SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF WAGES 137

efficiency of the child acquires importance in many cases,
and must be regarded when the broad problem of the labour
supply of the community is under discussion. On the one
hand, small present remuneration may be offset by the
acquisition of knowledge, skill, and experience, which will
enhance the later earning power of the learner. On the
other hand, the securing of some earnings at an early age
may prejudice the physical and mental development of the
child, and seriously reduce later earning power. To the
extent to which the latter represents the facts, the permanent
 industrial capacities of a class may be sacrificed
through a short-sighted grasping after immediate advantage.
If the future loss were fully realised, and present necessity
did not interfere to compel the acceptance of disadvantageous
 terms, the holding back of child labour, till it could
secure a wage adequate to fully compensate for the loss of
future efficiency consequent on interference with physical
and mental development, would perhaps render unnecessary
legal interference with children’s labour. Holding for such
terms would correspond to the restraint imposed on labour-Supply
 by a standard of living of unyielding character.
Such restraint on the supply of children for employment
does not operate in practice, and a partial substitute, as a
Means of maintaining the industrial powers of the race, is
afforded by legislative interference with the employment of
young children.
Corresponding considerations, with such modification of
detail as is necessary by change of conditions, apply to the
case of young women’s labour and wages. A large part of
the supply is available at wages inadequate to maintain the
worker, Those who depend on their own earnings for their
Maintenance meet with the competition of others whose
Support is secured independently of such earnings, and who
are, in consequence, not restrained from ready acquiescence
‘0 a rate of payment which involves great hardship to the
self-supporting worker. It may be said that some industries,
®mploying young women at wages less than are needed to
Support them, secure labour which is partially provided at
the expense of other industries. The cheapness of the