INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE STUDIES AND REPORTS Series D (Wages and Hours) No. 16 WAGE CHANGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES 1914 to 1925 GENEVA — 1926 — CONTENTS Í. Genera! Remarks and Summary INTRODUCTION 5 Methods Adopted and Nature of Material Methods of Calculating Real Wages Changes in Standards and Efficiency Method of Presentation SUMMARY 6 6 7 7 8 Movement of Real Wages Comparison of Wages of Skilled and Unskilled Workers . Relative Wages of Men and Women Real Wages in Different Industries Comparison of Real Wages in the Capital Cities of Different Countries 11 13 15 16 23 II. Wage Changes in the Different Countries Australia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Canada Czechoslovakia Denmark Esthonia Finland France Germany Great Britain Greece Hungary India Italy Japan Latvia Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Roumania Russia Spain Sweden Switzerland Union of South Africa United States of America • 31 37 44 47 48 56 58 63 66 68 73 81 89 90 92 94 98 101 102 106 108 114 118 120 321 123 129 131 134 I GENERAL REMARKS AND SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The present report is a continuation of two early ones prepared by the International Labour Office on Wage Changes in Various Countries. The first x covered the period 1914-1921 and dealt with the movement of wages both during the war period and the period of rising prices which immediately followed the war. The second report 2 continued the previous one by tracing the movement of wages in a larger number of countries up to the year 1922. The present one brings the wages movement up to 1925, includes a much larger number of countries, and, as in the previous reports, compares wages with those current in the years 1913-1914. The years 19221925 include the period in which prices show, in the majority of countries with sound monetary systems, a distinctly lower level than in 1921, and also includes the period in which, in a large number of countries, prices and wages have become relatively htable. The main object of the report is not to record the movements in money wages only, but by comparing changes in money wages with those in the general level of prices to estimate the changes in the real wages of the workers. Real wages are, in nearly every case, calculated with reference to the pre-war level. The data are given country by country, but general conclusions as to the movements of wages as a whole are presented in summary form. International comparisons are, however, rendered difficult owing to the great differences in the methods adopted in the different countries in the compilation of wage statistics and in the diversity of classification of the various groups of workers. 1 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICI:: Wage Changes in Various Countries, 1014-1021. Studies and Reports, Series D (Wages and Hours of Work). No. ¿, Vd'¿~¿. 2 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OKFICK : Wage Changes in Various 1914-1922. Ibid., No. 10, 1923. Countries, — 6 — METHODS ADOPTED AND NATURE OF MATERIAL Methods of Calculating Ileal Wages The method adopted has been to collect daily, weekly or monthly wages, usually those published officially by the statistical offices of the government departments of the various countries for a pre-war year (1913-1914) and the years 1920-1924, and wherever possible figures for 1925. From these nominal or money wages, index numbers of real wages were calculated by the use of cost-ofliving index numbers 1. Obviously, the value of these index numbers of real wages depends almost entirely on the reliability of the two series of data used, viz. money wages and the measure of price changes. The difficulties in both these series of data were indicated in detail in the preceding report. It is sufficient here to point out that the wage data used are sometimes rates of wages payable for a certain unit of time, and sometimes earnings which allow for the effects of overtime and short time, or which may be based on piece rates. Earnings may increase or decrease while the rates on which they are based may remain constant. Earnings are more immediately sensitive to changes in the economic conditions of the industry, for although changes in wage rates are usually made only after negotiation, earnings may be diminished by the introduction of short time or by a slowing down of the rate of production of piece workers as soon as a decline is felt in the prosperity of the industry. As regards the index numbers of cost of living, their value varies considerably from country to country as an accurate measure of changes in the cost of living. The scope of the various index numbers used in this report and the methods adopted in calculating them are given in a report of the International Labour Office on methods of compiling cost-of-living index numbers 2. In the great majority of countries included, real wages have been calculated by dividing the index number of money wages by the index number of the cost of living for the same date or for the nearest date thereto. An important exception, however, has been made to this rule in the case of certain Central European countries, where, during part of the period covered by this report, the cost of living rose so rapidly that, during the period in which the wages 1 Index numbers of money wages were first calculated ; these were then divided by index numbers of cost of living and the result multiplied by 100. s INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE : Methods of Compiling Costo)'-Living Index Numbers. Studies and Reports, Series N (Statistics), No. 6, 1925. ' __ 7 — were spent, the cost of living was substantially higher than during the period in which they were received. The method adopted is fully explained in the special report issued by the International Labour Office on workers' standard of life in countries with a depreciated currency (Germany, Austria, Poland)1, in which much fuller details are given than in the present report on the movement of real wages in the period 1920-1924. Changes in Standards and Efficiency As has been indicated in previous reports, no account has been taken of (a) differences in the relative efficiency of workers in different countries, or of changes in their efficiency as between prewar and post-war years ; (b) changes in the productive efficiency of industrial organisation ; (c) changes in the amount of direct taxation paid by the workers, except in so far as this is included by certain countries in their index numbers of cost of living ; (d) the need for a higher standard for many groups of workers who were seriously underpaid before the war. M E T H O D OF PRESENTATION The method adopted slightly differs from that in previous reports, where for each set of wage data three series of figures were given : (a) The money wages themselves ; (b) Index numbers of money wages ; (c) Index numbers of real wages. In the present report the " Index numbers of money wages " have been omitted, except for certain countries or certain classes of wage statistics for which it has not been possible to calculate index numbers of real wages. As the interest of the report consists chiefly in the movement of money wages and the movement of real wages, it is not thought that the value of the report is lessened by the omission of the index numbers of nominal wages. i INTERNATIONAL LABOUR UFFICE : Workers' Standard of Life Countries with a Depreciated Currency (Germany, Austria, Poland). Series D (Wages and Hours of Worlt). No. 15, 1925. in Ibid., _ 8— In the first report statistics were included for 13 countries ; in the second report the statistics covered 16 countries ; in the present report no fewer than 29 countries are covered. These countries are as follows : European countries : Austria. Belgium. Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia. Denmark. Esthonia. Finland. France. Germany. Great Britain. Greece. Australia. Canada. India. Japan. Hungary. Italy. Latvia. Netherlands. Norway. Poland. Roumania. Russia. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland. Non-European countries : New Zealand. South Africa. United States of America. Every countiy of industrial importance is now covered, including practically every European country 1 . The increase in the number of countries which it is now possible to include is due partly to the increase in the number of sources available, partly to the greater output of statistical material in different countries, and partly to the monthly collection of wage rates in certain capital cities which was commenced by the International Labour Office in 1924, and of which the results have been published each month in the International Labour Review. In each case either in the text or in footnotes to tables the sources of the wage statistics are indicated. SUMMARY It has been pointed out in previous reports that the different countries could in the period 1920-1922 be grouped into fairly definite groups : those in which real wages were definitely higher than before the war ; those in which the level is about the same as the level in 1914 ; and those in which the level was definitely below the level of wages paid before the war. In the first group were found most of the ex-neutral European countries ; in the second 1 The only European countries not included in this Report are Albania, Irish Free State, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Portugal, Serb-Croat-Sloveup Kingdom, and Turkey. — 9 — group the chief Western European and non-European countries, and in the third group the Central European powers The latter group, which covered Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria, and, in view of information not available when the previous report was issued, included also Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Roumania, aud Finland, was distinguished by the fact that in all these countries in 1920 and 1922 the currency had been continually depreciating and prices steadily rising. This led to the phenomenon of the " time-lag ", when wages were continually trying to catch up to prices. This inevitably caused a reduction in real wages. On the other hand when prices were falling, or when they became relatively stable after a period of rising prices, real wages tended to rise. The chief factor affecting the wage situation in the years 19221925 was the changes in the level of prices. In many countries they have fallen somewhat, while in others — particularly those in which prices rose most rapidly in the years 1920 to 1922 or 1923 — they have become much more stable. Throughout the period prices remained relatively stable in Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America. Moreover, since 1922 the four countries in which currency was at that time being inflated, and prices rapidly rising, have all attempted to stabilise their currency and, in general, have succeeded. Germany stabilised its currency at the end of 1923 ; Austria in the autumn of 1922 ; Poland at the beginning of 1924 ; and Hungary at the end of 1924. Moreover, the stabilisation of the currency was followed in most cases by the introduction of a new currency. Thus in Germany the Rentenmark was introduced in 1923, and later the Reichsmark was adopted ; in Poland the zloty was introduced in June 1924 ; in Austria the schilling in March 1925. The extent to which wages have been stabilised in recent years is illustrated by the following table of index numbers of movey wages, in which wages in 1920-1925 are expressed as a percentage of their pre-war level. In Sweden, Australia, and Canada money wages have remained fairly stable since 1922 : in Great Britain since 1923 ; and in Austria since 1924. In Denmark, rates, though showing a rise of about 5 per cent, from 1923 to 1924, have become more stable than in 1921-1922. In Germany, money wages rose from 1923 to 1924, after a period of monetary disturbance. In Poland, money rates became fairly stable in March 1924, and remained so throughout the year. — 10 — TABLE I. INDEX NUMBERS OF MONEY WAGES FOR COUNTRIES WHERE RATES ARE RELATIVELY STABLE (1914 = 100) Country and industry Denmark Allindustries, average t earnings Sweden Bricklayers, average rates Painters, average rates Coal-miners, average rates GermanySkilled, metal trades, average rates Unskilled Austria Skilled, metal trades, average rates Unskilled, average rates Poland Skilled, metal trades Bricklayers Ganada Skilled workers, all trades, average rates Common labour, average rates Great Britain Building : B r i c k layers, average rates Labourers, average rates Printing : Compositors, average rates Engineering: Fitters, average rates Average of rates in 11 occupations Switzerland Carpenters, average earnings United States AH trades (National Industrial Conference Board) Boots and shoes Iron and steel All trades (New York) average earnings Australia All trades, males, average earnings All trades, females, average earnings 1920 1921 1922 1923 3591 299 ! 251 Í 2461 2641 263' 302 302 201 201 201 201 289 289 180 180 180 205 319 319 199 181 181 833 1058 1489 1814 39002 5700 s 27412002 39371002 50005 394005 7790005 12170005 14570005 14570003 6200 5 475005 9820005 1349000 5 1619000 5 1619000 3 351005 160700« , — 443005 2036005 777155005 759074005 IOS«« 13536 105,8 3 1358 3 1924 1925 — 96 2 4 112 « « IO934 II734 192 186 177 178 177 — 215 191 183 182 183 — 2485 231 s 1772 176 3 1815 1812 a 2062 3235 298 » 200 2 198» 206 2075 2072 262 5 2622 241« 215ä 2305 2308 187 ! Hos 145 5 145 2 2765 2532 1942 1773 1795 1812 203 193 172 171 — — 222 5 1935 270 5 182« 200 5 162» 200 5 204 5 203 5 2155 198 5 233 5 2075 1915 2415 2112 198 3 240 3 229 2 2052 1992 222* 2172 227» 1635 1725 1665 1715 1713 172 2 s 183 2 1645 1795 176 5 1 Figures refer to fourth quarter. ' June-July. » December. • Based on zloty rates. ' First quarter. 182 5 s March. 183 * Based on Reichstnarks. — 11 — The figures available for the United States of America do not permit of any generalisation, except that there was an increase from 1922 to 1923 and a decrease from 1923 to 1924 ; iri 1925 the changes are not very considerable. In a second table those countries are given in which wages do not show any marked tendency towards stabilisation. TABLE II. INDEX NUMBERS OF MONEY WAGES FOR COUNTRIES IN WHICH RATES HAVE NOT BEEN STABLE (1914 = Country and industry N o r w a y (Oslo) Engineers skilled rates „ unskilled rates Greece (Athens) Weavers (1914-1916 = 100) Foodworkers(1914-16=r 100) Finland All industries, average earnings R u m a n i a (Bucarest) Bricklayers, earnings General labourers, earnings Belgium Coal-miners, earnings HungarySkilled engineers Franca Coal-miners Compositors (Paris) Japan Bricklayers • April, May. 'March. * First half. 2 100) 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 435 ' 495» 429* 488 2 3043 3353 298 3 335 3 3363 3813 4104 240 '• 650 850 560 1000 1150 800 900 — — — 969 1044 1145 — — 28185 3387 5 — — 574 « 5007 — — 4245 461" 43810 — — — — — 430 435 390 9750« 2424002 349 322 2423 360 — 3839 291« s a 269 1944 5 2267 5 — — 491 1193000 368 5 — — 316» September. November. ' 1918-20. "February. '»Second quarter. 