1922.] 



Conciliation Committees. 



651 



August of this year is estimated at 32s. for the country as a 

 whole, wages in tlie different localities vary considerably above 

 and below this figure. In the Northern group (Northumberland, 

 Westmorland, Durham, North Riding, Cumberland and Lanes.), 

 for example, the average wage is about 34s., whereas in an 

 Eastern group (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Beds., Hunts., 

 and the Isle of Ely) it is only 31s. 



The followine: table compares the rates in the areas where 

 the highest and lowest rates have been fixed : — 



High Tiateft. Comn/iffee. -Rmfe. 



Winter, 1921-22... Lancasliire (average) 47/G for 60 hr, 



Durham 44/6 „ 50 „ 



S. Northumberland 44/6 ,, 48 



Summer, 1922 ... Lancashire (average) 43/4 „ 60 



Durham 35/- ,, 50 ,, 



S. Northumberland ... ... 32/- ,, 50 „ 



Low Rates. 



Winter, 1921-22... Sussex East 31/- „ 52 „ 



Dorset 32/-- „ 48 „ 



Brecon and Radnor ... ... 34/- ,, 50 



Summer, 1922 ... Anglesey 30/- ,, 56 ,, 



Cumberland and Westmorland 30/- 54 ,, 



Wiltshire 30/- „ 52 „ 



Norfolk 30/- „ 50^ „ 



Kent, Hereford, Oxford, Rutland 30/- „ 50 „ 



Comparing the " highest rates " areas in the above table it 

 will be found that the average weeklv rate fell from 42s. 11^-d. 

 last winter to 37s. 9d. during the summer of this year. Owing 

 to the varying periods of agreement in the " lowest rates " areas 

 it is not possible to make a similar calculation for the counties 

 given in the table, but for such " low rate " areas as are com- 

 parable, e.g., Shropshire, Warwick, Devon, Somerset, the 

 average rate fell from 34s. 7Jd. last winter to 31s. 7d. in the 

 summer. Thus the average decrease from winter to summer 

 in the high rate areas is about 13 per cent, as against 9 per cent, 

 in the low rate areas. 



Ages and Classes of Workers covered by the Agreements. — 



Generally, the main agreements made by the Conciliation Com- 

 mittees refer to all male wwkers over 21 years of age, but in 

 certain areas the Committees have stipulated that the rates shall 

 appl}^ only to " able-bodied workers " or to workers " of fair 

 average ability," while in Surrey there is an upper age limit, 

 the rates not applying to men over 65 years of age. In 5 areas- 

 the Committees, in addition to fixing rates for ordinary workers, 

 have fixed special rates for stockmen, shepherds, etc., by which 



