462 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—F. 
It is now a recognised principle of taxation that the burden is to be adjusted 
so that the aggregate sacrifice incurred may be a minimum. If the taxation 
exacted by the State consisted of services instead of money, presumably ‘ more 
would be expected from the powerful man’ (Stamp, Principles of Taxation). 
But in general it would be unsafe to proportion the remuneration of labour to 
fatigue suffered rather than to work done. It would be inconsistent with the 
action of competition. However, competition is not a finely graduated instru- 
ment. It determines the integers, so to speak; but leaves the decimals to be 
settled by collective bargaining (Address, § 10). So within narrow limits 
some differentiation in favour of weaker workers is consistent with Competi- 
tion. Even within those limits it might be unsafe to favour any class if the 
numbers of the class could be increased through an inflow attracted by the 
favours. But this objection does not apply to discrimination (within limits) 
in favour of the weaker sex. To make some distinction in favour of the sex 
would be the more practicable because in keeping with the manners of Chris- 
tendom. loss of wealth to the community is not to be apprehended from a 
slight infraction of competition; in virtue of the principle that a slight varia- 
tion in the conditions determining a maximum is generally attended with a 
very slight diminution of the quantity maximised (/oc. cit., § 8). The relaxa- 
tion of competition now proposed is not, like that before advocated, based 
on the requirements of family life, nor limited to mothers of young children. 
The claims before made on their behalf on the score of wealth (including 
an efficient progeny among products) (loc. cit., § 21) are now strengthened by 
considerations of welfare. But there is no weakening of the objections to the 
sustentation of families—normally and on a large scale—by the State (loc. cit., 
§ 20). Whether proposed on the ground of wealth or welfare or some other, 
non-economic, ground—the various and serious economic evils attending such 
schemes are not to be ignored. 
9, Myr. J. A. Bowre.—The British Coal Agreement of 1921. 
Over 60 per cent. of the cost of production of coal is spent on wages, hence 
the necessity of their rapid adaptation to the varying prosperity of the 
industry. The report of a Committee of the Mining Association in 1916 and 
the evidence of Lord Gainford and of Professor Cannan before the Coal 
Commission foreshadowed the 1921 Agreement. 
The Details of the Agreement considered under the following headings : 
The district basis, wage-regulation clauses, National and District Boards, 
standard wages and profit, the surplus profit and the recoupment clause. The 
Acreement is a notable industrial charter ; it means measurement and publicity, 
the co-relation of wages and profits, and it is democratically administered. 
Yet it was hurriedly drafted, and calls for amendment in certain details. 
Wednesday, September 19. 
10. Mr. J. J. Cuarxe.—Some Factors Relating to the Re-housing of 
Slum-dwellers. 
Importance of the subject as one of the consequences of the War. The 
treatment in three main divisions—viz. (1) Pre-War re-housing ; (2) immediate 
post-War re-housing; (3) the future. 
Re-housing before the War.—The function of the private builder. Some 
reasons which prevent the continuance of his operations. Re-housing by Local 
Authorities. Their powers and duties. The example of Liverpool and com: 
parisons with other towns. General and Vital Statistics. ‘ 
Re-housing after the War.—The difficulties presented by the cessation of 
building during the War. The problem of overcrowding and its relation 
to slums. The conditions as represented in certain typical towns in this 
neighbourhood. Liverpool — Birkenhead — Bootle — St. Helens — Wallasey— 
Warrington. The Assisted Housing Schemes as one solution of the problem. 
Why it has failed to reach the slum-dweller. Building rings. Economic rents. 
The example of Birkenhead. The effect on character. 
The Re-housing of the Slum Dweller in the Future.—Two main con- 
siderations of this problem—viz, (1) The industrial town, (2) the large city. 
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