Work and Wages.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 16, 23 June 1911, Page 9

Work and Wages.

Mr G. H. Wood, F.S.S., writing in tho "Millgate Monthly," says:—"lgnoring the niceties of tho statistics, we may say that over the whole community the average wage in 1800 was about one-half of the average wage in IUOO. Of this advance aoout onefourth is due to tho shifting of occupation and the other three fourths are duo to advances in the ratets of pay. That is to say, that tho carpenter, bricklayer, builders' laborer, enginefitter, shipwright, printer, cooper, cabinetmaker, puddler, blast furnaceman, seaman, cotton spinner, weaver, dyer, etc., is on. the average, now earning nearly double what his ancestor of 1800 earned, and nearly two-thirds more than was earned by his grandfather and great-grandfather in the "thirties," "forties," and "fifties," and that, too, in a considerably shorter working week." If Mr. G. H. Wood, F.S.S., wasn't also an A.S.S., he would recognise that while the worker to-day may receive nearly twice tho wage received by his great-grandfather and grandfather of tho 'thirties," "forties," and "fifties," he now does from twenty to fifty times more work. This is best made plain by an analysis of wages compared with income, made by a Glasgow merchant over a period covering the management of his business by his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father. In his great-grandfather's time wages absorbed 55 per : cent, of the income * in his grandfather's time, 47 per cent. ; in his father's time (covering a period equal to the other two), it fell from 40 to 33 per cent. "Today," he says, '-25.per cent, of my income serves to meet my wages bill." Will the "Millgate Monthly" please note.