399 5 s 431 Fourth quarter. J 1925 — — — — • October. MOVEMENT OF REAL W A G E S As regards real wages as distinct from money wages, which have been dealt with in the previous paragraphs, several features aro worth noting. In the first place it will be seen that in each of those countries in which the currency was seriously depreciated the stabilisation of the currency was followed by a change in the wage situation. Wages were much more closely adjusted to the level of prices, the " time-lag " ceased and the level of real wages gradually lose. As will be seen from the following tables, in Germany real — 12 — wages of skilled workers, which were estimated at about 50 per cent, of their pre-war level in July 1923, rose to 75 per cent, in January 1924 and 90 per cent, in July 1924, and have remained fairly stationary at this level till July 1925 \ For unskilled workers, the level rose from a little over 60 per cent, in July 1922 to 90 per cent, in April 1924 and 100 per cent, in July 1925. In Austria, no general average figures are available and the movement differs somewhat from one industry to another ; but in every industry, however, real wages in 1924 were higher than those in 1923 ; though in some industries wages rose much sooner than in others. In Poland real wages, which were apparently only 50 per cent, of their pre-war value at the end of 1923, rose rapidly at the beginning of 1924 almost to their pre-war purchasing power and fell slightly during 1924, and rose again in 1925 2 . In Hungary wage-data are not sufficiently adequate to give definite conclusions ; in the engineering industry, however, real wages, which had considerably declined from the last quarter of 1923 to the first quarter of 1924 owing to the rapid rise in the cost of living, rose to about 75 per cent, of their pre-war level in the autumn. It will thus be seen that the group of countries in which, in 1922, wages were substantially below the pre-war level, are moving into the second group — countries in which real wages are at or near the pre-war level. The countries which in 1924-1925 are still in the former group are Hungary and Latvia, and possibly Roumania. A further change between 1922 and 1925 which is noticeable is that many countries have moved up from the group in which wages were at or near the pre-war level to the group in which real wages are higher than those current in 1913-1914. In the United States of America and in Canada, real wages were in 1924 and 1925 higher than in 1922, when they were about equal to the level of 1914. In Australia, the Scandinavian countries—Denmark, Sweden, Norway — and the Netherlands, real wages in 1924 and 1925 remain, as in 1922, above the pre-war level. In France the material available is not very complete, and relates only to two dates in 1921 and 1924, and the real wages are not based on a complete cost-of-living index. The apparent rise in real wages from 1921 to 1924 must 1 See table I, p. 77 (Germany). 2 Cf. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE : Workers' Standard of Life in Countries with a Depreciated Currency (Germany, Austria, Poland), Studies and Reports, Series D (Wages and Hours of Work), No. 15, 1925. — 13 — therefore be accepted with caution. In Spain, Italy, and Switzerland — countries not previously included in wage reports — wages in 1924 seem to be distinctly above the pre-war level, and in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand, and Finland wages ai-e at about the pre-war level. As regards Great Britain, the general situation appears to be about the same as in 1922, i.e. real wages are on the whole somewhat below pre-war level, though the disparity between the level of wages in different industries is very noticeable. In certain industries such as coal-mining, shipbuilding and engineering, whose prosperity depends to a certain extent on their export trade, wages are depressed ; while in industries such as building and printing, which do not depend on foreign trade, real wages are considei*ably above the level obtained before the war. As regards the remaining countries (Japan, Greece, and South Africa) the information is not sufficiently complete to enable any conclusion to be drawn. Comparison of Wages of Skilled and Unskilled Workers In the previous reports on wage fluctuations it was indicated that in periods of rapidly-rising prices, the money wages of unskilled workers in many countries increased to a greater extent than those of skilled workers, and those of lower-paid officials more than those of higher-paid categories. This was partly due to the fact that increases were sometimes granted at a flat rate to all classes of workers in a given industry, which of course meant a greater relative increase for the lower-paid workers. This policy was doubtless prompted by the consideration that wages of unskilled workers are much nearer the subsistence minimum than those of skilled workers, and increases in wages to compensate for the increased cost of living are more urgent in their case than in the case of skilled workers. When prices began to fall or became relatively stable, there was a tendency to a reversal of this movement. This is illustrated by the following table, in which the money wages of unskilled workers are expressed as a percentage of the wage of the corresponding skilled worker. - - 14 — TABLE III. PERCENTAGE RATES OF WAGES OF UNSKILLED WORKERS TO THOSE OF SKILLED WORKERS (Wages of skilled workers taken as 100) Country Denmark All industries S w e d e n (Stockholm) Building, bricklayers and labourers NorwayBuilding, bricklayers and labourers Metal trades Great Britain Building, bricklayers and labourers Engineering, fitters and labourers Shipbuilding, labourers Switzerland Metal trades Germany All trades Austria Metal trades Building Poland Metal trades Hungary Metal trades France Building, masons and labourers U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a Iron and steel trades All trades A u s t r a l i a (Sydney) Metal trades, turners and labourers Building, bricklayers and labourers N e w Zealand B u i l d i n g , bricklayers a n d l a b o u r e r s 1914 1920 1922 1923 1924 74' 811 81 * 86 81' 75 î 922 912 912 912 83 73 943 83' 922 862 92 2 842 902 832 66 58 53 87= 79 2s 77 76< 774 68« 76» 71» 76" 752 712 692 76 82 78 73 — 69 89 «o 912 75 752 75 74 922 96« 942 812 86 81 832 812 51 81» 742 72'• 622 52 66 6 60= 535 — 68' 716 — 696 58 4 672 8P 72 a 752 642 752 715 75" 69 78 — 92 762 87« 75« 902 782 842 77 76 79 77 77 76 « 1 Fourth quarter. ' November-December. ' May. 1 1911. ' February. * March. " Metal Trades only. * June-July. s September. * October. Table III shows how in nearly all countries the ratio of unskilled to skilled increased during the period of rising prices and decreased when prices fell. In 1914 unskilled workers' wages were about 50 to .70 per cent, of skilled workers' wages ; in 1920 they were about 80 to 90 per cent. In countries in which wages and prices rose the least between 1914 and 1920-1921, the ratio generally shows the least variation. Thus in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as in Great Britain, the ratio increased - - 15 — less than in Austria, Germany, and Poland. In Austria, unskilled workers' wages rose to about 95 per cent, of the skilled, and in Germany to about 90 per cent. Since 1920 in most countries, 1922 in Germany, and 1923 in Austria, the ratio of unskilled workers' wages to those of skilled has declined, though it is still in most countries higher than the pre-war ratio. It should be noted that France and Hungary appear to be in an exceptional position, for the ratio of unskilled to skilled in 1924 is almost identical with that obtaining in 1914. In France the ratio has not apparently changed since 1914. But it seems, in spite of these two exceptions, to be a general feature of the post-war wage situation that unskilled workers are relatively better paid in comparison with skilled workers than before the war. Relative Wages of Men und Women Attention has been called on previous occasions to the fact that women in general received proportionally larger increases than men. The causes of this are probably similar to those in the case of skilled and unskilled workers, and perhaps due to the reduced supply of male labour during and since the war, and the consequent opening of employments to women. This tendency continued in the years 1922-1925. In table IV the real wages of male are compared with those of female workers in the same industry for certain countries. Except for cotton weavers in the United States and metal workers in Austria, the index numbers of real wages of female workers are in eveiy case higher than those of male workers. Moreover, there does not appear any tendency for the index numbers of real stabilisation of women to approach those of men in periods of relative wages. — 16 — TABLE IV. INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF MALE COMPARED WITH FEMALE WORKERS (1914 = 100) Country and industry Denmark Textile workers, male „ „ female Boot and shoe operatives, male „ female All industries, male skilled „ „ female „ S w e d e n (Stockholm) Boot and shoe operatives, male „ „ ,. female Textile workers, male female Norway Metal trades, male „ „ female GermanyTextile workers, male „ „ female Austria Metal workers, skilled male „ „ unskilled male „ „ female Hungary Spinners, male „ female Australia All trades, male „ „ female United States Cotton weavers, male „ „ female All trades, male unskilled 0 „ „ female 6 1 * March. 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 1501 1561 1471 15011 133 1491 142 ! 143 l 1341 130 l 127* 1361 I341 1331 1271 1221 119" 125 ! I331 1351 1261 1241 1191 1261 13P 131' 128' 124' 119' 128' 107» 125» 111 = 122» 99» 105' 95 » 105» 107» 112» 102» 113» 109« 1142 104« 115« 108« 114! 103« 114« 102 113 157 183 121 166 111 153 — — 85 3 96 3 57 3 65 3 913 98 3 924 994 83* 104» 69* 86^ 85* 83 4 10444 88 IO54 1164 954 1064 1184 954 1085 1205 965 — — — - — 664 724 714 864 — — 101 * 102* 1194 1264 1184 1234 1154 1264 1165 1245 141 132 1234 1124 126 126 12H 1214 1274 1314 — — 144 141 127» 131» 1283 1283 Figures relate to fourth quarter of the year. ! September. > July. • Statistics of National Industrial Conference Board. ' First quarter. 4 — — December. Real Wages in Different Industries A. comparison of the movements of real wages in different industries in a number of countries is given in the following tables. The industries are coal-mining, metals and engineering, textiles, printing, building, and chemicals. The figures are, in all cases, the same as those given in the following sections dealing with the different countries, but are grouped together by industries for comparative purposes. It is only possible to compare real wages — 17 — by industry very roughly, owing to the incompleteness and unsatisfactory character of some of the data and to the different methods adopted for measuring wages. Table V gives index numbers of real wages in the coal-mining industry. It will be seen that, in general, real wages are not at a very high level, and in some of the chief coal-producing countries such as Great Britain, Germany, and Belgium, real wages in 19221925 are below the pre-war level. Real wages index numbers of surface workers are, in every case where such distinction is possible, higher than those of hewers or underground workers. Table VI gives index numbers of real wages in the metal and engineering trades. In Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Great Britain, Latvia, and to a small extent in the United States and New Zealand, real wages have declined since 1922. This industry has been, on the whole, depressed in Europe in recent years and real wages are in many cases below the pre-war level ; Denmark, Norway and Austria are the only countries which show wages substantially above the pre-war level. In the extra-European countries (United States, Australia. New Zealand) real wages are above the pre-war level. Table VII gives real wage index numbers for the textile industry. In most countries real wages have increased since 1922 or 1923. In Denmark, France, Great Britain, and the United States real wages were considerably above the pre-war level, and in Sweden, Germany, Austria, and New Zealand slightly above or slightly below the pre-war level, while in Finland. Hungary and Poland they are definitely below. Table VIII gives real wage index numbers in the building trade. The feature of the table is the high level of real wages, especially of unskilled workers. Only in Hungary and Czechoslovakia are real wages definitely below the pre-war level, while in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Latvia, Canada, and Australia they are definitely above. Building is an industry not subject to international competition, and its products (viz. houses') have been in great demand in all countries since the war. These factors account, no doubt, for the relatively high level of wages in this industry. Table IX gives real wage index numbers for the printing and bookbinding trade. As in the case of the building trade, printing is an industry producing largely for the home market and real wages are in every case high. Only in Germany were rates definitely below the pre-war level in 1924 and 1925. 2 — 18 — Table X covers the chemical industry. Statistics for this industry are not very plentiful, and comparative figures are available for six countries only. It is not possible to give any general conclusions, except that real wages appear to be fairly high and to have increased during the last few years. TABLE V. MINING : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913 or 1914 = 100) Country 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 Great Britain All workers, average earnings 95* 791 881 89' 89 s — 733 963 50' 643 90» 1083 94' 101 4 93 104 95 982 110« 1002 102* 113« 104* 102' ! 118 2 106'- 98» 108» 101» — 95 96 96 104 104 103 993 995 975 854 89i 85 1 130' 134' 1241 115' 133* 118' 124» 1311 1241 106» 120' 1081 105» 107« 121 8 118' 95« 102S 103« - 88' 78' 98 — — „ 106 135 133 132 - 997 114' 108' 110' 109 4 70 « 100* 102'' 101 4 — Germany Hewers, average rates Surface workers, average rates France Underground workers, earnings Surface workers, earnings All workers, earnings Belgium Hewers, average earnings Surface workers, average earnings All workers, average earnings Netherlands Hewers, average earnings Surface workers, average earnings All workers, average earnings Sweden Skilled workers, average rates Hungary Hewers, average rates United States Canada Skilled workers, average rates _ — Australia All workers, average rates New Zealand Hewers, average rates ' Fourth quarter of the year. ' First quarter. • July. * March. » October. « September. • December. • First quarter. e Second quarter. — 19 — TABLE VI. METAL AND ENGINEERING TRADES : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913-1914 = Country 100) 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 146' 147 ' 140» 134* 128 f 125' 127 1 125' 129» 125 9 97 109 110 120 — 3 1113 — Denmark Smiths, a v e r a g e e a r n i n g s Labourers, „ „ 8 «reden Engineering workers, a v e r a g e e a r n i n g s NorwayMale workers, average rates Germany Skilled workers, average rates Unskilled workers, „ „ Austria Skilled workers, average rates Unskilled workers, „ „ Women workers, „ „ Poland Skilled workers, average rates Labourers, average rates Czechoslovakia Fitters, average rates Labourers, average rates HungaryT u r n e r s , a v e r a g e rates Labourers, „ „ 102» 1573 — — 79 « 81 * 594 67i 88 4 94« 86» 91» 693 863 853 833 1043 105 3 116 3 108» 120» 883 95 IO6 3 118 3 953 75 119 61 3 89 3 453 69 83 — — — — — — 853 75» 863 863 87« 81» — — — — 47 68 56 85 — — 70S 77 88 84 88 94 — — — — 89 6 — — 109' — 117 3 873 102 4 133* 83* 102= 813 98» 84 * 102« 1106 132 127 — — — - 104= 79» 90» 968 121 108s 102« 103« 96 128 110 116a 113 118 117 120 — 101 3 118 3 116 3 118 3 117» 765 94» 93» 90« 121 3 32 3 96» Finland Metal w o r k e r s , a v e r a g e e a r n i n g s Engineering workers, average earnings France Turners, a v e r a g e rates Great Britain Fitters, average rates Labourers, average rates Switzerland Fitters, average earnings Latvia Fitters, average earnings U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a Engineers, average union rates All workers (New York) average earnings Canada All workers, average rates Australia All w o r k e r s , average rates — N e w Zealand Fitters, a v e r a g e rates * May. ' Fourth quarter. • First quarter. * May. ! November - December. «July. »March. '1921. 'October. — 20 — TABLE VII. TEXTILE TRADES : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913-1914 — 100) Country Denmark Male workers, average earnings Female workers, „ „ Sweden Male workers, average rates Female workers, „ „ Germany Spinners (male), average rates Unskilled „ Austria Trimmers, average rates Poland (Looz) Weavers, average rates HungarySpinners (male), average rates Spinners (female) „ „ Finland Wool workers, average earnings France Weavers, average rates Netherlands Wool weavers, average earnings Great Britain Cotton workers, average earnings Wool workers, „ „ United S t a t e s ol America Wool trade (New York) average earnings Cotton trade (New York) „ „ N e w Zealand Spinners (male), average rates 1 Fourth quarter of the year. ' First half. • First quarter. • September. 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 150» 156« 142 » 143 i 131 » 1301 1331 135* 131» 131« 111 122 95 2 105* 102! 