ON CAPITAL AND LABOUR. 151 



union is ablo to cam a fair clay's wages for a fair day's work ; and they 

 cannot, therefore, agree in the proposition that all workmen should be 

 entitled to uniform wages on the ground of uniform ability. But another 

 reason has been alleged for the uniformity of wages, which is still less 

 tenable than the former, viz. a supposed uniformity of production independent 

 of skill. The right of the workman to a iiniform standard of wages was 

 stated to be the production of an article which, though demanding less skill 

 to perform, is of equal utility, and is proportionally as profitable to the 

 employer. Tour Committee must, however, entirely demur to the principle 

 that, in the apportionment of wages, no account should be taken of the skill 

 brought to bear on the execution of the task, since a system of that nature 

 would act as a premiiim on inferiority of workmanship. Again, by another 

 test should the right of each individual to earn certain wages be determined, 

 and that is by his productive capacity. Professor Levi asked whether that 

 was taken into account when the workman was assumed to be of average 

 ability ; and the answer was that the amount of production depended largely 

 upon the skill. " The more skilful a man is the more he will produce." 

 But whilst in so far this answer was correct, it contradicted the principle 

 embodied iu the preceding test ; the answer itself did not take sufficiently 

 into account that skill is not the only element in effectiveness of labour. 

 There are qualities of mind, judgment, and even of heart, disposition, and of 

 moral character, which go far to increase or diminish the efficiency of labour ; 

 and of such qualities the employer is, of necessity, a far better judge than 

 any union can be. That under ordinary circumstances wages in any trade 

 should tend to uniformity is quite possible. The facUity of communication 

 and the extension of intercourse of necessity equalize prices and wages ; but 

 any attempt to compel uniformity of wages among any large number of men 

 of varied capacity must of necessity prove a source of disappointment. 

 Much, again, may be said in favour of a common standard of wages in any 

 industry, as avoiding the embarrassment necessarily encountered in any 

 attempt to adjust the rate to the exact worth of each individual. Yet it is 

 impossible to ignore the fact that whilst a uniform rate is sure to operate 

 unjustly in favour of persons who may be wanting in fairness of dealing or 

 capacity for workmanship, in the nature of things it is almost incapable to 

 exist over a wide area, having regard to the varieties in the prices of fuel, 

 carriage, house accommodation, or of the means of livelihood, as well as in 

 the cost of raw materials and in the processes employed as affecting the 

 rate of production of each individual. On the whole, your Committee find 

 that an absolute uniformity in the rate of wages in any trade, though to a 

 certain extent convenient, is neither just nor practicable, whilst any effort 

 to compel uniformity in the amount of earnings of any number of individuals 

 must prove fallacious and wrong as an illegitimate interference with the rights 

 of industry. 



A. still more important question in connexion with the subject is how far 

 combination of any kind can affect permanently or temporarily the rate of 

 wages. Upon this, as might be expected, the most divergent opinions are 

 held by the representatives of capital and labour. The employers of labour, 

 standing on the solid principles of political economy, deny that combinations 

 can, under any circumstances, affect the rates of wages, at least in any per- 

 manent manner — the argument adduced being that if workmen are entitled 

 to higher wages they are sure to get them, since, under the law of supply 

 and demand, whenever it is found that profits trench unduly upon wages 

 fresh capital is sure to be introduced which provides for the raising of wages. 



