The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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A.D. 1776 —1850. It appeared imprac- tacable to resntro- duce the assessment of wages, 716 LAISSEZ FAIRE becoming dependent upon his earnings, it was notorious that his wages were insufficient for the maintenance of himself and his family. The policy of a living wage, for which the cotton weavers vainly contended in 1813, had found many advocates in the rural districts in the preceding decade; there was a very general feeling in favour of reintroducing the practice of assessing wages in accordance with the price of corn?, and it seems to have been generally, if not universally agreed, that this was the fair principle on which to proceed”. There was, however, a great difference of opinion as to whether this should be done by authority, or whether it could be brought about in the ordinary course of bargaining between employers and employed. Arthur Young's corre- spondents were of opinion that the law would be inoperative. It was urged that the inefficient labourers, if they had to be paid the full wages appointed by law, would find no employ- ment at all>. Others feared that such a measure would cut down the earnings of all to the same level, and thus discourage the more industrious ment Besides this, it was clear that wages were rising, slowly but surely, and this gave some reason for hoping that they would reach a level which would serve to maintain the labourer in comfort, without legislative interference®. On the other hand, it was argued that “to sxpect that the farmers and other employers of the poor should generously come forward, and of their own accord vary and increase the wages of their workmen, in exact proportion to their varying and increasing necessities, is utterly hopeless; they will no more do it than they would make good roads without the aid of turnpikes, or the prescription of statutes enforced by the magistrates, though both one and the other would be often really and truly their interest®.” The Suffolk justices petitioned in favour of a legislative regulation of i Davies, Case of Labourers, 106; also Pownall, Considerations on Scarcity, reprinted from Cambridge Chronicle, 1795. 2 Mr Howlett, whose opinion was worthy of great respect, held that corn did not form such a predominating element in the labourers’ expenditure that wages should be regulated by it alone. He was however strongly of opinion that the labourer's income should be regulated by law on the basis of the food, fuel, and alothing necessary for a family in each district. Annals, xxv. 604, 612. 8 Annals, xxv. 618; XXXVI. 270. 4 Ib. xxv. 502, 626. 5 Annals. XxXv. 565. 8 Ih, xxv. 612.

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