32 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES
M. Sells reports on such a use in Cradley Heath, the workers there
giving overweight in chain—i. e., more than a hundredweight for
the weight of a hundredweight, or returning part of their earnings
in the form of a rebate.
Following the passing of the more extensive act of 1918, there was
8 large increase in the number of trades covered by the legislation.
At the end of 1921 the legislation was applied to 63 trades, 70 per
cent of the workers employed therein being women.
At the end of 1926 there were 44 boards,’ on which were sitting 132
impartial members, 748 employers’ representatives, and the same
number of workers’ representatives. One and a quarter million
workers in 89 trades were covered by the work of these boards.
On April 1, 1928, the orders of 45 boards were in force, some of them
restricted to England and Wales and some for Scotland only, but
most of them for the whole of Great Britain (but not referring to
Northern Ireland).
A general view of the increases brought about by the wages boards
may be gained from Table 8, taken from the report of the survey of
industrial relations undertaken by the committee on industry and
trade. submitted in 1926 :8
TABLE 8.—Minimum hourly wages in specified occupations in June, 1914 and
1925, and per cent of increase
Occupation
TaIlOT Dg cee ee eee mecca eae
Paper-hox making. -.o o.oo.
Chain making... .._o.o.o.0 . .
Lace finishing. _ oo ___.
Hourly wages
Per cent of increase
June, 1914
June, 1925
Males
| Females + Males | Females
Males
Females
8
8
Hl”
d d. 7
d. | 3. 134 7 ow
24{ay 1 3 rcorsng i
3 | Vit 8: 164 | ih
3 2
1 Ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring.
t Retail bespoke tailoring.
These increases have been greater than those in other industries.
Principle of Wage Fixation
(FBREAT BRITAIN has followed a more empirical, less methodical
way than Australia as regards wage fixing. Practically no definite
Instructions are given by the law as to the principle for the
establishment of the minimum wage. The act of 1909 (art. 4) leaves
the boards entirely free in the fixing of minimum rates. It referred
(art. 1, sec. 2) to rates “exceptionally low in comparison with other
employments ” as a condition for the establishment of new boards and
4 Sells, Dorothy M.: The British Trade Boards System. London, 1923, p. 42.
"The decrease since 1921 was due partly to the fact that both North Ireland and the
Irish Free State had in the meantime established independent systems and the Irish
voard figures were no longer included in the British figures.
¢ League of Nations Union. Toward Industrial Peace (report of Conference of the
Lopone of Nations Union, London, February, 1927). London, 1927, p. 29.
7 List received from EF. M. Stationery Office, London, gated Apr. 4, 1928,
8 Great Britain. Committee on Industry and Trade. Survey of industrial relations.
London. 1926. pn. 93.