1132 1042 1152 103s 114« - 85» 933 57' 623 913 893 83* 81s 40« 945 99« 945 98' 55« 38 5 585 655 66« — - 665 62 715 86 - 75« 89 84 — — 100« — — 1315 — 108' — 122' — - 835 935 995 1285 1055 1205 1075 1215 IIIs 125s 1183 1358 138 s 123« 1375 1325 1455 1315 146* 123* 82< 1121 107« KM' — ' July. * March. » December. ' 1921. — 21 TABLE Vili. BUILDING TRADE : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913-1914 = 100) Country Denmark Carpenters, average earnings Labourers, „ „ Sweden Carpenters, average rates Labourers, „ „ Norway Carpenters, average earnings Labourers, „ „ N e t h e r l a n d s (Base: 1920 = 100) Carpenters, average earnings Labourers, „ „ GermanyCarpenters, average rates Labourers, „ „ Austria Carpenters, average rates Labourers, „ „ Poland (Warsaw) Bricklayers, average rates Labourers, „ „ Hungary Carpenters, average rates Czechoslovakia (Prague) Carpenters, average rates Labourers, „ „ France Bricklayers, average rates Labourers, „ „ Great Britain Bricklayers, average rates Labourers, „ „ Switzerland Bricklayers, average earnings Labourers, „ „ Latvia Joiners, average earnings U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a Bricklayers, average rates Labourers, „ ,, Canada Skilled workers, average rates Australia All workers, average rates N e w Zealand Carpenters, average rates Labourers, „ „ ' First quarter. »November-December. ' December. «1921. • October, 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 149' 157" 1291 148» 118» 1371 1231 142 ' 124 » 143 ' 120 = 137' 1153 1283 12333 138 IZO» 140' 125J 139 > 102 * 1044 97= 072 95» 972 95 s 97" — 100 100 141» 1383 128= 124» 1155 114« no-' — 733 89» 443 535 84» 903 94 6 101« 86' 106' 111 2 122 2 109 * 120* 136» 1502 150 s 164° 95' 78 2 44s 882 142* 89" 144 s — — 565 70' — 68 78 79 84 86» 87« — 123» 126" — . 107' 968 100» — 94» 122' 96 = 1095 101 8 1140 1012 114» IO55 II95 101« 106s 121 123 120 121 — — — — 157« 133« 126° 78« 116* 89* 1074 86« 106 * 974 1054 1134 116s 97 111 112 116 — 91 * 110« 1072 112! 109= 75" 75" 95 6 98'' 926 93« 936 90 " - »September. »May. * June-July. 'March. — 22 — TABLE IX. PRINTING TRADE : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913-1914 — 100) Country Denmark Compositors, average earnings Unskilled workers, average earnings Sweden All workers, average earnings Netherlands Compositors, average rates Germany Compositors, average rates Assistants, „ „ Austria Skilled workers, average rates Poland Compositors, average rates Hungary Skilled workers, average rates Czechoslovakia Compositors, average rates Finland All workers, average earnings B e l g i u m ('Brussels) Bookbinders (base : 1923 = 100) France Compositors (Paris), wage rates „ (other towns), wage rates Latvia Compositors, average rates Great Britain Compositors, average rates Bookbinders, „ „ Canada Skilled workers, average rates Australia All male workers, average rates U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a Printing workers (New York), average earnings 1 Fourth quarter. «July. «July 1921. «March. • First quarter. 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 112' 1191 116' 1171 1111 U51 IO71 107» 114« 102 115 132 130 — 121« 1208 1352 — — — 652 76« 36« 452 882 942 86* 91' 28 695 815 985 — 1235 1262 1785 655 1135 _ no» 103 181 * _ — - 98' 985 994 78 92 95 — — 100 1055 114"- 113« 87« — — 126' 113' — — - 130* 146* 1384 995 104» 1302 1392 124 * 129 * líos 1205 1202 1252 99 131 127 131 — 975 116s HI« 1183 116* 872 1162 1205 1215 120* — 23 — TABLE X. CHEMICAL TRADES : INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES (Pre-war, 1913-1914 = 100) Country Denmark Oil mill labourers, average earnings Sweden All workers, average earnings Germany Processmen, average rates Artisans, „ „ Austria Skilled workers, average rates Unskilled workers, „ „ U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a New York State, average earnings National Industrial Conference Board, average earnings 1 Fourth quarter. ' July. ' March. 1920 1922 1923 1924 1925 152' 145' 134» 136« 1376 116 107 120 127 — - 91 2 792 67« 89a 942 88 * 9F 86 3 z 86« 1434 84 4 I394 81< 1364 88 3 1463 97* 115 J 1214 128" I233 99'' 117* 129* 1315 130* * December. * September. ' First quarter. COMPARISON OF REAL WAGES IN THE CAPITAL CITIES OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES The statistics given in the second part of this report and summarised in the previous pages give money wages and real wages within different countries from one date to another. They do not, however, give any indication as to the relation between the levels of wages between one country and another. Since July 1924, the International Labour Office has been compiling statistics comparing the levels of real wages of typical groups of workers in the capital cities of about 20 different countries *. The comparisons are based on the rates of wages for a standard week of 48 hours at ordinary time rates of workers in a number of occupations in the building, metal, furniture making, and printing and bookbinding industries. The unit of measure 1 Comparisons on similar lines were made by the British Ministry of Labour for the period March 1923 to June 1924. (See Ministry of Labour Gazette, July 1923.) — 24 — used for comparing the wages consists of a number of food items, the consumption of which is important in the countries covered by the comparisons \ The relation between real wages in the different cities is obtained by calculating the purchasing power of the money wages over these items of food. Account is taken of the quantities of these items consumed in the different countries by taking an international average. In effect, the statistics show the relation between the purchasing power of wages in different countries over a basketful of food commodities2. The tables below reproduce some of the statistics which have been compiled. Table XI gives the money rates of wages of various groups of workers in different cities at 1 July 1925 3 . So far as information is available, the amounts of cost-of-living bonuses and family allowances paid in certain cities are included. It should be pointed out that the data are not in all cases strictly comparable, as for some cities for which minimum rates are given the rates actually paid are somewhat higher. In other cases the figures given are either actual rates or minimum rates which differ to a very small extent from actual rates. The figures for Copenhagen are based on actual earnings, including those of piece-workers as well as of time workers. The figures for Tallinn are also based on average earnings. Table XII gives the retail prices of various articles of food in the different cities, from which the costs of the basket of provisions used as unit for measuring the wages have been calculated. Table XIII gives index numbers of comparative real wages in various cities at 1 July 1925. These figures show the relation between the levels of real wages in different cities on the basis of real wages in London at 1 July 1925 = 100. In Table XIV index numbers are given showing the levels of real wages in the different cities at various dates on the basis of real wages in London at 1 July 1924 = 100. This table shows that real wages in a number of cities declined during 1 The items included are : bread, flour, butter, margarine, beef, mutton, bacon, potatoes, sugar, coffee, tea, cheese rice, eggs, and milk. 2 Detailed information of the quantities of food used and the methods of calculation of the index numbers of real wages are given in the International Labour Review for October 1924 and subsequent numbers. 3 Similar figures are given each month in the International Labour Review. — 25 — the autumn and winter of 1924-1925 and rose again during the spring of 1925. This movement was probably due mainly to seasonal variations in the cost of food. It should be emphasised that the comparative levels of real wages shown by the index numbers in tables XIII and XIV are subject to important reservations. The wage and price data for the different cities used as a basis for the comparisons are not strictly comparable. Also, in the case of certain cities in Southern European countries, the relatively low index numbers of real wages may be accounted for in part by differences in the items of food consumption in such countries as compared with those ordinarily consumed in most of the other countries included in the table. The budgets used in the comparisons do not make adequate allowance for the vegetable consumption in Southern European countries. Further, the index numbers do not show differences in the general level of real wages, even in the cities included, being based on the wages of a few categories of workers in four industries only and on the prices of a limited number of articles of food. No account is taken of expenditure on rent, furniture, clothing and other items of ordinary consumption. The index numbers, which are not representative of the relation between the general level of real wages in the different capital cities, are still less representative of differences in the levels of real wages in the respective countries. They may serve, however, as a rough indication of the relative levels of real wages of adult male workers in certain occupations and cities in different countries. — 26 — TABLE XI. MONEY WAGES CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF 48 HOURS' WORK AT ORDINARY TIME RATES AT 1 JULY 1925 Industry and occupation Building trades (a) Skilled: Bricklayers or masons Carpenters Joiners Plumbers Painters (general) (b) Unskilled: Labourers (general) Engineering trades fa) Skilled: Fitters Ironmoulders (hand) Patternmakers Turners (b) Unskilled: Labourers Furniture trades (a) Skilled : Cabinetmakers (b) Unskilled: Labourers Printing and bookbinding trades (a) Skilled : Hand compositors < Machine compositors ' Machine minders Bookbinders (b) Unskilled : Labourers Amster- Berlin dam Brussels Copen- Lisbon hagen» guilders R.-M. francs kroner escudos zloty 38.40 38.40 38.40 40.80 55.68 56.16 Lodz London Madrid s. d. pesetas Milan Oslo lire kroner 108 120 120 108 48.00 85 0 48.00 85 0 — 85 0 — 85 0 60.00 75.60 64.80 66.00 174.00 182.40 168.00 57.60 170.40 132.48 182.40 123.36 183.60 99.84 156.00 108.48 — 88 80 91.20 91.20 92.64 36.00 55.20 150.00 95.04 120 81 0 62.40 190.80 91.20 31.20 43.20 123.60 101.76 96 24.00 65 0 39.00 114.60 86.40 32.16 — — — 144.96 27.84 32.16 32.16 23.52 26.40 109.92 72.48 32.64 45.60 194.40 85.44 — 38.88 — — — 94.56 120 157.92 103.68 180.00 100.80 158 40 — 108 120 120 — 144 — — 33.60 62 2 , / 155.46 84.00 1 Í 33.60 62 2 72.00 { 166.50 84.00 33.60 66 10 84.00 33.60 62 2 1 ( 168 00 84.00 21.12 43 3 45.00 124.80 71.52 — 84 0 72.00 183.90 96.00 — -- — 130 20 — 35.04 48.00 3 175.50 99.84 120 75.13 89 0 84.00 231.10 100.00 39.36 57.603 187.50 99.84 120 105.18 96 0 84.00 250.65 124.00 35.04 35 04 48.003 175.50 42.243 188.50 97.92 99.36 120 —. 78.26 89 0 52.17 80 0 54.00 63.00 228.00 113.50 231.10 97.00 28.08 42.003 76.32 — 18.78 71 0 — — 115.15 — 1 Book and job. * Rates for married workers. 1 These rates came into force on 4 July 1925. ' The figures, which are for the 1st quarter of 1925, are based on actual earnings, whether for time or piece work. For skilled and unskilled workers in the building and engineering industries and for skilled workers in the furniture-making industries, wages are now about 3 per cent, higher than the figures given ir the table. For unskilled workers in the furniture-making industry, the increases have been somewhat higher than 3 per cent. The wages of bookbinders have been raised by about 1 >/J per cent., whilst those of other groups of workers in the printing and bookbinding industry have not been changed. TABLE XI (cont.l Industry and occupation Building trades (a) Skilled: Bricklayers or masons Carpenters Joiners Plumbers Painters (genera!) Phila- Prague Rome Ottawa delphia* Stock-3 Sydney* Tallinn, Vienna Warsaw holm Esth." dollars dollars crowns lire kronor s. 76.80 76.80 76.80 66.24 81.60 118 0 132 0 48 00 36.00 36.00 38.40 31.20 (ô) unskilled : 19.20 Labourers (general) Engineering trades (a) Skilled : Fitters 28.80 Ironmoulders (hand) 28.32 Patternmakers 33.60 28.80 Turners (6) Unskilled : Labourers 19.20 Furniture trades (a) Skilled : 27.60 Cabinet makers (ô) Unskilled : 16.80 Labourers Printing and bookbinding trades (a) Skilled: 36.72 Hand compositors ' Machine compositors ' 36.72 36.72 Machine minders 35.52 Bookbinders (ô) Unskilled : Labourers 1 237.5 252.5 d. E. Mks Schill, zloty 54.72 52.80 111 7 112 0 2107.2 68.16 1276.8 72.96 1348.8 51.76 49.57 76.80 54.72 136.80 69.60 104 0 1440.0 52.80 31.68 265.0 265.0 320.0 240.0 172.80 42.24 172.80 42.24 42.24 168.00 42.24 108 108 117 108 1747.2 155.0 115.20 36.00 72.00 54.00 54.00 55.20 48.00 277.5 187.20 187.20 175.20 165.60 235.20 40.80 175.0 48.00 46.51 48.00 36.00 31.20 6 6 6 6 1924.8 53.30 36 18 36.18 36 18 36.18 850 1324.8 42.00 22.74 — 255.0 235.20 57.60 102 0 1348.8 48.74 — — 43.20 45.17 42.00 41.00 — 170.0 124.80 _ 285.0 222.5 174.90 198.75 174.90 160.00 60 55 66.40 60.55 52.80 195.0 135.00 49.60 1147.2 34.78 111 6 102 0 95 0 - 57.18 65 76 57.18 46.90 100.59 140.83 100.59 1915.2 21.13 50.30 2174.4 2937.6 2409.6 2011.2 Book and job. These rates came into force on 15 May. 8 For certain occupations the figures are minimum rates fixed by collective agreements, and skilled workers who have been in the trade for a long time are frequently paid at higher rates. This is especially true in the case of the engineering industry. ' Figures for 31 December 1924. 1 The figures are based on actual earnings. 1 E. Mk = 1.38 Swiss centimes or 0.27 American cent. 1 — 28 — TABLE XII. AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FOOD ' ON 1 JULY 1925 Commodity White bread Rye or black bread Flour (wheaten) Butter : Fresh Salt Margarine ßee/(home produce): Ribs Thin flank Beef (chilled or frozen): Ribs Thin flank Mutton (home produce) : Leg Breast Mutton (frozen) : Leg Breast Bacon Potatoes Sugar (white granulated) Coffee Coffee substitute Tea Cheese Milk (unskimmed) Eggs (not new laid or preserved) Rice Amsterdam Berlin Brussels' cents R.-M. francs ore 27.50 21.252 31.00 0.68 0.40 0.56 1.75 1.70 2.30 110 32 62 252.50 4.00 — — 120.00 1.60 17.00 16.70 5.80 105 213 22.00 18.00 140.00 110.00 2.60 15.00 7.41 391 246 130.00 80.00 1.50 9.60 5.70 220.00 120.00 2.80 2.40 14.40 5.90 -— , 110.00 12.25 3.20 0.09 51.00 180.00 300.00 160.00 18.00 0.70 7.20 0.52 9.20 1.60 0.30 20.93 7.00 25.00 0.13 0.70 — Copen- Lisbon hagen Lodz escudos zloty Milan Oslo lire crowns pence pesetas 0.85 0.56* 2.5 0.65 2.35" — 2.8 — 0.55 — 2.57 1.00 0.55 0.70 3.66 2.29 2.28 7.0 5.50 4.25 21.22 5.78 — — — — — 12.45 2.35 10.00 1.64 19.4 8.0 4 50 3.60 14.67 8.77 4 43 3.65 — — — — — — 11.0 4.8 — 8.21 4.28 — — — — 9.00 1.55 19.6 9.5 4.50 2.85 10.43 9.67 4.73 4.31 — 2.98 2.20 0.21 12.6 5.1 17.4 1.5 4.00 0.30 11.41 1.13 0.47 3.6 1.70 6.74 33.00 13.40 2.20 2.00 3.60 — 24.00 9.00 4.00 11.31 0.64 206 351 36 10. oo 2.37 15.18 76 453 3.00 10.60 — 0.50 1.20 — . 837 238 45 20.00 14.00 2.00 1.10 6.00 1.40 16.00 1.26 0.31 0.64 3.11 18 105 0.42 3.00 0.13 0.70 — London Madrid — — — _ — — 0.96 5.56 — — 20.0 12.8 6.0 20.00 5.50 0.80 18.27 1.45 1.10 0.46 1.8 2.9 0.20 1.10 0.62 2.54 3.18 1.18 — 1 The prices for all towns except London, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Sydney are for one kilogramme in the case of each commodity except milk, for which the price per litre is given, and eggs, in which case the price per unit is given. For London, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Sydney, the unit is one pound (2.205 pounds = 1 kilogramme) for each commodity except milk, where the price per quart (= 1.135 litres in London, Ottawa and Sydney and 0.946 litres in Philadelphia) is given, and eggs, where the price per unit is given. In certain cases the price is the average of a range of prices. 1 Bread made with unsifted wheaten flour. • Figures for 15 July. * Rye bread. — 29 — TABLE XU (conti Commodity Phila- 8 Prague Ottawa delphia cents White bread Rye or black bread Flour (wheaten) Butter: Fresh Salt Margarine ßee/(home produce) : Ribs Thin flank Beef (chilled or frozen) : Ribs Thin flank Mutton (home produce) : Leg Breast Mutton (frozen) : Leg Breast Bacon Potatoes Sugar (white granulated) Coffee Coffee substitute Tea Cheese Milk (unskimmed) Eggs (not new laid or preserved) Rice cents crowns Tallinn. Rome Stockholm Sydney • Esth. » Vienna Warsaw lire ore pence E. Mks schill. zloty 8.0 9.4 6.4 5.7 — 2.50 86 69 48 2.84 —. 