Vol. VI II. No. 86. 
I M PE RIAL INST I T U T E J O U R N A L . 
[February, 1902.] 41 
LABOUR RETROSPECT. 
United Kingdom,— The preliminary figures published in the Labour 
Gazette testify to the check in industrial activity which, after continuous 
prosperity for five years, occurred at the beginning of 1901. The net effect 
of all the changes in wages recorded last year was a fall amounting on an 
average to is. 9d. per head of the 901,820 people affected. The decline was, 
however, entirely confined to the mining and metal trades ; in fact, all the 
other trades showed a slight increase. It is reported with satisfaction that, in 
spite of all decreases, wages on the whole are higher than they were five years 
ago. The mining industry of Scotland showed the heaviest decrease of all ; 
Northumberland and Durham yielded a net decrease of 22 h and 25 per cent, 
respectively, and South Wales 7^ per cent. The greatest increase took place 
in the building trade, where 36,162 workmen received an increase of is. 3-Rl, 
per head per week. As to changes in the hours of labour, the net result 
showed a decrease of 2^09 hours per week in the working hours of the 
24,749 workpeople affected. It should be remembered that the workmen’s 
Saturday measure did not come into operation until the first Saturday of the 
present year. Regarding trade disputes in 1901, it appears that the number, 
both of disputes and of workpeople concerned in them, was less than in any 
of the years 1893-1900. However, the aggregate duration of the disputes was 
greater in 1901 than in either of the two preceding years, though considerably 
below the average of the years 1893-1900. Out of the 624 disputes which 
occurred, no less than 410, or about two-thirds of the whole, occurred in the 
mining, building, and metal trades, and, out of the grand total of 175,000 
workpeople affected, 110,000 belonged to the mining industry. The number 
of days lost by miners through strikes and lock-outs was 1,875,000 in 1901, 
as compared with about half-a-miliion in each of the two preceding years. 
The clothing trades lost more by disputes in 1901 than in 1900, but con- 
siderably less than the annual average loss in 1893-1900. The transport and 
fishing group of trades was much affected by the Grimsby fishing dispute, and 
the figures for these trades are considerably above the average for the previous 
eight years. Regarding the causes of the stoppages, it is found that no less 
than 392 out of a total of 624 arose out of questions of remuneration. In all 
years this is the main ground of contention, but it is a significant sign of the 
change in the condition of the labour market that there has been a great 
proportionate increase in the disputes arising out of demands by the employers 
for a reduction in wages. As to the result of strikes, about 2 7 per cent, 
issued in favour of the workmen, 33 per cent, in favour of the employers, and 
36 per cent, were compromised. The great majority were settled by direct 
negotiation. 
Mr. Alfred Mosely’s scheme for a commission of enquiry regarding the 
methods of commercial and industrial education has been widened in its 
scope. On account of the attention drawn of late to the attitude of labour 
towards capital in this country, Mr. Mosely has decided to establish a sister 
commission to investigate this important question in the United States of 
America. There the relationship between workman and employer is on a 
better footing than is the case here or on the Continent. The staff are more 
directly interested in the out-turn of the w r orks where they are employed ; in 
many cases some form of profit-sharing exists. The men are encouraged to 
make suggestions, and are given free access to the heads if they have any 
grievance to state. As a result, they are inclined to associate their interests 
with those of their employers. Seldom is any objection heard to the intro- 
duction of labour-saving machinery. The second, or labour commission, 
will consist of some tw T enty or thirty members, some of them belonging to 
trade unions connected with our most important industries, others employers 
or representatives of employers, and Mr. Mosely’s hope is that all, having 
seen in America the material benefits of intelligent co-operation between 
employers and employed, will return to England and spread the light among 
their fellows who have not had the opportunity of seeing and hearing for 
themselves. There is no doubt of the justice of the outspoken comment of 
The Times that, speaking generally, these commissions will find that things go 
better in America, because everybody minds his own business. Employers 
do their own protection against tyranny, and also do their own conciliation to 
avert battles with powerful organizations fully capable of maintaining the just 
rights of workmen. The State does its part in collecting information of 
public utility and in seeing that the principles of individual liberty are main- 
tained. Employers, however, must understand that they, and no others, must 
deal with the general questions. No law can do them much good until they 
help themselves in a manner at once vigorous, clear-sighted and just. 
Colonies. — The Deputy Minister of the Interior of Canada is on a 
visit to the United Kingdom, in order to give attention to the rearrangement 
of the emigration work in the interests of the Dominion. It is well known 
that at present for every British emigrant who goes to Canada, about five go 
to the United States ; and yet there is a brisk emigration out of the 
United States into the farming districts of Western Canada. It is this 
territory that the Canadian Government are so desirous of opening up, and the 
Canadian Minister points out that the vast territories included in the province of 
Manitoba and the North-West, offer by far the best and largest agricultural land 
open to settlement in Canada, possibly in the world. The magnificent crops 
of wheat and other cereals during the year 1901, and for a number of years 
previously, leave no doubt whatever as to the capabilities of the country, and 
notwithstanding the fact that the whole area under cultivation is less than 
3,000,000 acres — perhaps not more than 1 per cent, of the area of ■ the 
territories, including the new district of Athabasca— the returns will be about 
116,000,000 bushels. This is the production of possibly not more than 
50.000 or 60,000 farmers, many of whom have only within the last three or 
four years settled in the country, and consequently, have not had an 
opportunity of bringing under cultivation all the land belonging to them. 
