THE SHEARMEN AND THE FRAMEWORK KNITTERS 667 
all the distress’, and appears to favour the granting of AD Jr 
allotments” as a means of affording valuable occupation in 
leisure time. But though this expedient was tried it could 
not serve to raise wages; the industrial ‘reserve?’ was 
so large that the capitalist could force the stockingers to 
accept any terms, while the charge for frame-rents ran 
remorselessly on. The stockingers had endeavoured to con- 
test these claims, and had raised a case under the Truck 
Acts, but it was given against them*; altogether the circum- 
stances of the trade were such that capitalists had the 
opportunity of acting very oppressively towards the men. 
The evidence seems to show that under these circumstances 
the larger masters maintained an honourable course on the 
whole; but that the small capitalists, who had difficulty in 
carrying on business at all, were less scrupulous. 
I'he story of the framework knitters is particularly in- and were 
structive for those who desire to analyse the causes of the meacrirery 
distress that was felt in the early part of this century. In 
this particular industry, where conditions were so utterly 
miserable, there can be no pretence that mechanical improve- 
ments contributed to the degradation of the workers; this 
was due to a combination of circumstances which may be but to 
best described as reckless competition. The institutions of pining 
the Middle Ages, and of the seventeenth century, had aimed ***™ 
at maintaining the quality of goods as a necessary condition 
of lasting industrial success; the old methods of achieving 
this result were no longer practicable; but the evils, against 
which they had been directed, became particularly rampant 
when manufacturers came to aim at mere cheapness, as the 
only thing to be considered in the successful conduct of 
business. So long as this was the case no improvement 
seemed possible: to raise wages in any way would increase 
period, almost annihilated particular branches of the trade.” Reports, 1845, xv. 
57, printed pagination 55. 1 7b. 142. 
% Jb. 138. This practice proved favourable to hand-loom weavers at Bridport 
(Ib. Reports from Assistant Commissioners on Hand-Loom Weavers, 1840, xx1m1. 
288), but its success depended on the precise form of the scheme, and one of the 
methods tried at Frome did little good. (I5.800.) On the failure of allotments, 
where too large, as at Rotherfield in Sussex, or when managed by parish officers, 
10t by private individuals, see Heports 1834, xxvIL. 107. 
3 ¥. Engels. Conditions, 84. 4 Felkin, op. eit. 455.