3.33 2.88 4.00 2.28 — — 49 22 42 1.50 0.68 0.90 0.90 0.50* 0.69 37.7 55.5 25.81 — _ 30.6 14.55 376 177 — — 223 208 6.80 2.64 3.25 3.83 — 20.00 8.90 14.CO 18.50 — — 21.7 11.6 35.7 22.3 16.76 11.00 9.00 843 101 6.75 5.70 122 81 2.30 2.06 — — — — — — 8.50 4.00 — — — — — — — — — — 30.1 40 2 3 14.07 —• 8.70 7.00 105 91 3.60 2.01 — — 37.4 1.4 7.7 61.6 42.9 3.6 6.3 45.9 — _ — — — — — 18.95 1.62 4.63 26.60 184 26 — 27.80 11.80 7.83 165 11 49 391 98 587 196 20 3.40 0.25 0.88 0.20 1.60 14.00 6.00 0.52 2.08 0.16 1.13 6.50 1.50 20.05 1.20 0.37 11 52 2.40 3.40 8 9 0.18 0.78 0.13 0.84 70.3 38.1 12.0 6.83 2.14 3.3 11.1 3.4 12.0 0.77 4.98 0.65 3.00 — _ — - 206 20 66 410 170 72.0 32.4 10.0 — — — 11.50 1.00 7.00 34.00 10.83 50.00 18.00 1.70 1.23 5.11 42.39 4.19 321 2.58 ' See footnote ' on previous page. * Figures for 15 May 1925. * Leg of lamb. * Rye bread. * Figures for 15 March 1925. ' 1 E. Mk = 1.38 Swiss centimes or 0.27 American cent. — TABLE XIII. INDEX NUMBERS OF COMPARATIVE REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS CITIES AT 1 JULY 1925 • (Base : London = 100) General General average average Southern Scandina- Overseas Index num- index numbers based bers with Enropean vian countries countries eoiintries tni M allowances onl; for rent Index numbers based on quantities of lood consumption In City Amsterdam Berlin Brussels Copenhagen Lisbon* Lodz London Madrid Milan Oslo Ottawa Philadelphia Prague Rome Stockholm Sydney Tallinn (Esthonia) Vienna 3 Warsaw Belgium and France Central European countries Creai tritai» 84 58 56 84 34 52 100 56 45 75 157 177 47 45 69 138 33 37 46 86 74 56 105 34 59 100 59 49 82 167 172 51 46 74 135 41 48 55 78 58 53 87 31 48 100 47 43 75 162 182 46 43 72 146 34 40 41 83 59 53 87 32 54 100 53 47 77 154 178 47 47 71 142 34 39 47 88 69 58 108 26 61 100 54 49 91 173 195 51 46 88 130 40 48 55 84 63 54 94 33 58 100 52 46 80 174 192 48 46 79 146 38 44 51 84 64 55 94 32 55 100 54 47 80 165 183 48 46 76 140 37 43 49 84 63 59 97 — 61 100 — 50 82 148 183 52 49 74 140 38 47 51 1 These index numbers are subject to the important reservations indicated in the text. * The figures for Lisbon, as well as those for Rome and Milan, are relelatively low. This may be accounted for in part by the differences in the items of food consumption in the Southern countries from those ordinarily consumed in most of the other countries included in this table. The budgets used in the comparisons do not make adequate allowance for the vegetable3 consumption in the Southern European countries. Based on a weighted average wage. For other cities an unweighted average of the wages given in Table XI has been used. TABLE XIV. INDEX NUMBERS OF COMPARATIVE REAL WAGES IN DIFFERENT CITIES AT VARIOUS DATES (Base : London, 1 July 1924 = 100) City Amsterdam Berlin Brussels Copenhagen Lisbon Lodz London Madrid Milan Oslo Ottawa Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome Stockholm Sydney Tallinn (Esthonia) Vienna Warsaw 1 July 1924 1 Oct. 1924 89 55 59 80 59 51 — 32 — 100 57 46 72 173 73 214 56 46 81 — — — 47 1 Jan. 1 April l July1 1925 1925 1925 95 45 47 76 154 70 208 54 45 75 137 76 57 52 80 38 48 92 52 41 75 155 66 203 54 44 74 143 — — 44 43 — 27 — 44 — 85 63 55 93 33 50 99 55 45 82 162 65 195 49 45 72 149 _.. 41 46 83 63 54 93 31 54 99 53 46 79 162 — 180 48 45 74 138 36 42 49 1 The figures for Prague, Stockholm, Vienna and Lisbon are not strictly comparable with those for previous dates. In the case of Prague this is due in part to figures of the price of coffee as well as coffee substitute being now available, whereas in the previous calculations the price of coffee substitute only was used. Similarly in Stockholm, Vienna and Lisbon, in the present calculations the price of a superior as well as of an inferior quality of bread has been used in order to ensure a greater degree of comparability between the baskets of provisions for these cities and those used in other countries. The baskets of provisions used hitherto to measure wages in these four cities were inferior to those used in the other countries, with the result that index numbers of real wages were relatively too high. II WAGE CHANGES IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AUSTRALIA The information available for Australia is as follows : (a) Average weekly rates of wages at the end of each quarter compiled separately for (i) adult male workers ; (ii) adult female workers. The figures are generally minimum rates or, where no minimum rates are in force, the union or predominant rate. Figures are given for a number of industrial groups and for the different states of the Commonwealth. The average wage for all industries in each state and for each group in all the states together is calculated by means of a careful system of weighting (table I, males ; table II, females). (b) Detailed statistics of minimum rates of wages in the chief occupations in the capital town in each state are also published. Figures are given in the following tables for Sydney (table III) and for Melbourne (table IV). Index numbers of real wages are also given each case based, as regards tables I and II, on the official index number of the cost of living for the Commonwealth as a whole, and as regards tables III and IV on separate index numbers available for Sydney and Melbourne. It will be seen from tables I and II that real wages, which were roughly equivalent to pre-war wages at the end of 1920, increased considerably in 1921, declined during the years 1922 and the first half of 1923, and slightly increased during 1924. This rise was followed again at the beginning of 1925 by a slight decline on account of the increase in the cost of living. By March 1925 the average weighted real wage index number was 116, compared with April 1914 (— 100). — 32 - The movement of wages of adult female workers (table II) is similar to that of male workers (table I). The level of real wages, however, is somewhat higher in the case of females, being 124 in March 1925 as compared with 116 for males. For those industries in which board and lodging are also supplied (shipping, agriculture, and domestic service), it will be seen that real wages are substantially higher than those in the remaining industries. If these three are left out of account, the range of real wages is fairly uniform in the different industries. The real wage index number is lowest in the mining and building industries (110-112), and highest in the clothing and road transport industries (120). For female workers the highest real wages are in clothing, food and drink (136). The figures in tables III and IV for Sydney and Melbourne show very similar movements to those in table I. It will be seen, however, that the pre-war rates were, for many occupations, somewhat lower in Melbourne than in Sydney, but in latter years this difference has been somewhat reduced. The increases in nominal rates is therefore somewhat higher for Melbourne than for Sydney. Relatively high real wages for labourers are shown for both towns. — 33 — TABLE I. WEIGHTED AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY RATES OF WAGES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES PAYABLE TO ADULT MALE WORKERS FOR A FULL WEEK'S WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN AUSTRALIA, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Nominal rates of wages Industry 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1924 30 April 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. s. Wood, furniture, etc. Engineering Food, drink, etc. Clothing, boots Books, printing, etc. Other manufacturing Building2 Mining Railways, etc. Other land transport Shipping, etc. 3 4 Agriculture, etc. Domestic, etc. Miscellaneous Al! industrial groups 58 57 55 52 63 55 65 65 59 51 48 49 47 53 55 d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 6 95 1 98 2 95 4 99 2 94 9 99 7 0 92 5 98 2 93 10 97 4 97 9 97 5 0 89 3 93 10 91 10 94 2 94 0 94 0 3 86 5 93 3 91 1 93 11 94 2 93 0 3 99 6 104 7 102 9 104 5 107 4 108 3 1 88 11 95 0 91 11 96 2 95 3 95 6 0 95 7 102 5 100 5 103 8 104 3 105 6 1 103 10 105 4 103 8 104 5 103 11 104 2 8 93 1 97 5 93 4 97 8 96 5 96 11 0 87 3 90 2 88 5 92 6 90 0 89 4 10 88 0 101 8 99 9 102 4 98 11 97 10 5 87 1 89 0 83 11 85 8 85 11 85 10 0 80 6 84 2 82 4 84 6 85 9 86 0 7 84 11 91 1 88 8 92 3 92 6 92 2 1 89 10 94 6 91 6 94 4 94 3 94 3 1925 June s. d. 99 97 94 92 107 96 106 104 98 90 99 85 86 92 94 8 9 8 7 9 3 3 11 4 2 2 11 6 4 8 Index numbers of real wages 0 Wood, furniture, etc. Engineering Food, drink, etc. Clothing, boots Books, printing, etc. Other manufacturing Building Mining Railways, etc. Other land transport Shipping, etc. Agriculture, etc. Domestic, etc. Miscellaneous All industrial groups 100 100 100 100 100 1G0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 101 101 101 102 97 101 91 99 97 106 112 109 106 98 101 122 125 124 129 120 126 114 117 119 128 151 130 130 123 125 116 118 119 125 116 119 110 114 111 124 146 121 125 118 119 115 116 116 122 111 118 107 108 111 122 142 117 122 116 116 117 117 117 124 116 118 110 110 111 121 139 119 125 118 117 117 118 118 123 118 119 112 110 112 121 13-{ 120 126 119 118 113 114 115 119 113 117 109 107 110 118 135 116 123 115 115 1 Prices, Purchasing Power of Money, Wayes, etc. ii)20 published by the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, and the Quarterly Summary of Australian Statistics Figures are generally averages for the six principal towns", but in order to make the enquiry a comprehensive one, industries are included which obviously are not carried on in the capital towns, e.g. mining, shipping, agricultural and pastoral. - Average rates of wages prevailing at the principal mining centres. 3 The average rates of wages for occupations other than masters, officers and engineers in the Merchant Marine Service include allowance for value of victualling and accommodation, where provided, at 90s. 8d. per month. 1 Including the estimated value of board and lodging where supplied. 5 In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following index numbers of coat oi living were used, based on data published in the Quarterly Summary of Australian Statistics : Base, second or. 1914 = 100; Dec. 1920 = 161 ; Dec. 1921 = 138; Dec. 1922 = 140; Dec. 1923 = 148; June 1924 - 146; Dec. 1924 = 145; March 1925 147; June 1925 150. 3 — 34 — TABLE II. WEIGHTED AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY RATES OF WAGES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES PAYABLE TO ADULT FEMALE WORKERS FOR A FULL WEEK'S WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN AUSTRALIA, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Nominal rates of wages I ndustry Food, drink, etc. Clothing, boots Other manufacturing 8 Domestic, hotels 3 Shop assistants, clerks, etc. All groups 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1924 1925 April Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. June Dec. June s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 22 24 26 31 30 27 6 9 11 1 2 2 41 43 44 46 46 44 10 5 0 3 2 6 43 48 48 48 50 48 9 7 0 6 0 8 43 47 47 48 48 47 3 10 4 3 9 11 44 50 48 49 49 49 1 1 10 5 6 6 44 50 49 49 51 50 11 1 5 6 3 0 45 49 49 49 50 49 2 7 6 7 7 7 45 49 49 49 51 49 2 6 5 10 2 8 Index numbers of real wages* Food, drink, etc. Clothing, boots Other manufacturing Domestic, hotels Shop assistants, clerks, etc. All groups 1 100 100 100 100 100 100 116 109 102 93 95 102 141 142 129 113 120 130 137 138 126 111 116 126 132 136 122 107 111 123 See footnote ', table I. * Including wood, furniture, engineering, metal, books, printing, etc. ' Value of board and lodging where provided is included. • See footnote », table I. 137 138 126 109 116 126 139 138 127 110 116 126 134 133 123 107 113 122 — 35 — TABLE HI. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN SYDNEY, 1914 AND 1920-1925 ' Nomina weekly wage rates (male workers) Industry and group of workers 1914 July s. d. 1922 1924 1923 1925 1920 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Metal works Turners Labourers 70 0 480 126 5 106 6 82 0 113 0 85 0 110 0 85 0 108 6 85 0 109 6 85 0 Building Bricklayers Carpenters Labourers 78 0 72 0 60 6 108 0 113 2 ' / s 109 1 110 3 110 0 107 3 103 l'/o 104 0 9 4 5 990 100 10 93 6 113 1 107 4 101 9 113 1 121 0 98 1 113 1 954 113 1 121 0 99 0 Printing (jobbing) Compositors 65 0 105 0 102 0 98 0 99 0 102 0 102 0 102 0 102 0 Textiles (woollens) Spinners 48 0 85 6 82 6 78 6 79 6 82 6 82 6 82 6 82 6 Transport Engine-drivers (1st class) Firemen (1st class) 96 0 66 0 133 0 103 0 130 0 100 0 126 0 96 0 127 0 97 0 130 0 100 0 130 0 100(1 130 0 100 0 130 6 100 6 Miscellaneous Cabinetmakers Bakers 60 0 50 0 104 0 102 6 101 9 100 6 98 1 96 6 990 97 6 102 0 100 6 102 0 100 6 102 0 100 6 102 0 100 6 — 103 3 85 0 107 0 81 0 121 0 Index nu mbers o real we ekly wag;e rates ' Metal works Turners Labourers 100 100 112 Building Bricklayers Carpenters Labourers 100 100 100 • Printing (robbing) Compositors Textiles (woollens) Spinners Transport Engine-drivers (1st class) Firemen (1st class) Miscellaneous Cabinetmakers Bakers 109 127 110 122 109 122 115 126 115 129 113 129 113 128 85 101 94 104 120 107 101 112 103 101 110 103 104 120 106 106 123 118 106 123 115 105 122 119 100 100 113 109 109 112 115 115 114 100 110 124 118 119 123 126 126 123 100 100 86 96 97 109 94 104 94 105 96 108 99 110 99 110 99 110 100 100 107 127 122 145 117 139 119 139 121 144 124 147 124 147 123 146 — 1 Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. The figures are minimum rates quoted from latest award, determination or agreement in force at 30 June or 31 December of each year. ! In calculating the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers have heen used : Nov. 1920 = 162 ; May and Nov. 1922 = 139 ; second and fourth quarter 1923 = 140 ; second quarter 1924 — 137 ; fourth quarter 1924 =-- 137 ; second quarter 1925 -- 138. — 36 — TABLE IV. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN MELBOURNE, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Nominal weekly wage rates (male workers Industry and group of workers 1914 July s. Metal works Turners Labourers Building Bricklayers Carpenters Labourers Printing (jobbing) Compositors Textiles (woollens) Spinners Transport Engine-drivers (1st class) Firemen (1st class) Miscellaneous Cabinetmakers Bakers d. 1924 1922 1923 1925 1920 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June 31 Dec. 30 June s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 6 6 0 122 10 46 6 — 103 8 84 0 106 6 84 0 105 6 81 0 115 6 87 0 109 6 89 6 108 6 850 109 6 84 3 71 6 93 6 69 8 102 8 56 10 82 6 110 0 102 8 97 2 110 0 102 8 945 1100 114 6 93 6 110 0 124 8 105 5 110 0 118 3 98 1 110 0 117 4 97 2 110 0 66 0 96 0 106 0 106 0 106 0 106 0 115 6 115 6 110 0 50 0 79 0 85 0 85 0 850 850 850 850 850 87 0 57 0 123 0 96 0 123 0 96 0 123 0 96 0 117 0 93 0 117 0 93 0 117 0 93 0 122 6 98 6 132 0 102 0 600 76 0 93 6 120 0 101 6 120 0 101 6 120 0 101 6 120 0 101 6 120 0 112 0 120 0 1120 12J 0 105 0 120 0 118 3 98 1 Index nti mbers o real weekly wage rates 2 Metal works Turners Labourers Building Bricklayers Carpenters Labourers Printing (jobbing) Compositors Textiles (woollens) Spinners Transport Engine-drivers (1st class) Firemen (1st class) Miscellaneous Cabinetmakers Bakers 1 100 100 108 — 108 124 113 126 107 116 117 126 113 131 113 126 113 123 100 100 100 76 85 84 105 101 117 107 102 115 103 109 111 103 120 124 105 116 118 106 116 118 105 116 118 100 84 110 112 107 108 119 121 114 100 91 116 118 113 114 116 117 116 100 100 82 97 97 115 98 117 89 109 90 109 91 111 97 119 107 128 100 100 90 91 116 108 117 110 113 105 113 106 127 107 129 109 119 107 See footnote ', table III. In calculating the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Nov. 1 9 2 0 = 173; May 1922= 146; Nov. 1922 = 144; second quarter 1923= 150; fourth quarter 1923 = 149; second quarter 1924 = 147; fourth quarter 1924 = 145; second quarter 1925 •- 147. 2 — 37 — AUSTRIA The statistics of wages in Austria relate almost entirely to the city of Vienna, but as the capital city is of fundamental importance in the economic life of the country, the statistics may be regarded as affording some general indication of the movement of wages in the country as a whole. In the following tables are given : (a) Weekly wage rates in the most important occupations in Vienna published each month by the Austrian Government in Statistische Nachrichten. These figures are generally the predominant wage rate for a 48-hour week. In some cases, however, the rates are minimum rates and actual wages are often higher (table I). (b) Monthly salaries of the various grades of state officials and of banking and clerical workers published regularly in Statistische Nachrichten. Bonuses and family allowances are not included in the figures (tables II and III). (c) Monthly wage rates for various groups of agricultural workers in Lower Austria for 1922-1925, published in Arbeit und Wirtschaft, the organ of the Viennese Chamber of Labour (table IV). It should be noted that from the beginning of 1925 wages are expressed in " Schillinge ", the new Austrian currency unit. (One schilling = 10,000 paper crowns). It should also be noted that the data for 1914 are generally minimum wage rates and the rates actually in force were in most cases considerably higher. The figures for post-war years, however, are in many cases wage rates which were actually applied, though also fixed as "minimum rates '' \ The index numbers of real wages calculated from these figures show, therefore, a too favourable situation. Moreover, the cost-ofliving index numbers in Austria are calculated on the basis of a post-war consumption budget, which differs somewhat from a prewar workers' budget. If calculations could be made on the basis of post-war prices of articles usually consumed before the war, the index number of real wages would be somewhat lower than those givei' in the table s. 1 Comparisons from industry to industry should therefore only he made •with extreme caution ; moreover, some workers in a number of industries are or were entitled to special bonuses and allowances which are not included in the figures. 