BRITISH LABOUR MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 65, 21 March 1904, Page 2

BRITISH LABOUR MARKET.

The Labour Department ol t lie British I'uuvd of Trade has issued a preliminary review of labour Inst year. The net result of the changes of wages in 11)03 was a decline, but t lhj amount of the fall measured in weekly loss of wages was comparatively slight, being considerably less than in either of the two preceding years, though spread over a large number of trades. The fall ih wages in 1901 ami 1902 was mainly conlined to tlio coal mining, iron and steel, and shipbuilding trades. In 1903 wages continued to fall in these Industries, and the downward tendency spread to a number of other trades not alTected in 1901 and 1902. such as the engineering, glass, and clothing trades. In all, 892,000 workpeople were affected by changes in wages reported during 1903, as compared with 890,000 in 1902, and 982,000 in 1901. The estimated weekly amount of decrease in wages in 1903 was £38,■IOO only, as compared with £72,700 in 1902, and £77,300 in 1901, In all three years the changes in tile coal milling industry were the predominant factor. Of the total number a fleeted in 1903, 872,000 sustained decreases amounting to about £39,800 per week, while only jy - 000 obtained increases, amounting to auout £I4OO per week. In 191)2 the number of workpeople who sustained mluctions was 793,00(1, tile amount of reduction being £7B 000 while 91,800 obtained increases ■amounting to £5300 per week ; and In 1901, 492,000 workpeople sustained decreases amounting to £llß- - and 429,700 obtained increases amounting to £40,800 per week A ; o important changes in hours of labour were reported during 1903, bucli changes as did occur were nearly all reductions, and resulted nH , tecnasv averaging about two and a-hall hours per week in H'° u . su ®' , wcekl i' »wking time of about ,000 Workpeople. Greater irecdoin from industrial disputes was experienced in 1903 tlmn in am--01 tiie previous ten years. During the year 300 disputes began, ullectmg 113,873 workpeople, while the total lime iost during th« year in disputes was 2,81<»,7#a 'working days.