People of the United States who consider their personal interests first, are 
beginning to understand and appreciate the advantage offered for settlement 
in Western Canada, and upwards of 50,000 have within three or four years 
removed from the United States to Western Canada to engage- inNarming. 
It is hoped that under an active propaganda, the British emigrant will Under- 
stand and appreciate the advantages that are offered to him in a country 
where he will continue to be under British institutions, and at the same time, 
without question, make more material progress than he could ’possibly make 
in any other country in the world. V 0^0 'f 
With reference to the land settlement schemes for rhe Dr ange River 
Colony, services of experts have been secured to ascertain -localities suitable 
for fruit-growing, tobacco cultivation, etc. It is. reported that 80,000 morgen 
of land in the Ficksburg district are being purchased by the Government, in 
addition to the 45,000 morgen which have already been bought in the Thaba 
N’chu district. New railway lines, projected or completed, will assist in 
opening up this promising agricultural district. The idea was to split up the 
land into blocks, each of which forms five or six holdings, and enable settlers 
to establish small communities and villages. The Government are also 
buying large tracts of land in the conquered district for the same purpose. 
Eighty of these farms have been allotted, and numerous applications are 
constantly coming in for others. In Natal the scarcity of labour in the 
building trades is causing serious difficulties at Pietermaritzburg. It is stated 
that the military are employing labour at high wages, and thus denuding the 
market. The Government have been approached with a view to the removal 
of the restrictions on immigration. From the Transvaal comes news of 
good progress : new industrial and commercial enterprises are being promoted, 
and work at the mines is steadily increasing, now that the native labour 
difficulties are being overcome. Recruiting for the Rand in the Portuguese 
territory of Mozambique has resulted satisfactorily, and the immediate 
despatch of 30,000 natives is announced. 
India. — The latest cabled reports state that prospects have improved, 
especially in the North-West Provinces, and prices are generally stationary. 
In Punjab and Rajputana the outlook is less serious than was anticipated, 
distress developing very slowly. In Gujarat relief has been extending 
rapidly, numbers having increased, mainly on w'orks in Panch Mahals. The 
numbers in receipt of relief total 208,000, distributed as follows : — Bombay, 
121.000 : Native States, 26,000; Baroda, 35,000 ; Mysore, 1,000 ; Rajputana, 
12,000; Punjab, 3,000; Ajmer Menvana, 4,000; Central India, 6,000. 
Foreign Countries. — The United States Consul, in a report on the 
textile industries of Germany, gives an interesting comparison between labour 
conditions in that country and here. The tendency is for large factories to 
rapidly absorb small ones. It is difficult to average the rate of wages, owing 
to the manifold varieties of production, the different values placed on skilled 
and unskilled labour, and the employment of women and children. For 
example, in Silesia, the average rate of wages per capita amounts to $117,81 
per annum. This includes an increase in wages of 20 per cent, since 18S7. 
It must be remembered, however, that in case of sickness labourers receive 
medicine and hospital nursing free of charge at the hands of the State. This 
wage rate would not apply to central and southern Germany, where conditions 
are materially better. In the cotton-spinning branch, Germany labours under 
greater difficulties than does England, Belgium, or Switzerland. The two 
first-named countries are situated nearer the base of imported raw material, 
while Germany must transport these necessities by rail some distance inland, 
thus increasing the cost of production. Switzerland is able to take advantage 
of cheap water-power, which Germany does not possess to a like degree. 
England also enjoys a class of highly-skilled labour, which seldom changes 
occupation. In Germany, especially in cotton-spinning, the class of labour 
employed is not so efficient, owing to frequent changes of employment. The 
task of educating labour up to a high degree of efficiency is difficult, and 
many generations are necessary to achieve that result. The English cotton- 
spinners have attained such a degree of skill and intelligence that for the 
most part no supervision is necessary. In Germany the presence of a 
technical overseer is indispensable. 
In Belgium, parliamentary measures are proposed in order to check 
Sunday labour. If the Bill about to be introduced becomes law, work on 
Sunday will be optional, and can no longer be obligatory. The change will 
be gradual as, although many trades will avail themselves of the new measure, 
Sunday labour has been, common for so long that such a radical alteration in 
habits is not likely to be adopted at once. No attempt will be made to 
interfere with the freedom of contract between those who find the extra day’s 
work to their mutual interest. 
Serious labour disturbances have again occurred in Spain, The metal 
workers of Barcelona struck for a nine-hours 5 day, and were joined by 
malcontents from most of the factories and workshops in the district. Much 
rioting and violence took place, and the assistance of both the civil guard and 
the military was necessary. The masters offered to receive the men back on 
a ten-hours’ day basis, but threatened, if the strike continued, to transfer their 
works to another country. _ - . , 