2 In view of the rapid rise in the cost of living in Austria after the war, the cost-of-living index number used for the calculation of real wages is not — 38 — It will he seen from table I that more stable conditions prevailed in Austria since the stabilisation of the Austrian crown at the end of 1922. The movement of prices during 1923 and 1924, though slightly rising, showed no abrupt fluctuations, and the readjustment of wages to the cost of living presented no great difficulties ; real wages, therefore, which during the period of rapidly-rising prices fell far below the pre-war level, showed a steady upward movement. At the end of 1923 real wages had reached the pre-war level in many occupations. During 1924 this level was attained by nearly all industrial workers. At the beginning of 1925 a further improvement in real wages took place, due to a rise in nominal wages combined with a slight fall in the cost of living, though great variations are still to be found from one industry to another. In the textile industry in particular real wages are very low, while in the building industry they are exceptionally high. It will be noticed also that unskilled workers attained the prewar level of real wages generally before the skilled workers in the same industry and the latest figures show that their real wages are considerably higher than those of skilled workers. As regards table II, which shows the monthly salaries of state officials, it will be seen that their real wage level though increasing, remains still far below that of 1914, especially for the higher-grade officials. As regards the salaries of clerical and banking employees, table III shows that, during 1923 and the beginning of 1924, real wages moved in general similarly to those of workers engaged in industry ; they steadily and substantially rose. Amongst occupations given in the table, the greatest increase was experienced by bank officials, their real wages in March 1924 being about 40 per cent, higher than in the corresponding month of 1923, whilst the smallest was experienced by clerical workers in the building industry, for which the figures show only a rise of about 20 per cent. During the last three quarters of 1924 increases of nominal wages have in general strictly corresponded to that of the cost of living, and real wages of clerical workers have therefore remained remarkably stable. that for the period when wages were received, but for the period when wages were usually spent, i.e. one week later. As the published cost-of-living index numbers related to the 15th of the month and wages to the end of the month, it was necessary to estimate the cost of living for the first week of the following month. This was obtained, e.g. for October, by taking onethird of the September index plus two-thirds the October index. — 39 — As regards the figures for agricultural workers in table IV, no comparable figures are available for 1914. It will be seen, however, that nominal wages have increased from 1922 to 1925 by over 40 per cent. In addition to these money wages, payments in kind are included in certain cases, for which no allowance is made. Further details concerning the movement of wages in Austria from 1914 to 1924, especially in relation to the workers' standard of living, will be found in the Report recently issued by the International Labour Office on workers' standard of living in countries with depreciated currencies '. i Í\TERNATIOPÍ.\L LABOUR OFFICE : Workers' Countries with Depreciated Currencies. Studies i Wages a n d Hours of W o r k ) , No. 15, 1925. Standard of and Reports. Life in Series D — 40 — TABLE I. ¡a) NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND (b) INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES IN VIENNA 1914 AND 1920-1925' (a) Nominal Weekly Rates Industry and occupation Metal industry Skilled Unskilled Women Building Bricklayers Carpenters Painters Labourers Women Wood industry Joiners (skilled) joiners (unskilled) Women (unskilled) Printing and bookbinding Printers (skilled) Bookbinders (specialists) „ (skilled) Textiles and clothing Weavers Trimmers Tailors (men's highest class) Tailors (men's lowest class) Tailors (ladies' highest class) Dressmakers (highest class) Leather industry Skilled (men high grade) Stitchers (women highest class) Chemical industry Skilled workers Unskilled workers Miscellaneous Drivers Shop managers Shop assistants 1914 1920 Dec. Dec. | Dec. June Dec. June Dec. | June Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 28 21 14 1411 1301 662 34 37 38 252 15 898 907 902 864 30 23» 16 1248 412 816 29 27 — 1140 17,424 297,948 328,487 383,467 474,648 550.000 57.18 — 277,385 305,816 353,987 413,463 482,900 49.74 16,222 261,550 288,358 333,779 389,859 455,400 46.90 242 — 825 — 178,664 200,410 210,450 220,560 236,000 24.30 11,330 248,400 285,950 320,264 336,000 360,000 37.08 40 1436 15,224 318,830 389,020 502,780 582,600 642,600 62.24 27 —. — 234,984 286,720 356,320 412,900 455,400 45.53 46 1462 15,572 318,846 387,112 502,896 582,768 642,800 64.32 26 1110 _ 36 1702 — 337,154 378,791 416,670 477,600 511,700 51.17 22 994 — 222,676 260,176 285,194 345,300 370,000 37.00 36' 18' _ — — 292,800 332,640 350,400 367,200 401,000 42.72 — 243,024 276,091 280,400 304,800 336,000 35.52 28 s 31 27 — — 28 — 720 — • 1921 | 1922 Kr. 1923 1924 1925 Sch. 11,041 218,016 256,896 340,800 340,800 408,000 40.80 9,972 206,208 243,684 283,200 283,200 340,000 34.08 — 115,920 138,176 153,600 153,600 182,000 18.24 18,000 355,680 433,440 430,560 — 373,440 455,520 452,640 — _ 463,200 456,960 16,270 287,520 350,880 348,000 195,360 238,080 236,640 — 543,360 571,200 576,000 439,200 298,560 635,500 668,000 657,600 513,600 349,000 68.16 72.96 76.80 52.80 36.00 19,920 255,552 281,000 331,152 379,632 410,500 44.05 — 202,560 222,816 262,512 300,960 325,500 32.55 — 153,600 168,960 199,008 217,296 246,800 24.67 192,000 234,336 302,880 350,976 387,200 38.40 297,000 331,000 386,000 480,000 545,000 56.50 - 300,000 334,000 389,000 483,000 548,000 56.80 — 295,000 329,000 384,000 478,000 543,0U0 56.30 1 The figures for the years 1914, 1920 and 1922 have been taken in general from Mitteilungen der Statistischen Zentralkommission, 1921 and 1923. Those for 1921 are from Report No. 1 of the Ministry of Social Administration, presented to the International Labour Office. Those for 1923-1925 are from Statistisch? Nachrichten, 1923-1925. 1 Figure communicated to the International Labour Office by Dr. B. Kautsky, Secretary of the Viennese Arbeilerkammer. ' Figure obtained by multiplying the hourly rate by 54. TABLE I (cont.) (b) Index Numbers of Real Wages ' Industry and occupation Metal industry Skilled Unskilled Women Building Bricklayers Carpenters Painters Labourers Women Wood industry Joiners (skilled) Joiners (unskilled) Women Printing and Bookbinding Printers (skilled) Bookbinders (specialists) Bookbinders (skilled) Textiles and Clothing Weavers Trimmers Tailors (men's highest class) Tailors (men's lowest class) Tailors(ladies'higheslclass) Dressmakers (highest class) Leather industry Skilled (men high grade) Stickers (women highest class) Chemical industry Skilled workers Unskilled workers Miscellaneous Drivers Shop managers Shop assistants 1920 1921 1922 Dec. Dec. Dec. June Dec. June Dec. June lf.0 100 100 69 86 65 64 77 83 104 88 83 104 89 105 116 95 98 109 88 106 118 95 105 117 94 100 100 100 100 100 36 35 33 49 86 111 107 122 138 115 111 109 12ò 143 109 106 104 120 136 129 124 122 142 160 136 131 126 150 169 144 142 145 152 173 100 i(0 100 58 108 63 — — 90 93 102 84 87 93 95 99 107 102 105 109 100 It 3 112 102 111 100 28 69 77 101 103 72 95 96 81 105 107 93 115 116 98 121 123 100 124 125 75 92 88 96 76 81 76 99 109 114 94 101 74 97 117 123 102 109 72 94 117 123 102 108 73 95 112 120 101 106 1914 100 100 — — — 106 — — 58 97 40 50 66 62 1923 — 1925 1924 ioe 44 55 to — 79 94 85 92 74 78 100 65 — 99 95 100 100 104 102 100 63 — 107 106 112 126 122 121 100 100 _ — - 86 143 83 138 84 139 82 136 81 136 86 142 100 100 100 _ — 113 103 116 106 97 110 119 108 123 138 126 143 142 124 146 145 132 150 100 100 100 100 100 100 _ — ' I n calculating the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers which have been calculated by the International Labour Office for the period during which the wages are supposed to have been spent (i.e. the first week of the following month, as the wage data refer to the last week of each month). Base : July 1914 = 1 ; December 1920 = 72 ; December 1921 = 617 ; December 1922 = 9,428 ; June 1923 = 11,106; December 1923 = 11,576; June 1924 =-= 12,408; December 1924 = 13,731 ; June 1925 = 139. IThe lastmentioned index number is based on schilling prices.) TABLE K. NOMINAL MONTHLY SALARIES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL SALARIES OF STATE OFFICIALS IN VIENNA, 1914, 1923, and 1924 ' Nominal monthly salaries State officials High grade (University standard) Intermediate grade Low grade 1 1914 1923 (June) 1924 (July) Kr. Kr. Kr. 333 263 148 1,822,046 1,633,821 1,463,625 2,705,000 2,220,000 1,746,000 Index numbers of real salaries "• 1914 June 1923 July 1924 100 100 100 49 56 90 65 68 96 Statistische Nachrichten. "In converting the nominal salaries into real salaries, the following index numbers of cost of living were used, June 1923 = 11513; July 1924 = 12391. 42 TABLE III. (a) NOMINAL MONTHLY SALARIES AND (b) INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL SALARIES OF CLERICAL STAFFS IN VIENNA IN 1923, 1924 AND 1925 (a) Nominal Monthly Salaries ' 1923 Occupations Bank officialsì ^ Large firms High grade males (15 years' service) High grade females (15 years' service) Low grade (20 years' service) Small firms High grade (7 years' service) Low grade (7 years' service) Clerks in social insurance institutions ' Highest grade (10 years' service) High grade (10 years' service) Intermediate grade (10 years' service) Low grade (10 years' service) Commercial clerks (a) Association of Viennese merchants 8 . During the first 6 months' service 5 years' service (b) Association of commercial undertakings ». During the first 6 months' service 6 years' service Clerks in building industry® (a) Administrative staff Secretaries (female) Bookkeepers (males) Bookkeepers (females) Clerks (males) (b) Technical staff Architects Engineers 1 1924 1925 March June Dec. March June Sept. Dec. Dec. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Sch. 1,799,200 2,429,165 2,759,692* 2,947,5335 3,210,394« 3,273,800' 3,273,800* 327,35 1,644,458 2,220,248 2,522,349* 2,694,037"» 2,932,623« 2,990,543^ 2,990,500* 299,0: 1,390,147 1,914,043 2,258,113* 2,411,815» 2,626,922« 2,626,922' 2,678,800* 267,8! 1,395,729 1,567,997 2,142,914* 2,273,2035 2,580,600« 2,720,145» 2,930,500* 1,116,583 1,267,026 1,529,695* 1,638,3005 2,064,480» 2,232,1165 2,295,000* 1,746,976 1,982,400 2;426,720 2,831,810 2,946,300 3,123,200 3,249,700 373,2^ 1,659,626 1,883,280 2,295,280 2,678,420 2,786,700 2,954,000 3,073,700 346,4( 1,484,928 1,685,040 2,032,390 2,371,567 2,467,600 2,615,700 2,721,600 303,41 1,397,580 1,585,920 1,900,940 2,218,250 2,308,000 2,446,500 2,545,600 287,3( 496,004 591,454 627,000 652,700 691,900 719,900 892,583 1,064,347 1,129,000 1,174,600 1,245,100 1,295,500 70,5: 126,91 567,321 707,532 753,747 879,600 915,100 960,900 999,800 1,134,642 1,427,702 1,520,999 1,774,700 1,846,400 1,938,700 2,017,300 99,5 200,8 437,111 786,601 1,123,633 1,437,929 1,283,251 1,316,908 1,274,894 1,631,500 1,456,000 1,494,188 1,246,336 1,594,954 1,423,386 1,460,718 1,536,164 1,931,632 1,738,469 1,800,164 1,566,800 1,970,200 1,773,200 1,836,100 1,694,000 2,353,400 1,917,200 1,985,200 1,762,000 2,475,000 1,994,000 2,066,000 — — — — 1,571,840 1,783,438 1,743,489 2,148,649 2,191,600 2,369,500 2.465,000 2,148,300 2,437,500 2,382,900 2,936,655 2,995,300 3,238,600 3,369,000 260,0 330,0 Figures from Statistisclie Nachrichten. Bonuses and allowances are not included in the figures. • Bank employees are entitled to four special allowances per year ; their earnings per year are therefore eq to about3 15-16 monthly salaries. These figures refer to the month of August. » These figures refer to the month of November. 5 These figures refer to the month of January. " These figures refer to the month of May. ' In addition these employees are entitled to various allowances (Christmas bonus, etc.) ; their actual yea salary is about equal to 15 monthly salaries. ' In addition these employees receive twice a year a special bonus equal to one month's salary. * In addition these employees receive four times per year a special bonus equal to 75 per cent, of the mont salary in which the bonus is paid. Moreover they generally receive commissions on sales,; etc., the amount of wt it is difficult to estimate. 10 In 1923 these employees received a Christmas bonus equal to the month's salary for November. — 43 — TABLE III (cont.) (b) Index Numbers of Real Monthly Salaries ' 1923 1924 1925 Occupations Atarch June Dec. March June Sept. Dec. Dec. Bank officials Large firms High g r a d e males (15 y e a r s ' service) High g r a d e females (15 y e a r s ' service) Low g r a d e (20 y e a r s ' service) 100 119 138 139 145 140 136 134 100 100 119 122 138 147 139 147 145 154 140 145 136 144 135 143 Small firms High grade (7 years' service) Low grade (7 years' service) 100 100 99 100 139 123 138 125 150 150 150 154 157 154 100 100 100 100 125 124 137 136 137 137 138 137 139 138 159 155 100 100 100 100 123 123 136 135 135 134 135 135 137 136 151 153 100 100 100 100 122 122 121 122 121 121 122 122 123 123 119 119 100 100 111 112 120 121 131 132 131 133 130 132 131 133 130 131 (a) Secretaries (females) B o o k k e e p e r s (males) B o o k k e e p e r s (females) Clerks ( m a l e s ! 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 118 116 117 118 113 113 112 113 116 126 115 116 117 128 116 117 (b) Technical staff Architects Engineers 100 100 100 100 1O0 100 118 118 113 113 116 116 117 117 Clerks in social insurance institutions Highest grade (lOyears' service) High grade (10 years' service) Intermediate grade (10 years' service) Low grade (10 years' service) Commercial — clerks (a) Association of Viennese chants. D u r i n g the first 6 m o n t h s ' service 5 y e a r s ' service mer- (b) Association of commercial u n dertakings. During the first 6 m o n t h s ' service 6 y e a r s ' service Clerks in building industry 122 114 1 In converting the nominal monthly salaries into index numbers of real salaries, the official cost-oiliving index numbers have been used ; the base has been shifted to March 1923 = 100. The figures obtained are as follows : June 1923 = 113 ; Sept. 1923 = 107 ; Dec. 1923 = 111 ; March 1924 = 118 ; June 1924 = 123 : Sept. 1924 = 130; Dec. 1924 = 134; Dec. 1925 .-= 135. — 44 — TABLE IV. NOMINAL MONTHLY WAGE RATES WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN LOWER AUSTRIA, I922-I925 ' Nominal monthly wage rates Kronen -000 omitted * Groups 1922 Sept. 1923 Sept. 1924 Sept. 1925 1 Apr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 494-585 554-657 672-797 705-843 Skilled workers 588 462 Horse drivers 411 561 460 361 Cattle drovers 322 438 Dairy h a n d s : 578 411 462 561 Males 451 322 Females 361 438 18 Day labourers (over 18 years) 13 14 18 Index numbers Sept. 1922 = 100 1923 Sept. 1924 Sept. 1925 1 Apr. 1123 136» 137 136 1443 112 112 112 112 108 137 136 188 141 140 138 143 143 1 The figures are taken from Arbeit und Wirtschaft, No. 13, 1925. 