



of persona coming under regulation, and, deducting these totals from the 

 total shown in the census, we shall be able to compute approximately the 

 numbers not subject to regulation. 



It is to be noted that in the five years following 1896 there was a very 

 small increase of registered hand laundries, but a considerable increase of 

 aundries, thus : — 



Steam Laundries Hand Laundries 



18;>0 , . . 1,060 5,021! 



1901 ........ 1,'J72 5,04!) 



registered steam 



Discovery of unreported laundries would account for the whole of the 

 increase of hand laundries, but hardly for the increase in the other column. 

 The tendency would thus seem to be on the whole towards increase of 

 employment in steam laundries, but nothing exact is known of the average 

 numbers employed in either class of laundry throughout the country, 

 although an estimate is attempted below from figures for the West 

 London steam laundries. Mention is made by Mrs. Bosanquet of 

 a recent increase in the number of casual women workers in Acton hand 

 laundries, but the experience of Miss Deane, which goes back to 1893 in 

 West London laundries, is that there has always been a considerable 

 number (even before regulation of hours) of unskilled casual washerwomen 

 who work for two or more hand laundries in the course of a week. The 

 elasticity of tlie daily limit of hours for women in laundries would allow 

 for the possibility of this class of labour developing or remaining stationary 

 as it might under the influence of totally distinct causes. 



The Census shows that, in all, 196,111 omale persons are employed in 

 the trade in England and Wales out of a total of 205,015 persons. As 

 there are in all 7,021 registered laundries, the total number of male 

 workers being 8,874, the overwhelming preponderance of women in the 

 trade even since it has been regulated, and has grown so much of a 

 factory trade, is abundantly clear. The necessary engineer for each steam 

 laundry is not included in the total 8,874 male workers given by the Census, 

 but even so the employment of women in an unusual degree in managing 

 and directing (or ' laundry-keeping ') is evident. 



The industry is still followed mainly by adult women, but the propor- 

 tion of young women and girls shows a marked increase since 1891. In 

 that year the census showed that only 21 per cent, of the women and 

 girls engaged in the industry were under 25. In 1901 there were 30 per 

 cent, under 25. In London in 1901 there were 34 percent, under 25. 



In 1891 the figures were for 'washing and bathing service,' in 1901 

 for laundry and washing service excluding bathing. Miss Collet points 

 out that the inclusion or exclusion of bathing service makes very little 

 difference in the case of females ; it may or may not have made a con- 

 siderable difference in the case of males. 



1903. 



A A 



