150 EOOT MATTERS IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



together with the necessary proportion of labourers for each 

 liind of occupation which directly or indirectly is somehow 

 utilised in the production of the said three great wants. 



It is true the strict average proportions of the various 

 classes of labour machinery may not be found to be quite the 

 same in each country ; but this does not affect the aggregate 

 of all countries. It is not absolutely necessary that the 

 manufactures and agricultural industries of any one country 

 should preserve the world's strict average proportions to each 

 other, so far as that one country is concerned, so long as it is 

 free to make necessary exchanges with other countries for 

 disposing or making good their respective local surpluses and 

 deficiencies. Nevertheless, countries confined to the produc- 

 tion of their own wants — or, what is the same, the world as a 

 whole — must preserve the strict average proportion and 

 quantity of labour and machinery in the production of those 

 three great wants which are the mainsprings of all human 

 activities and efforts. It is necessary, therefore, to make a 

 very wide net to obtain approximate information with respect 

 to the amount and due proportions of all kinds of services 

 employed in the production of the whole round of wants of 

 each country. It is unfortunate that figures relating to the 

 occupations of all countries are not accessible, but reference to 

 the ascertained occupations of Australasia, TJnited States of 

 America, British India, and seven principal States of Europe, 

 embracing 433 millions of people, and representing all climes 

 and all forms of industry, afford a basis wide enough to 

 secure very accurate information. 



The figures contained in the following table of classified 

 occupation of these countries afford valuable information 

 with regard to the definite proportions of the division of 

 labour engaged in the production of human wants : — 



