§ Captain BAGLEYasked the Minister of Labour what is the average rise per cent. in wages in the principal Allied countries since the beginning of the War?
70W
§ Sir R. HORNENeither in this country nor in any of the countries allied or associated with us in the late War are the most competent statistical authorities as yet in a position to state with anything approaching certainty what has been the extent of the rise in the level of money wages since 1914. Conclusions based on comparisons between the figures given below for different countries can therefore only be drawn with the utmost reserve.
- (1). In the United Kingdom the percentage increase in rates of wages since 1914 has varied widely in different industries. For all industries combined the average increase is estimated at about 120 to 130 per cent. In most industries also the working hours have been reduced.
- (2). In France the official data for estimating the general rise in money wages above the pre-War level do not extend beyond the end of 1917, at which time they suggested a figure in the neighbourhood of 90 per cent. There is evidence that the upward movement has not been arrested, but the data available for measuring its extent are altogether inadequate.
- (3). In the United States official and competent unofficial estimates would indicate an approximate rise of 90 per cent. for men and 70 per cent. for women.
- (4). For Italy the only figures available for showing the general trend of money wages since 1914 are supplied by the U. S. Commercial Attaché at Rome and point to a rise of about 180 per cent.