'J Money wages only ; value of payments in kind is not included. Based on the mean rate of wages. BELGIUM Little information is available as to the movement of wages in Belgium. The information used in this report is as follows : (a) The hourly rate of wages paid in Brussels in 18 occupations in certain industries These are communicated to the International Labour Office each month by the Belgian Ministry of Labour and published int the International Labour Review. From this data, weekly rates have been calculated by multiplying the figures for 1914 by 54 and the figures for 1923, 1924 and 1925 by 48 (table I). (b) Figures are published at irregular intervals showing the average nominal daily earnings of miners in the South Belgian coalfield. Those for the year 1913 to 1923 are published in the Annales des Mines de Belgique. Those for 1924 are being specially communicated to the International Labour Office, and those for 1925 have been calculated according to the percentage wage reductions announced as taking effect from 1 January and 1 March (table II). No complete figures are published for Belgium showing tho changes in the cost of living since 1914. The published index numbers relate to 1921 as a basis. In the case of table I the base period has been shifted to March 1923, as this is the first date for — 45 — which wage figures are available. In the ease of table JI, the real wage index numbers are based on 1921 = 100. Moreover, these cost-of-living index numbers relate to Belgium as a whole, and the real wage index numbers for Brussels in table I and South Belgium in table II can therefore be taken as only approximate. It will be seen from table I that nominal weekly rates increased most among cabinetmakers, carpenters and joiners, whose rates were seven times greater in 1925 than in 1914. Among printing workers, however, nominal rates were only about 5 times pre-war rates, and in the engineering trade between 5 and 6 times. Real wages slightly declined during 1923 and the first quarter of 1924, especially in the building trade ; they increased again in f he second quarter of 1924, especially in the engineering and printing trades, but slightly declined during the remainder of the year. In the first quarter of 1925 a slight increase was experienced, with one or two exceptions, in all occupations. As regards the mining industry, wages increased roughly in proportion to the cost of living in 1922 and improved still further in 1923. In 1924 a slight reduction was experienced. Reductions of 6 per cent, on 1 January 1925, and a further 6 per cent, on 1 March 1925, considerably reduced rates of wages in the first quarter of the year, and by March real wages had declined considerably. compared with previous years. — 46 — TABLE I. WEEKLY WAGE RATES WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN BRUSSELS IN 1914, 1923, 1924, and 1925' Nominal weekly wage rates Industry and occupation Building trades Bricklayers Carpenters Joiners Plumbers Painters Labourers Engineering trades Fitters Ironmoulders (hand) Patternmakers Turners Labourers Furniture trades Cabinetmakers Printing and Bookbinding trades Hand compositors s Machine compositors 5 Machine minders Bookbinders Building trades Bricklayers Carpenters Joiners Plumbers Painters Labourers Engineering trades Fitters Ironmoulders (hand) Patternmakers Turners Labourers Furniture trades Cabinetmakers Printing and Bookbinding trades Hand compositors Machine compositors Machine minders Bookbinders 1914 1923 15 Aug. 15 June 15 Dec. francs francs francs 24.30 150.00 150.00 24.30 162.00 160.80 24.30 156.00 165.60 22.95 138.00 147.60 24.30 132.00 126.00 20.25 108.00 102.00 1924 15 June francs 162.00 175.70 177.60 153.60 138.00 102.00 28.08 122.40 146.40 153.50 28.08 127.20 145.44 152.64 32.40 169.92 210.72 221.28 28.08 132.00 149.28 156.96 17.82 92.16 105.60 112.80 1925 15 Dec. francs 164.40 182.40 188.40 153.60 150.00 123.60 IS Marcii 15 June 164.40 182.40 188.40 156.00 150.00 123.60 francs 170.40 182.40 183.60 156.00 150.00 123.60 144.96 144.96 — 157.92 180.00 180.00 158.40 158.40 109.92 109.92 144.96 157.92 180.00 158.40 109.92 francs 27.00 144.00 165.60 177.60 194.40 194.40 194.40 36.60 36.60 36.60 34.87 141.00 153.00 147.00 138.00 149.00 172.00 161.00 184.00 155.00 178.00 146.00 169.00 I ndex nutubers of 184.50 175.50' 197.50 187.50» 184.50 175.503 181.50 188.50» real wages* 175.50 187.50 175.50 188.50 — 101 101 101 101 101 101 87 77 92 93 97 82 93 93 98 96 105 81 85 88 94 86 103 88 86 88 95 88 104 89 92 91 95 91 92 92 101 101 101 101 101 104 99 108 98 100 108 103 112 103 105 91 — — — 82 93 92 92 97 83 94 83 95 100 85 97 96 — 101 100 106 105 105 109 — — — — 104 104 104 104 95 94 94 95 109 106 107 109 105 102 100 105 100 98 96 110 103 102 99 114 — . — 1 These figures have been calculated from hourly rates communicated to the International Labour Office by multiplying the latter by 54 for 1914 and by 48 for post-war years. 2 a Book and job. April 1925. 4 In the calculation of the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Base (shifted) March 1923 = 100 ; June 1923 = 99 ; Dec. 1923 = 115; June 1924=116; Dec. 1924 = 129; March 1925 = 128; June 1925 — 124. — 47 — TABLE II. AVERAGE NOMINAL DAILY EARNINGS WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN SOUTH BELGIAN 1 COAL MINES, 1920-1925« Index numbers of real earnings 3 (1921 = 1001 Average daily earnings Categories of workers Hewers All u n d e r g r o u n d workers Surface w o r k e r s All w o r k e r s (underg r o u n d and surface) 1913 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 Oct. 1925 March francs 6.54 francs 28.36 francs 28.65 ¡raies 25.34 Irenes 31.99 francs 37.20 5.76 3.65 24.59 16.98 24.98 17.37 22.41 15.42 28.25 19.21 32.92 22.07 5.17 22.20 22.52 20.13 25.35 29.69 1922 1923 1924 Oct. 1925 March francs 32.87 95 103 97 85 29.09 20.98 97 96 104 102 99 95 86 89 96 104 99 1 1ncluding the following districts : Couchant de Mons, Centre, Charleroi, Namur, Liège and Hainaut. 'Figures from Annales des Alines de Belgique, 1924. The figures for 1924 have been communicated to the International Labour Office ; those for 1925 have been calculated according to wage reductions made in 3 In calculating th index numbei s of rea 1 earnin äs the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Base 1921 = 100; 1 )22 = 93 ; 1923 == 109; 0ct. 1924 == 134; March 1925 = 136. BULGARIA Information as to wages in Bulgaria is only available for bricklayers, general labourers, and ploughmen for certain towns and districts. The figures for the most important districts are given in the following table, together with the index numbers of real wages. The latter are only approximate, as they are based on the incomplete cost-of-living index number covering chiefly foodstuffs, fuel and light. The figures show somewhat irregular movements, but it will be seen that, generally speaking, real wages increased from June 1922 to June 1923 ; since when they have declined. In Sofia, the index number of real wages of bricklayers was about 112 in June 1923, as compared with 100 in June 1914. Real wages then declined each quarter to the end of 1924, when they fell to 75 per cent, of their pre-war level. This decline was followed by an increase at the beginning of 1925. In March of this year the index number of real wages was 94 as compared with 100 in 1914. In Plovdiv real wages reached their maximum in September 1924, being 148 per cent, of their pre-war level, but fell fairly rapidly to 95 per cent, in June 1925. The real wages of general labourers have remained throughout the period below those of bricklayers. with one or two exceptions — contrary to the experience of most other countries. — 48 — TABLE SHOWING NOMINAL DAILY WAGES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN BULGARIA, 1914, AND 1922-1925• Nominal Daily Wages Occupation and district Bricklayers Sofia Plovdiv Bourgas Ordinary labourers Sofia Plovdiv Bourgas 1914 1922 June June 1923 March June March June Dec. March June levas levas levas levas levas levas levas levas levas 1924 1925 5.13 124.38 140.00 140.00 140.00 140.00 120.00 150.00 150. CO 5.00 130.00 130.00 150.00 170 00 180.00 180.00 150.00 150.00 5 00 100.00 150.00 180.00 120.00 140.00 120.00 100.00 100.00 2.81 4.50 3.50 74.13 70.00 60.00 6.00 8.00 150.00 150.00 150.00 150 00 180.00 150.00-2 136.67 150.00 120.00 150.00 200 00 185.00 180.00 200.00 200.00 250.00 60.00 60.00 65.00 60.00 60.00 60.00 70.00 70.00 75.00 80 00 80.00 100 00 100 00 100.00 80.00 70.00 70.00 80.00 100.00 80.00 80.00 Ploughmen with two oxen Pleven Stara Zagora Index numbers of real wages5 Bricklayers Sofia Plovdiv Bourgas 100 100 100 109 117 90 108 103 118 115 127 152 108 135 95 103 136 106 78 120 80 94 66 64 92 95 63 Ordinary labourers Sofia Plovdiv Bourgas 100 100 100 119 70 77 84 53 73 90 66 121 85 66 113 81 67 108 83 59 76 80 57 73 79 70 72 Ploughmen with two oxen Pleven Stara Zagora 100 100 113 68 99 74 106 106 99 92 114 85 83 83 73 80 79 99 1 Bulletin statistique mensuel de ¡a Direction générale de ¡a statistique du Royaume de Bulgarie, 1924 and 1925. 'Figure for November. 1 In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers (chiefly foodstuffs, and fuel and light) have been used : Base 1914 = 100 ; June 1922 = 2,222 ; March 1923 = 2,535 ; June 1923 = 2,366; March 1924 = 2,519; June 1924 = 2,639; Dec. 1924 = 3,010; March 1925 - 3,127; June 1925= 3,171. CANADA The information available for Canada is as follows : (a) Average weekly rates of wages for various categories of workers in different industries and occupations and in different localities are published by the Department of Labour at approximately annual intervals in supplements to the Canadian Labour Gazette. They relate in general to September of each year. The figures have been calculated by the International Labour Office by multiplying the hourly rates by the number of hours worked per — 49 — week, except in the case of coal-miners, in which the figures are based on daily wages. The figures as published are given in great detail for different occupations and different towns, but as no costof-living index figures are available for these areas, it is not possible to calculate real wages (table I). (b) Index numbers of nominal rates of wages are published by the Department of Labour in the same source as indicated above (table I). These index numbers of wage rates are given as published by the Canadian Government, hut index numbers of real wages have been added and have been calculated by using an index number of the cost of living, based on food, heat and light, and rent. It is, therefore, not a complete measure of changes in the cost of living, and the resultant real wage figures are therefore only approximate (table II). (c) Monthly summer wages and annual wages for agricultural labourers are also published by the Department of Labour, and are given for the years 1914 and 1920-1923 in table III. (d) Rates of wages for municipal workers (policemen, firemen and labourers) in Quebec, Ottawa, and Vancouver are given in table rv. For firemen and policemen the figures are annual rates. and for labourers weekly rates (table IV). (e) The average hourly rates payable in the principal occupations in building, engineering, furniture, and printing in Ottawa are communicated by the Canadian Department of Labour to the International Labour Office each month, and published in the International Labour Review. These figures are given in table V for March 1923 to June 1925, during which period no change took place. The hourly rates have been multiplied by 48 (table V). It will be seen from table I that weekly rates for the same occupation differ considerably from one locality to another, and the index of nominal wages also shows very considerable differences. In 1924 the highest increases were shown for coal-miners in Nova Scotia, whose nominal rates were more than double those of September 1913. The lowest rates for builders' labourers were from 20-30 per cent. (Toronto 75 per cent.) above those for 1913. No real wages are calculated for these figures for the reason given above. A better view of the movement is given in table II, which gives the average of the wage rates given in table I for different industries. It will be seen that real wages appear about equal to prewar wages in 1920, considerably increased in 1921, remaining 4 — 50 — fairly stationary at about 20 per cent, above pre-war level till 1924 when they rose to about 123. The greatest increases were experienced in the printing and coal-mining industries and electric railways, the smallest by steam railways and the building trades. The figures for agricultural labourers shown in table III do not give statistics of real wages, as no cost-of-living number is available for such workers. It will be seen that monthly summer wages and average annual wages show a decline from 1920 to 1923. followed by a slight rise in 1924. The average money wage for male labour is estimated in 1924 for the whole of Canada at 89 per cent, above 1914, female labour at 123 per cent. These increases in nominal rates are substantially higher than those shown in table II for industrial workers. The figures for municipal workers in Quebec, Ottawa, and Vancouver in table IV covered the period 1920-1924 only, and an estimate of real wages has been calculated by using the cost-of-living index for Canada and by shifting the base of this (incomplete) costof-living index number from 1914 = 100 to'1920 = 100. The resulting figures are therefore only approximate, but it will be seen that real wages, which in 1921 were somewhat lower than those of industrial workers, increased on the whole during the following years, and in 1924 were about 20 to 30 per cent, higher than in 1920 (with the exception of labourers in Ottawa and Vancouver). — 51 — TABLE 1. AVERAGE WEEKLY RATES OF WAGES OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN THE COAL-MINING, METAL, BUILDING, AND PRINTING TRADES, AND ON ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAYS IN FIVE CITIES IN CANADA, 1913 AND 1920-1924 • Occupation and locality Coal-mining Nova Scotia : Contract miners " Drivers Surface labourers Alberta : Contract miners Drivers Surface labourers Vancouver Island i : Contract miners Drivers Surface labourers Metal trades Blacksmiths : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Ironmoulders : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Machinists : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Building trades Bricklayers : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Carpenters : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Builders' labourers: Halifax Montreal Toronto Vancouver 1913 (Sept.) 1920 (Sept.) 1921 (Sept.) 1922 (Sept.) 1923 ~ s/1924_ (Sept.) S $ S S $ t:S 18.42 11.16 9.42 39.30 21.60 19.50 43.32 24.90 22.80 35.64 21.60 19.50 41.04 21.60 19.50 43.50 23.40 21.00 30.00 18.18 14.82 63.78 35.88 31.08 57.42 43.26 39.48 55.02 43.26 39.48 60.00 49.98 43.26,; 37.86 39.48, 34.56 30.18 17-16 16.98 52.20 35.64 32.76 48.60 30.42 27.54 43.38 28.68 25.80 42.84" 42.00 28.32" 28.02 25.44". 