xlix
As a matter of fact, if we divide the average amount paid for bread and flour
by the number of pounds consumed, we find the following average prices paid
per lb. in all the successive income groups :—
Limits of Income.
Under 25s.
25s. and under 30s.
30s. „ „ 35 s.
35s. „ „ 40s.
40s. and over
Average price per lb. paid for
Bread
1-32 d.
l-33d.
137(7.
1-34(7.
1-38(7.
It will be seen that while there is a slight rise in the price paid as we pass
from the poorer to the better-off classes, the rise is so small and so irregular
that it cannot mean any appreciable consumption of white bread. That cost
alone does not condition the dietary is also indicated by the fact, to which
attention has been already directed, that mutton, although largely consumed in
England, is practically not eaten at all by the German working classes in spite
of the price being fully Id. a lb. less than that of pork. The consumption of
horseflesh has been fully dealt with above (p. xxiii), and no more need be said
on the subject here.
(iii.) Wages and Hours of Labour.
Wages.—The predominant rates of weekly wages for the building,
engineering and printing trades of Germany—the only occupations (apart from
municipal employments) which are found in practically all the towns
investigated—were given in the Table on p. xxx above. A corresponding Table
for England and Wales will be found on p. xxxiii of the Report on the United
Kingdom. Bringing the data together, we have the following comparative
Table :—
Predominant Weekly Wages in England and Wales and in Germany.
Trade.
Predominant range of Weekly Wages at
October, 1905, in
England and
Wales.
Germany.
Ratio of Mean Predominant
Wage in
Germany to Mean
Predominant Wage
in England, taken
as 100.
Building Trades
Bricklayers
Masons
Carpenters ...
Plumbers ...
Painters
Labourers ...
Engineering Ti udes
Fitters
Turners
Smiths
Patternmakers
Labourers ...
Printing Trade:—
Compositors
All the above trades (average)
37 s. 6(7. to 40s. 6(7.
37s. 2(7. ,, 39s. 4(7.
36s. 2(7. „ 39s. 4(7.
35s. 4(7. „ 39s. 9(7.
31s. 6(7. „ 37s. 6(7.
23s. 6(7 „ 27s.
32s. to 36s.
32s. „ 36s.
32s. ,, 36s.
34s. „ 38s.
18s. „ 22s.
28s. „ 33s.
26s. 11(7. to 31s. 3(7,
26s. 11(7. „ 31s. 3(7.
24s. to 28s. 6(7.
24s. „ 29s. 8(7.
19s. 6(7. to 24s.
26s. to 32s.
27s. „ 33s.
28s. 6(7. to 33s.
25s. 6(7. 30s.
18s. to 22s.
24s. 9(7. to 25s. 11(7.
75
77
70
78
86
85
88
90
77
100
83
83
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