HC Deb 30 July 1925 vol 187 cc671-3W
Sir W. de FRECE

asked the Minister of Labour whether, taking the 12 chief industries of the country, including transport, he will state the average

I.—RATES OF WAGES OK TYPICAL CLASSES OF TIME-WORKERS IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.
Industry. Rates of Wages at—
July, 1914. June, 1920. July, 1925.
Building (40 large Towns)*: Per Week. Per Week. Per Week.
Bricklayers 40s. 7d. 97s. 8d. 73s. 6d.
Painters 36s. 3d. 95s. 2d. 73s. 0d.
Labourers 26s. 11d. 84s. 8d. 55s. 7d
Engineering (16 of the principal Districts)*:
Fitters and Turners 38s. 11d. 89s. 5d. 56s. 6d.
Labourers 22s. l0d. 70s. 8d. 40s. 2d.
Shipbuilding (9 of the principal Districts)*:
Shipwrights† 41s. 4d. 9ls. 3d. 55s. 7d.
Ship Joiners† 40s. 0d. 102s. 4d. 57s. 9d.
Labourers 22s. l0d. 70s. 6d. 38s. 5d.
Railway Service:
Engine Drivers‡ 45s. to 50s.§ 84s. to 102s. 72s. to 90s.
Ticket Collectors 23s. to 27s.§ 66s. 6d. to 74s. 54s. to 58s.
Goods Porters 19s. to 23s.§ 62s. to 68s. 6d. 47s. to 51s.
Dock Labour (10 of the principal Ports): Per Day. Per Day. Per Day.
Ordinary cargo workers 4s. 6d. to 6s. 8d. 15s. to 17s 6d. 11s. to 13s. 6d.
Shipping (Foreign-going Vessels)║: Per Month. Per Month. Per Month.
Able Seamen £5 to £5 10s. £14 10s. £10
Firemen £5 10s. to £6 £15 £10 10s.
Road Transport*: Per Week. Per Week. Per Week.
Tram Drivers (50 of the principal Districts). 30s. 7d. 73s. 3d. 59s 2d.
One-horse Carters (12 large Towns) 25s. 7d. 65s. 53s. 2d.
Printing (27 large Towns)*:
Hand Compositors and Machine Minders on Book and Jobbing Work. 35s. 8d. 88s. 73s. 9d.
Bookbinders and Machine Rulers 33s. 11d. 87s. 6d. 73s. 4d.
Agriculture (England and Wales):
Ordinary Labourers 14s. to 22s.§ 42s. to 46s. 6d. 28s. to 42s.
* The rates quoted are the unweighted averages of the recognised rates of wages in the principal towns or districts.
† The figures for the shipbuilding industry relate to time-workers. A large proportion of the workpeople in this industry, however, are paid at piece-rates and the figures given are not applicable to piece-workers.
‡ Some of the drivers are paid mileage allowances in addition to the rates shown.
§ Approximate figures.
║ Food is provided in addition to the rates quoted.

weekly wage-rate in each case now, as compared with June, 1920, and June, 1914, respectively?

Mr. BETTERTON

I regret that the information in my possession is insufficient to enable me to give particulars as to the average weekly wage-rates in the 12 principal industries. Certain particulars are available, however, as to the comparative level of wages in a number of the principal industries at the dates referred to, and these are shown in the following tabular statement:

II.—WAGES IN THE COAL MINING, COTTON AND WOOL TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.
Industry. General* increase in rates of wages over the pre-War level.
June, 1920. July, 1925.
Coal Mining The information available is insufficient to enable the increase in rates of wages to be estimated. The average earnings per man-shift worked in all districts, however, in the quarter ended 30th June, 1920, were l6s. l0½d. compared with 6s. 5¾d. in June, 1914, an increase of about 160 per cent. Those in May, l925 (the latest date for which the figures are available) were about 10s. 7¾d or 64 per cent. higher than in June, 15 1914.
Cotton Industry† 210 per cent. on basic piece rates. 90 per cent. on basic piece rates.
Wool Textile Industry (Yorkshire)‡
Timeworkers 145 per cent. 90 per cent.
Pieceworkers (Males) 118 per cent. 80 per cent.
Pieceworkers (Females) 124¾ per cent. 80 per cent.
* In addition, special advances have been granted to certain classes of workpeople in some districts in the cotton and wool textile industries.
† The figures for the cotton industry for June, 1920, and July, 1925, include a special advance granted in July, 1919, when the weekly hours were reduced from 55½ to 48, in order to maintain the weekly wages at the same level as before the reduction in hours. In July, 1914, wages were 5 per cent. above basic list rates, and to obtain the total percentage over list rates at June, 1920, and July, 1925, this figure should be added to those given in the Table.
‡ In addition, piece rates of wages were increased in 1919, when the normal weekly working hours were reduced, in such proportion as to prevent any reduction in weekly earnings resulting from the reduction in the working hours.

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