preventing a general improvement in conditions in their trades in the past. Nor must it be overlooked that in some instances the enforcement of higher rates of wages has acted as a stimulus to improvement in working methods; and our attention has been drawn to cases in which improvements in machinery and organisation so brought about have increased production and thus have enabled the earnings of piece-workers to reach the statutory basis without any increase in the actual piece-rates paid. In this connection we wish to draw attention to the good work performed by certain Boards of craft industries in encouraging the revival of apprenticeship and in placing the industrial training of juveniles on a sound and progressive basis.

We are also satisfied that the operation of the system has contributed, on the whole, to the improvement of industrial relations; and this effect is especially marked in the case of the trades of which the Act of 1909 was applied and which have had the longest experience of the working of the system. It has been stated that in a number of trades, where previously no machinery for joint negotiation of any kind existed, an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust separated employers and workpeople, and sporadic local disputes were frequent. The working of the Trade Board machinery by bringing the two sides together to discuss wages questions 'round a table' has, in most cases, enabled each side to understand something of the other's point of view, and so has contributed to the growth of more satisfactory relations between the two sides, and has tended to prevent the occurrence of industrial disputes.

Finally, we think that it is established that the operation of the system has led to a strengthening in organisation on both sides.

"In considering any proposal for an alteration of the law

we think it important, while having due regard to the reasonable complaints of employers, not to lose sight of the permanent benefits which the operation of the system has produced.

"We conclude then, that, while there are beneficial results to be recorded, there are also faults to be remedied; and we proceed to consider the remedies which are proposed."

Recommendations.

The following were the chief recommendations of the Committee:

"(1) That the power of the Minister of Labour to apply the Acts to a trade be confined to cases where he is satisfied (a) that the rate of wages prevailing in the trade or any branch of the trade is unduly low as compared with those in other employments; and (b) that no adequate machinery exists for the effective regulation of wages throughout the trade.

(2) That in any case in which the Minister considers that a primâ facie case exists for applying the Acts to any trade, he shall cause a public enquiry to be held into the matter and shall have regard to the report of such enquiry. "(3) That it be the duty of a Trade Board to fix

(a) a general minimum time-rate for the general body of workers in the trade, such rate to be fixed with reference to the lowest grade of ordinary workers in the trade;

and that a Trade Board be authorised to fix(b) if so authorised by Order of the Minister of Labour, a special minimum time-rate for workers performing work ancillary to that performed by the general body of workers;

(c) a piece-work basis time-rate ;

SOC. ECON.

25

(d) a guaranteed time-rate for piece-workers;
(e) minimum piece-rates for out- or home-workers
engaged in piece-work in the trade;

(ƒ) overtime rates based upon the above rates; and that such rates, when confirmed, be enforceable in manner now provided by the Trade Boards Acts. "(4) That a Trade Board have power to fix—

(a) special minimum time-rates for special classes
of workers in the trade or workers engaged in
any special process;

(b) minimum piece-rates for in-workers;
(c) special minimum piece-rates for in-workers to
be fixed on the application of an individual
employer to apply in respect of workers em-
ployed by him;

(d) overtime rates based upon the above rates; and to apply for confirmation of such rates, and that such rates, if confirmed, be recoverable by civil proceedings only..."

and sundry other recommendations, making 34 altogether, the last of which reads

(34) That the Trade Boards Acts be repealed and a Consolidating Act containing the necessary amendments be passed."

APPENDIX B.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S WAGES.*

Recommendations of the Majority of the War Cabinet Committee as to principles that should govern the future relations between men's and women's wages.

It was recommended :

'(1) That women doing similar or the same work as men should receive equal pay for equal work in the sense that pay should be in proportion to efficient output. This covers the principle that on systems of payment by results equal payment should be made to women as to men for an equal amount of work done.

“(2) That the relative value of the work done by women and men on time on the same or similar jobs should be agreed between employers and Trade Unions acting through the recognised channels of negotiation, as, for instance, Trade Boards or Joint Industrial Councils.

(3) That where it is desired to introduce women to do the whole of a man's job and it is recognised that either immediately or after a probationary period they are of efficiency equal to that of the men, they should be paid either immediately or after a probationary period, the length and conditions of which should be definitely laid down, the men's time rate.

*Report of the War Cabinet Committee on Women in Industry, 1919 (Cmd. 135).

(4) That where there has been sub-division of a man's job or work without any bona fide simplification of processes or machine and a woman is put on to do a part only of the job or work, the wages should be regulated so that the labour cost to the employer of the whole job should not be lessened while the payment to the persons engaged on it should be proportioned to their respective labour contributions.

“(5) That where the introduction of women follows on bona fide simplification of process or machine, the time rates for the simplified process or simplified machine should be determined as if this was to be allocated to male labour less skilled than the male labour employed before simplification, and women, if their introduction is agreed to, should only receive less than the unskilled man's rate if, and to the extent that, their work is of less value.

(6) That in every case in which the employer maintains that a woman's work produces less than a man's, the burden of proof should rest on the employer, who should also have to produce evidence of the lower value of the woman's work to which the fixed sum to be deducted from the man's rate for the particular job throughout the whole of the industry should strictly correspond.

"(7) That every job on which women are employed doing the same work as men for less wages should be considered a man's job for the purpose of fixing women's wages, and the wages should be regulated in the manner above recommended.

(8) "That the employment of women in commercial and clerical occupations especially requires regulation in accordance with the principle of ' equal pay for equal work.'

(9) "That in order to maintain the principle of equal pay for equal work' in cases where it is essential to employ men and women of the same grade, capacity and training,