154 
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS — SECTION G. 
It would save us from many such mistakes if we kept in view the 
fact that the fund out of which the wants of all are supplied is the 
total produce of all labour — in other words, the total of all services 
rendered. To assign a larger share of this total to certain people, of 
course, means assigning a smaller share to others ; there is no getting- 
out of that. And in this case the “ others ” who have to give up part 
of their share are either the general public as served bv Government, 
or else the taxpayers. But there the loss ends. It is* not by paying 
higher for the services which others render to him that* a man 
diminishes the “fund” of total want-satisfaction ; for, in so doing, he 
is only transferring from himself to others a certain claim upon^that 
total. It is only by “ consuming ” more himself— that is, by claiming 
more services from others, and directing to the satisfaction of his own 
wants a larger share of the total labour-power — that he will diminish 
the share left to others. 
If, then, we come to the conclusion that an addition to the 
comforts and conveniences of certain Government labourers is the 
best purpose to which a certain amount of the total labour-power at 
our command can he directed, we need not be deterred from acting 
on our opinion by any fear that the total amount of employment for 
workers will be thereby diminished. It is for our Ministers and 
Parliaments, and ultimately for ourselves as citizens and voters, to 
decide whether any change in that direction would be a change for 
the better ; and in any case in which Government employees get very 
low wages when the rates are left to be settled by competition, there 
are strong reasons for holding that the change will be for the better. 
M e come next to the case of Government contracts. Contractors 
who undertake public works may in some cases, when the rate of pay 
is left to be settled by free bargaining, pay lower wages to their 
workmen than we think desirable. If this takes place, what can 
Government do to prevent it ? And if it is prevented, at whose cost 
will the higher wages he paid ? 
It is possible to insert in the terms of every contract a stipulation 
that the wages paid shall not fall below a certain minimum. This not 
only can be done, but in some cases is done. The London County 
Council, for instance, resolved in 1889 “ that the Council shall require 
from any person or firm tendering for any contract with the Council 
a declaration that they pay such rates of wages and observe such 
hours of labour as are generally accepted as fair in their trade , and 
that in the event of any charges to the contrary being established 
against them, their tender shall not be accepted.” 
It was found, however, that this clause raised so many doubts and 
questions that good and careful contractors were unwilling to tender ; 
and partly for this reason, the Council in 1892 substituted the 
following resolution : — 
“ That all contractors be compelled to sign a declaration that they 
pay the trade union rates of wages , and observe the hours of labour 
and conditions recognised by the trade unions in the place or places 
where the contract is executed.” 
The example has been widely followed in England. It is stated 
in “Webb’s History of Trade Unions” that “ a hundred and fifty 
local authorities have now [in 1894] adopted some kind of 4 fair wages’ 
regulation.” 