25.14 13.38 16.50 16.80 19.25 22.25 37.49 34.84 34.30 37.50 35.86 31.96 32.50 28.20 34.55 35.20 27.02 31.20 27.03 35.00 30.36 28.20 31.20 27.03 35.00 34.54 28.20 31.37 27.03 35.00 34.54 15.75 19.50 16.50 20.62 22.25 36.96 42.38 36.75 36.75 36.30 31.68 31.50 33.08 36.25 35.20 31.68 33.08 31.85 33.00 32.34 31.68 36.45 29.38 30.50 32.78 31.68 30.38 29.38 30.50 33.44 17.25 16.50 16.50 23.00 20.00 38.71 36.40 29.85 34.79 37.40 33.14 37.70 29.38 35.25 35.20 28.91 31.98 28.20 34.30 31.46 30.55 33.28 28.20 35.53 32.56 25.85 32.64 28.20 34.30 32.78 21.60 29.70 24.20 33.60 33.00 33.00 44.00 44.00 55.00 49.72 33.00 44.65 44.00 50.60 46.64 31.90 42.30 44.00 50.60 46.64 39.60 47.00 44.00 48.40 46.64 39.60 47.00 55.00 48.40 49.72 18.90 22.68 19.80 23.75 23.43 34.30 30.24 39.60 44.00 38.28 32.34 31.85 39.60 39.60 35.64 27.44 29.90 35.20 37.40 35.64 25.08 34.58 38.94 37.40 35.64 25.08 36.40 37.40 37.40 39.38 13.50 16.20 13.20 19.25 24.99 22.50 26.40 31.63 22.95 18.20 24.20 28.88 18.20 17.88 23.10 25.85 16.90 22.00 23.10 25.85 16.90 20.63 23.10 25.85 — 52 — TABLE I (cont.) 1913 (Sept.) Occupation and locality Printing trades5 » Hand compositors: Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Cylinder pressmen ' ' Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver Electric street railways Conductors and motormen : Halifax Montreal Toronto Winnipeg Vancouver 1920 1921 (Sept.) (Sept.) 1922 (Sept.) 1923 (Sept.) 1924 $ $ $ $ $ $ 16.00 20.00 21.00 26.00 30.00 32.00 36.00 38.00 46.00 40.50 32.00 36.00 38.00 48.00 40.50 32.00 36.00 38.00 43.70 40.50 32.00 38.00 41.00 42.32 45.00 32.00 38.00 41.00 42.32 45.00 16.00 17.00 20.00 21.00 24.00 27.00 36.00 32.00 44.00 40.50 28.00 36.00 36.00 44.00 40.50 28.00 36.00 36.00 39.60 40.50 28.00 38.00 36.00 39.60 40.50 28.00 38.00 36.00 39.60 42.00 15.00 15.00 16.10 18.36 18-90 30.68 33.00 28.80 30.00 28.80 32.76 28.80 28.80 30.00 31.20 21.61 28.80 28.80 28.00 28.32 28.35 28.80 28.80 28.00 29.76 28.35 30.60 28.80 28.00 29.76 * DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR, CANADA: Wages and Hours of Labour in Canada, 1920-1S24. Report Nos. 1 and 7. The hourly rates if not otherwise stated have been multiplied by the average number of hours per week. 1 Daily wages multiplied by 6 ; the figures for 1913 and 1920 are averages for the year. 3 Average earnings worked on contract. * No figure for Chinese employees included. • Weekly wages. • Newspaper offices. ' Job offices. TABLE II. INDEX NUMBERS OF NOMINAL AND REAL RATES OF WAGES FOR VARIOUS CLASSES OF LABOUR IN CANADA • (1913 — 100) Index numbers of nominal wage rates Index numbers of real wages" Industry Building trades Metal trades Printing trades Electric railways Steam railways Coal mining Average of above Common labour factories 1 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 180.9 209.4 184.0 194.2 186.6 197.7 162.5 173.7 192.3 184.4 155.1 197.8 173.0 166.4 174.0 188.9 186.2 157.4 197.8 178.4 169.7 175.5 191.9 186.4 157.4 192.4 179.3 97 113 99 104 100 106 106 110 121 125 124 107 134 120 111 118 131 125 106 135 120 112 117 127 125 106 133 192.1 170.5 186.8 193.3 192.1 165.3 208.3 186.1 120 116 120 131 128 108 132 123 215.3 190.6 183.0 181.7 183.2 116 123 124 122 125 in Wages and Hours of Labour in Canada, Report No. 7' See footnote ', table I of Introduction. — 53 — TABLE III. ¡a) AVERAGE MONTHLY AND YEARLY WAGES and (b) INDEX NUMBERS OF FARM HELP IN CANADA AS ESTIMATED BY CROP CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DOMINION BUREAU OF STATISTICS 1914 AND 1920-1923' (a) Nominal Wagest Monthly wages in the summer season Provinces and groups of workers Prince Edward Island Males Females Aova Scotia Males Females New Brunswick Males Females Quebec Males Females Ontario Males Females Manitoba Males Females Saskatchewan Males Females Alberta Males Females British Columbia Males Females Canada (average) Males Females Yearly wages 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 $ $ $ $ * $ $ $ $ $ 25 13 60 32 45 27 40 27 43 28 221 136 572 372 460 287 415 295 472 309 31 15 73 38 56 31 50 29 56 32 301 155 735 408 592 352 536 327 555 340 32 15 79 35 54 31 53 32 59 32 302 165 785 391 575 332 520 317 615 364 34 16 86 40 58 32 53 29 59 32 296 152 767 407 559 335 510 306 559 334 32 17 75 44 60 38 57 37 59 39 297 172 736 470 609 418 569 397 597 427 39 22 98 58 79 50 63 43 62 42 364 226 975 559 798 552 640 471 631 459 41 23 102 60 80 51 64 46 65 44 366 1003 235 653 795 556 673 502 652 484 40 24 107 62 78 54 64 45 70 48 365 1038 236 638 746 566 628 482 704 506 48 31 95 63 79 54 75 54 76 53 460 1033 324 742 855 613 849 636 775 640 36 19 86 47 67 59 39 61 39 323 189 821 492 669 449 594 418 611 422 42 1 Wages and Hours of Labour in Canada, Report No. 7. '- Including the estimated value of board and lodging. — 54 — TABLE III (cont.) (b) Index Numbers of Nominal Wages ' Monthly wages in the summer season Provinces and groups oí workers Prince Edward Island Males Females Nova Scotia Males Females New Brunswick Males Females Quebec Males Females Ontario Males Females Manitoba Males Females Saskatchewan Males Females Alberta Males Females British Columbia Males Females Canada (average) Males Females 1 Yearly wages 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 100 100 240 246 180 208 160 208 172 215 100 100 259 274 208 211 188 217 214 227 100 1C0 235 253 181 207 161 193 181 213 100 100 244 263 197 227 178 211 184 219 100 100 247 233 169 207 166 213 184 213 100 100 260 237 190 201 172 192 204 221 100 100 253 250 171 200 156 181 174 200 100 100 259 268 189 220 172 201 189 220 100 100 234 259 188 236 178 218 184 229 100 100 248 273 205 243 192 231 201 248 100 10O 251 264 203 227 162 195 159 191 100 100 268 247 219 244 176 208 173 203 100 100 249 261 195 222 156 200 159 191 100 100 274 278 217 237 184 214 178 206 100 100 268 258 195 225 160 188 175 200 100 100 284 270 204 240 172 204 193 214 100 100 198 203 165 174 156 174 158 171 100 100 225 229 186 189 185 196 168 198 100 10O 239 247 186 221 164 205 169 205 100 100 254 260 204 238 184 221 189 223 Wages and Hoars of Labour in Canada, Report No. 7. — 55 — TABLE IV. WAQE RATES WITH INDEX NUMBERS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF MUNICIPAL WORKERS IN QUEBEC, OTTAWA, AND VANCOUVER, 1920-1924 ' Occupation and locality Iota numbers o! nominal Index munta nl real nages wane ratas (1920 = 1001 (1920 = 100] « Nominal wage rates 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 $ S S S S 1921 1922 1923 1924 1921 1922 1923 1924 firemen 'l Quebec Ottawa Vancouver 1,180.00 1,157.00 1,170.00 1,170.00 1,170.00 98 99 S9 99 109 124 122 124 1,500.00 1,50000 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 100 100 100 100 111 125 123 125 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 100 100 100 100 111 125 123 125 Policemens Quebec Ottawa Vancouver 1,118.00 1,150.00 1,150.00 1,170.00 1,222.00 103 103 105 109 114 129 130 136 1,095.00 1,095.00 1,095.00 1,095.00 1,095.00 100 100 100 100 111 125 123 125 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 1,890.00 1,890.00 100 100 105 105 111 125 130 131 Labourers3 Quebec Ottawa Vancouver4 19.80 25.52 27.66 21.00 22.00 25.36 18.90 22.00 25.36 18.90 22.00 22.72 18.90 106 22.00 86 22.72 92 95 86 92 95 86 82 95 118 119 117 119 86 96 108 106 108 82 102 115 101 103 ' Wages and Hours of Labour in Canada, Bepmi No. H. 1 Maximum yearly rates. 1 Hourly rates multiplied by number of hours per week. 1 Average of two figures. '• In calculating the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers have been •jseá : base (shifted), 1920 = 100 ; 1921 = 90 ; 1922 = 80 ; 1923 = 81 ; 1924 = 80. TABLE V. AVERAGE WEEKLY RATES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS IN OTTAWA, 1923-1925' Occupation Atarch 1923 Jone 1923 $ S ta June 1925 Building trades Masons Carpenters, joiners Plumbers Painters Labourers (general) 40.80 33.60 38.40 31.20 22.80 48.00 36.00 38.40 31.20 19.20 Engineering trades Fitters, turners Labourers 28.80 18.00 28.80 19.20 March 1923 Occupation June 1923 Marcii 1924 July 1924 to to ta Jan. 1924 June 1924 June 1929 S -S S S Furniture trades Cabinetmakers 21.60 26.40 26.40 27.60 Printing and bookbinding Compositors * Hand Machine Machine minders Bookbinders 35.00 .«.00 32.00 34.00 36.52 36.52 33.39 35.48 36.73 36.73 36.73 35.48 36 73 36.73 36.73 35.47« 1 Figures calculated by multiplying the hourly rates, Labour Office) by 48. - Book and job. From July to November 1924, % 33.52. (communicated to the International 56 — CZECHOSLOVAKIA The sources of statistical information available regarding the movement of wages in Czechoslovakia are : (a) The hourly wage rates paid in the principal occupations in Prague, forwarded by the Government to the International Labour Office each month and published in the International Labour Review. A summary of these figures for certain dates in 1923, 1924 and 1925 is given in the following table, together with comparative figures for August 1914. The hourly rates have been multiplied by 54 for 1914 and by 48 for post-war years in order to obtain comparable figures of weekly rates (table I). (b) Daily earnings of different categories of workers in coalmining, published annually by the Statistical Office. Similar figures for before the war are only available for the year 1912 in the Austrian official mining statistics (table II). No complete index number of the cost of living exists for Czechoslovakia, and the real wage index numbers given in the following table have been obtained by using the official unweighted index number of retail prices. They should therefore be used with caution. It will be see from table I that real wage rates were estimated to be considerably below the pre-war level in the year 1923. An improvement took place in the year 1924, and by March 1925 real wages were, with the exception of the printing trade, higher than at any other period covered by the table. Unlike the situation of many other countries, unskilled workers do not appear to have received relatively greater increases than those of skilled workers, the real wage index number for labourers in the building and engineering trades being almost invariably lower than those for skilled workers in these trades. The relative levels of wages in the different industries were far from uniform in 1923, ranging from 44 for turners to 111 for printing compositors. The relatively lower-paid occupations, however, received greater increases than those of the higher-paid, and in 1924 and 1925 the relative level of occupations was much more nearly uniform. TABLE I. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN PRAGUE, 1914 AND 1923-1925• Nominal weekly wage rates Occupation 1914 1924 1923 1 Aug. 1 March I June 1 Dec. 1 March 1 July 1925 1 Sept. 1 Dec. 1 April ljuly Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 27.00 30.78 27.00 21.06 187.20 187.20 192.00 148.80 180.00 155.00 205.00 145.00 195 00 190 00 240.00 150.00 200.00 195.00 240.00 155.00 220.00 225.00 260.00 165.00 220.00 225 00 260.00 165.00 220.00 225 00 270.00 165.00 230.00 245.00 275.00 170.00 237.50 252.50 275.00 175.00 Fitters Ironmoulders Turners Labourers 32.40 30.24 32.40 19.98 192.00 139 20 131.52 105.60 210 00 150 00 135.00 110 00 250 00 220.00 200.00 136.00 255.01 255.01 210.01 140.00 260 00 265.00 245 00 160.00 260.00 265 00 245.00 160.00 260.00 265.00 245.00 160.00 260.00 265.00 240.00 150.00 265.00 265.00 240.00 155.00 Furniture trade Cabinetmakers 25.92 216.00 216.00 216.00 210.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 250.00 255.00 Printing and bookbinding Machine comps. Bookbinders 31.32 26.46 321.60 280.00 280 00 280 00 2H5 01 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 249.60 210 00 210.00 210 00 210.00 210.00 210.00 225.00 222.50 Building trade Masons Carpenters Painters Labourers Engineering trade Index numbers of real \vages * Building trade Masons Carpenters Painters Labourers 100 100 100 100 75 66 77 76 71 54 81 74 79 68 98 78 82 70 98 81 90 80 106 86 90 81 106 86 88 79 108 84 92 86 110 87 - Fitters Ironmoulders Turners Labourers 100 100 100 100 64 50 44 57 69 53 45 59 85 80 68 75 87 93 71 77 88 96 83 88 88 96 83 88 86 94 81 86 87 95 80 81 — Furniture trade Cabinetmakers 100 90 89 92 89 106 106 104 105 — Printing and bookbinding Machine comps. Bookbinders 100 100 111 102 96 85 98 87 98 87 100 87 100 87 98 86 99 92 — Engineering trade 1 The weekly wage rates have been calculated from hourly rates communicated to the International Labour Office by multiplying the latter by 54 for 1914 and by 48 for post-war years. ' In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the official retail price index numbers (chiefly foodstuffs) have been used. Base 1914 = 100; March 1923= 926; June 1923 = 933; Dec. 1923 = 9 0 9 ; March 1924 = 908; July 1924 = 909; Sept. 1924 = 908; Dec. 1924 = 928; March 1925 = 923; for July 1925 no comparable cost-of-living index number has been available. — 58 — TABLE 11. AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF NOMINAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN T H E COAL-MINING INDUSTRY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 1920-1924 > Average daily earnings Categories of workers Coal Lignite 1912 1920 1921 1922 Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 1923 1924 1912 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Underground workers Hewers Drawers Other underground adult workers 4.44 49.06 67.55 62.20 47.35 44.01 3.41 J5.42 50.U6 45.82 35.46 33.00 |5.05 52.47 74.65 67.36 48.83 45.26 All underground workers 3.86 41.91 58.21 53.69 40.93 38.00 4.05 4Í.59 66.33 60.25 44.03 40.70 Surface workers Adult males Females All surface workers 3.59 31.49 44.87 40.82 30.65 28.44 3.70 36.11 52.18 48.47 36.54 33.40 3.32 36.78 54.24 49.39 35.90 32.95 3.80 37.32 54.02 50.08 34.92 34.17 1.47 1868 26.53 24.22 17.83 16.09 1.84 22.14 31.74 29.43 22.24 20.61 2.87 33 72 49.95 46.28 33.82 31.19 3.53 34.83 50.91 47.54 33.65 32.94 Index numbers of nominal earnings Underground workers Hewers Drawers Other underground adult workers 100 100 100 1401 1344 1066 1040 1250 1137 854 1391 1060 1105 15?1 10J9 1468 877 991 968 ¿ 100 1039 1478 1334 967 896 792 100 976 1386 1310 1698 903 1005 All underground workers 100 1086 1508 984 100 1150 1638 1488 1087 Surface workers Adult males Females 100 100 100 ICO 982 1203 1422 1725 All surface 100 1108 1634 1488 1213 992 1271 1805 1648 1081 1U95 1175 1740 1613 1178 1087 100 987 1442 1318 919 899 I5a9 1209 1201 1347 953 933 workers 1 Sources : Rapports de l'Office de Statistique de la République tchécoslovaque (fot 1920-1924), Nos. 25, 40 and 46 ; the figures include family allowances, etc. Statistik des Bergbaaes in Österreich fot 1912. DENMARK Information on wages used in this report in the case (if Denmark is as follows : (a) Average full-time weekly earnings for Copenhagen, the provinces and the whole country, distinguishing male, skilled, unskilled and female workers. These figures are based on official figures published each quarter by the Danish Government. As regards the index numbers of real wages, it should be pointed out that the official Danish cost-of-living index number is calculated — 59 — only twice a year, in Januaiy and July. For the purpose of the calculation, the January index number is used for the wages for the first quarter of the year and for the fourth quarter of the previous year. The real wage index numbers are therefore only approximate, but in view of the slight change in the cost of living during the period, the error is not very great (table I). (b) Similar figures for the separate industries and groups of workers within each industiy are given in table II and taken from the same source (table II). (c) Wages in agriculture are given in table III, which shows the half-yearly wage rates for certain classes of agricultural workers, distinguishing summer rates and winter rates. As these ¡statistics relate to workers who ai*e boarded and lodged by their employers, it is not possible to calculate real wages. Additional figures for certain classes of day labourers, both permanent and casual, are also given in table IV. Taking the country as a whole, it will be seen that since 1921, when nominal earnings reached their highest figure, a downward trend continued up to the first quarter of 1924. After an increase at the end of 1924, the figures have remained fairly stable during the first quarter of 1925. The separate figxires for Copenhagen and the provinces show in general the same movement as that for the whole country. It is interesting to note, however, that in 1914 the earnings in the capital were about 20 per cent, above those in provincial areas, but during the years 1921 to 1925 there has been a tendency to reduce this inequality. In the fourth quarter of 1921 the difference was 18 per cent. ; in the fourth quarter of 1923, 16 per cent. ; and in the first quarter of 1924, 15 per cent. higher in Copenhagen than in the provinces. To some extent this is due to greater increases in the wages of female workers in the provinces than in the capital. On the whole, however, real wages showed, during 1922 and the first half of 1923, a steady decline, and since that date they have remained fairly stable, a slight increase being recorded for the latter half of 1924. The figures for separate occupations which are given in table II show that in every case, with the exception of pottery workers, real wages have been for the whole period above the pre-war level. Money wages of the various categories of agricultural workers. given in table III, rose substantially from 1923 to 1924-1925. especially in the case of head stablemen and head farm hands. — 60 — TABLE I. AVERAGE NOMINAL FULL-TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS GROUPS IN DENMARK, 1914 AND 1920-1925 < Nominal weekly earnings District and groups of workers 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 4th qr. 4th qr. 4th qr. 4th qr. Copenhagen Male workers: Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups Provinces Male workers: Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups Whole Country Male workers: Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups Kr. Kr. 1924 1925 1st qr. 4th qr. lstqr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 36.23 126.24 109.92 25.65 102.72 87.84 17.44 65.28 52.80 29.38 103.68 87.36 92.64 74.88 45.60 73.92 91.20 71.52 43.68 72.00 88.80 69.12 44.64 69.60 96.96 76.32 46.56 76.80 95.52 75.36 46.56 75.84 29.59 104.64 22.03 89.28 13.88 58.56 24.25 '91.20 85.92 77.76 45.60 75.84 72.96 63.36 38.88 62.88 72.00 61.92 38.40 61.92 72.96 61.92 39.84 61.44 76.80 66.24 41.28 66.24 76.80 65.28 41.76 65.76 33.10 116.16 24.57 94.56 15.98 62.88 27.11 97.44 98.40 81 12 49.92 81 12 83.52 67.68 43.20 68.16 82.08 65.28 41.76 66.72 81.60 65 28 42.72 65.76 87.36 70.08 44.64 71.52 86.88 69.60 45.12 71.04 Kr. Index numbers of real weekly earnings (2) Copenhagen Male workers: Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups Provinces Male workers : Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups Whole Country Male workers : Skilled Unskilled Female workers All groups 100 100 100 100 132 152 142 134 143 161 143 140 132 147 132 127 121 133 120 117 117 129 122 113 121 135 121 118 119 133 121 117 100 100 100 100 134 153 160 142 137 167 155 148 125 145 141 131 116 134 133 122 119 134 137 121 118 136 134 124 118 134 136 123 100 100 100 100 133 146 149 136 140 156 147 141 127 139 136 127 119 127 125 118 118 127 128 116 119 129 126 119 119 128 128 119 1 The figures are based on hourly earnings given in the Statistiske Efterretninger, No. 2 14 Feb. 1921; No. 25, 20 Sept. 1923; No. 12, 10 May 1924; No. 5, 20 Feb. 1925; No. 25, 15 August 1925. The full-time weekly earnings given above have been calculated by multiplying the hourly earnings by 54 for 1914 and by 48 for the post-war years. ! The cost-oi-living index numbers used in converting nominal into real earnings are taken from Stalistiske Efterretninger. The base is : 1914 = 100 ; January 1921 = 261 ; January 1922 = 212 ; Jan. 1921 = 209; Jan. 1925 = 221. — 61 — TABLE II. (a) AVERAGE NOMINAL FULL - TIME WEEKLY EARNINGS AND lb) INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN COPENHAGEN, 1914 AND 1920-1925' (a) Nominal Weekly Earnings Industry and groups of workers Food industries Bakeries : Skilled workers Flour mills Tobacco industry Cigar making : Skilled workers Unskilled workers Women Textile workers Male Female Clothing Tailors (skilled) Tailoresses Shoemakers2 Male Female Building Sheet metal workers (oiners Painters Bricklayers Labourers Carpenters Wood and furniture Cabinetmakers Wood-workers :l Quarrying, pottery Labourers Pottery manufacture : Skilled workers Unskilled workers Women Metal trades Electric workers Moulders Smiths, etc. Labourers Women Chemical industry Oil mills : Unskilled workers Printing and paper-making Paper-making : Unskilled workers Book-printing : Compositors Unskilled workers Women Bookbinding Skilled workers Women Miscellaneous Foremen 1914 Kr. 1920 1921 1922 Kr. 1924 1923 4th qr. 1 4th qr. 4th qr. 4th qr. 1925 1st qr. 4th qr. 1 1st qr. Kr. Kr. 84.00 84.48 77.28 77.28 84.96 77.76 89.76 78.72 70.08 68.16 48.00 68 64 68.16 48.00 70.56 71.04 50.88 74.88 75.36 53.28 74.88 74.40 53.76 75.84 54.24 64.80 47.04 62.88 45 12 63.84 46.08 67 20 49 44 64.24 48.00 31.32 107.04 18.47 61.44 91.20 48.00 85.44 43.20 77.28 40.80 76.80 41.28 82.56 41.28 83.04 41.76 30.51 17.96 118.56 71.04 92.64 52.32 81.12 46.08 81.12 45.60 85.44 48.96 84.96 48.96 86 40 49.44 35.64 40.72 38.88 46.44 33.21 45.14 129.12 136.32 131.52 180.48 136.32 178.08 118.56 112.80 111.84 146.88 113.28 147.36 32.51 112.80 22.03 86.88 96.96 75.36 83.04 63.84 81.12 62.40 80.64 62.88 84.48 66.24 85.44 67.20 32.78 136.32 110.40 91.20 90.24 84.48 94.08 92.16 47.09 33.16 28.78 96.48 78.72 61.44 82.56 68.64 53.28 82.56 67.20 51.36 82.08 65.76 48.00 88.80 71.04 54.72 89.76 70.56 54.72 35.80 112.32 97.92 37.42 144.00 128.16 33.32 128.64 109.92 26.19 101.76 83.04 16.52 60.96 45.12 79.20 99.84 92.64 69.60 39.84 79.68 80.64 82.56 80.64 99.84 100.32 103.20 103.68 88.80 90.72 93.60 94.56 68.64 70.56 72.48 72.48 39.84 41.28 42.72 43.20 Kr. Kr. 32.02 105.60 103.68 26.46 101.76 97.44 86.40 78.24 31.16 24.30 19.44 95.04 90.72 69.60 81.12 78.24 51 84 22.95 16.58 90.72 68.16 112.32 92.16 70.08 Kr. Kr. 101.76 99.36 92-64 108.00 108.48 94.56 93.60 90-24 102.72 99.84 102.24 101.28 91.20 108.00 95.04 127.68 126.72 113.76 138.72 132.48 97.44 99.36 84.96 104.64 104.64 115.20 120.96 105.60 122.40 123.36 23.44 94.08 73.92 67.20 65.76 67.20 71.52 71.04 23.65 90.72 74.88 64.80 61.44 66.72 67.68 67.20 42.12 125.28 125.76 30.83 96 96 96.48 19.01 06.72 67.68 96.48 71.52 46.08 97.92 73.92 47.52 97.44 74.88 48.00 99.84 75.36 48.96 99.84 77.28 49.92 27.27 123.84 108.96 14 53 66.72 53.28 95.52 48.48 92.16 48.96 93.60 49.44 97.92 53.28 99.36 53.28 47.20 138.16 119.28 107.20 106.50 101.89 108.10 108.82 > Stalisliske Eflerrelninger. Hourly earnings multiplied by 54 for 1911, and by 18 for post-war years. 1For foremen weekly earnings are given in the Stalisliske ifflerrctningcr. In factories. = Unskilled. — 02 — TABLE II (coni) (b) Index Numbers of Real Weekly Earnings ' Districts and groups of workers Food industries Bakeries : Skilled workers Flour mills Tobacco industry Cigar making: Skilled workers Unskilled workers Women Textile workers Male Female Clothing Tailors (skilled) Tailoresses Shoemakers Male Female Building Sheet metal workers Joiners Painters Bricklayers Labourers Carpenters Wood and furniture Cabinetmakers Wood-workers Quarrying, pottery, etc. Labourers Pottery manufacture: Skilled workers Unskilled workers Women Metal trades Electric workers Moulders Smiths, etc. Labourers Women Chemical industry Oil mills : Unskilled workers Printing and paper-making Paper-making : Unskilled workers Book-printing : Compositors Unskilled workers Women Bookbinding Skilled workers Women Miscellaneous Foremen 1 See footnote ! , table I. 1914 1920 1921 1922 1923 4th qr. 4th qr. 4th qr. 4th qr. 1925 1924 1st qr. 4th qr. 1st qr. 100 100 125 145 153 153 136 149 125 139 126 139 120 133 127 135 100 100 100 115 141 136 123 152 129 114 141 125 105 134 118 108 140 125 109 140 127 109 138 125 100 100 150 156 156 154 142 143 131 130 133 133 133 135 131 131 100 100 130 126 137 123 138 118 118 106 117 107 119 101 120 102 100 100 147 150 143 137 134 130 127 122 134 131 126 124 128 124 100 100 100 100 100 100 137 127 128 147 157 149 157 131 136 149 169 154 144 117 133 139 148 129 133 110 124 131 143 128 124 106 112 117 122 112 137 114 126 135 143 123 138 111 110 129 143 124 100 100 131 149 141 161 129 146 120 135 119 136 118 136 119 138 100 157 158 140 132 123 130 127 100 100 100 91 105 92 97 112 100 88 105 92 84 97 85 83 95 80 86 97 86 86 96 86 100 100 100 100 100 119 146 146 147 140 129 161 156 149 129 112 135 140 134 122 107 128 128 125 115 108 128 130 129 120 105 125 127 125 117 102 125 129 125 119 100 152 149 145 134 137 138 137 100 145 149 138 124 135 129 129 100 100 100 112 119 133 141 148 168 116 117 122 111 115 120 111 116 121 107 110 117 107 114 119 100 100 172 174 188 173 177 169 162 161 164 163 162 166 165 166 100 111 119 115 108 103 104 105 — 63 TABLE HI. HALF-YEARLY WAGE RATES OF FARM SERVANTS IN DENMARK. BOARDED AND LODGED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, 1923-1924' Period and region Head stablemen Head ¡arm-hands Adultform-tads(male) Adults tarn-maids 1923 1924 1923 1924 1923 1924 1923 Summer Jutland The Islands Whole country Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 1924 Kr. 489 548 526 568 619 596 520 527 524 605 578 594 443 467 454 530 557 543 305 306 305 331 334 332 Winter* Jutland The Islands Whole country 410 490 461 514 526 520 327 368 348 376 405 387 278 322 304 330 368 348 250 292 268 269 332 287 ' Reports of the Danish Landoconomiske Driftsbureau (Bureau for Rural Economy). ! These figures refer to the winter period 1923-1924 and 1924-1925 respectively. TABLE IV. DAILY EARNINGS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN DENMARK, 1924-1925 ' Occupation Summer 1924 Harvest 1924 Winter 1924-1925 Kr. Kr. Kr. 6.97 6 27 6.68 7.40 7.04 7.24 5.65 5.77 5.71 5.27 5.05 5.17 5.75 5.85 5.79 3.85 4.12 3.97 5.67 4.48 6.56 5.30 5 29 3.63 Casual day labourers without board Jutland The Islands Whole country Casual day labourers with board Jutland The Islands Whole country Permanent day labourers (whole country) Without board With board 1 Reports of the Danish Landoconomiske Driftsbureau (Bureau for Rural Economy). ESTHONIA The information available as to wages in Esthonia is as follows : (a) Average daily earnings in Esthonian marks for various occupations in Tallinn. These figures, which are published each month in Recueil Mensuel du Bureau Central Statistique de l'Estonie, are based on returns made by employers and include all allowances (family allowances, cost-of-living bonuses, etc.) as well as payment in kind. In calculating the average earnings the median lias been used (table I). — 64 — (b) Average daily earnings in important occupations in 1914 and 1923-1925 converted in Scandinavian gold crowns with index numbers of real earnings. These figures, communicated to the International Labour Office by the Esthonian Central Bureau of Statistics, are based on the data described under (a). In order to obtain a comparable series of pre-war and post-war figures, the original figures given in Russian roubles for 1914 and in Esthonian marks for post-war years have been converted into Scandinavian gold crowns according to the dollar rate of exchange. The costof-living index numbers used for converting nominal into real earnings were also calculated in gold crowns by the Central Bureau of Statistics (table II). (c) Average daily earnings in the chief industries in Esthonia based on returns from employers (table III). During the year 1924, wages in Esthonia have in general shown an upward movement which continued during the first half of 1925. Nevertheless, nominal wages in July 1925 expressed in gold crowns were still considerably lower than in 1914. On the other hand the cost of living having also considerably risen during that period real wages have in most cases either remained stable or declined. Amongst the occupations covered in table II carpenters were the only workers who experienced a steady increase of real wages during 1924 and the first half of 1925. For most occupations real wages were in July 1925 about 30 to 40 per cent, lower than in 1914. TABLE I. NOMINAL AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN TALLINN IN 1924 AND 1925' 1924 1925 Occupation Weavers (females) Spinners (females) Locksmiths Coppersmiths Blacksmiths Turners (iron) Carpenters Joiners Machine compositors Hand compositors Firemen Unskilled workers (males) Unskilled workers (females) January April July Mks. Mks. Mks. 143 132 252 271 226 278 216 294 416 327 260 189 130 146 147 296 273 261 291 256 263 416 348 320 202 130 169 137 302 300 280 285 263 260 416 326 248 200 130 1 Recueil Mensuel du Bureau Central average earnings the median has been used. Statistique October January April Mks. Mks. Mks. 158 162 326 344 286 295 292 264 416 333 248 163 148 299 328 276 335 294 250 520 385 260 202 130 157 151 310 385 346 328 285 304 552 383 293 240 142 240 . 137 de l'Esthonie. In calculating the — 65 — TABLE II. NOMINAL AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS IN IMPORTANT OCCUPATIONS CALCULATED IN GOLD CROWNS WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS IN TALLINN IN 1914 AND 1923-1925' Index numbers of real earnings (Jan.-July 1914 = 100) Nominal daily earnings in gold crowns Occupation Locksmiths Coppersmiths Blacksmiths Turners (iron)' Carpenters Joiners Firemen Unskilled workers (males) 1925 1923 1924 July July 1914 Jan.-July 1923 1924 July July Jan. July 3.56 4.05 3.71 4.07 3.27 3.31 3.41 2.83 3.14 2.74 3.25 2.41 2.49 2.12 2.60 2.58 2.41 2.45 2.23 1.94 1.92 2.88 3.16 2.66 3.22 2.77 2.11 2.45 2.77 3.10 2.44 3.17 3.27 2.67 2.58 81 79 75 81 75 77 63 2.33 1.86 1.69 1.90 2.24 81 1925 Jan. July 77 68 69 63 72 62 59 72 69 64 70 75 57 64 m 68 58 69 88 71 67 77 73 85 1 Figures communicated to the International Labour Office by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Esthonia. TABLE III. NOMINAL AVERAGE DAILY PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE CHIEF INDUSTRIES IN ESTHONIA IN 1924 > 19 2 4 January April July October December Mks. Mks. Mks. Mks. Mks. Mining a n d quarrying Engineering Chemical industry Textile i n d u s t r y W o o d induslry Leather i n d u s t r y P a p e r industry F o o d a n d drink industry 3uilding Printing 218 272 185 141 213 241 212 212 230 301 223 285 204 149 228 247 221 222 221 329 232 279 204 154 234 256 230 212 238 321 257 290 187 161 232 270 239 213 325 284 253 328 192 160 249 302 240 234 268 312 Genera! average : All industries ( m a n u a l workers) 217 230 •¿27 235 261 General average Office staff 335 401 349 360 371 486 603 477 510 614 : General average : Technical staff 1 Figures communicated to the International Labour Office by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Esthonia. 5 — 66 — FINLAND The information available is as follows : (a) Average annual earnings in various industries in Finland. These are published once a year as part of the Finnish official statistics, and are based on returns from employers. The figures are obtained by dividing the total wages bill by the total number of " full-time workers " (i.e. the number of actual workers reduced to the number of workers who work 300 days a year). No figures are available for separate occupations or for later than 1923. Real wages are given, based on the official cost-of-living index number (table I). (b) Daily and annual earnings of certain classes of agricultural workers, distinguishing males from females and workers with board and without board. These figures are obtained from the local provincial administrations and are of an approximate character only (table II). It will be seen from table I that real wages increased from 1921-1922 and from 1922-1923, and at the latter date were approximately equivalent to pre-war earnings. The general average for all industries gives a figure which is equivalent to the increase in the cost of living. Figures for different industries do not show a very great variation, but real wages appear to be lowest in the metal industry and in the power and light industries, and highest in wood, sawmills and cotton. As regards the figures for agricultural workers given in table II, no real wages can be calculated owing to the absence of an adequate cost-of-living index number and to the fact that some of the figures relate to workers who receive free board and lodging. It will be seen that in every case the earnings of male agricultural workers are relatively higher compared with 1914 than those of female workers. During the period covered by the table, however, there has been very little change in money earnings. TABLE I. AVERAGE YEARLY EARNINGS PER WORKER WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN FINLAND, 1914 AND 1921-1923 • Nominal yearly earnings Industry Metal industry Engineering F o u n d r i e s and shipbuilding Stone, g l a s s industry H i d e s a n d leather Textiles W o o l industry Cotton industry P a p e r industry W o o d industry S a w i n g mills F o o d a n d drink industry P o w e r a n d light Printing industry Total (including also other industries) Index numbers of real earnings (1914 = 100)' 1914 1921 1922 1923 1921 1922 1923 F.M. 1,116 1,291 1,232 857 1,077 806 813 766 962 850 826 1,028 1,487 1,420 F.M. 9,091 11,673 11,340 7,612 9,904 9,682 7,099 7,198 8,656 9,336 9,398 9,579 11,408 12,945 F.M. 11,141 12.410 12,001 8,943 11,049 8,625 8,228 8,722 9,746 9,220 9.489 10,775 13,309 14,930 F.M. 11,231 13,872 13,286 9,525 12,025 8,959 8,244 9,005 10,775 10,628 10,493 11,612 13,915 15,476 70 77 79 76 79 103 75 80 77 94 97 80 65 78 88 84 86 92 90 94 89 100 89 95 101 92 79 92 88 94 94 97 97 97 88 103 98 109 111 99 82 95 969 9,385 10,121 11,094 83 92 100 1 Source: Teollisaaslilasloa (InduslrislalislikJ, April 1914, pp. 15, 62-75 (table 4); April 1921, p. 3, and table 2 (pp. 8-21); April 1922, p. 3, and table 2 (pp. 8-21). Saomen Tiiaslollinen Vuotikirja, 1924, pp. 96-97. ' In calculating the index numbers of real earnings, the following index numbers of cost of living were used : Base, 1914 = 100 ; 1921 — 1171 ; 1922 = 1139 ; 1923 = 1147. — 68 — TABLE H. AVERAGE NOMINAL DAILY AND YEARLY EARNINGS WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF NOMINAL EARNINGS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN FINLAND, 1914 • AND 1921-1923 Index numbers o! nominal earnings (1914 = 100) Nomina] earnings Class of workers 1921 1911 Daily Without 1921 1922 1923 F.M. F.M. F.M. F.M. 2.16 1.28 23.18 13.41 23.85 13.54 23.83 13.57 1074 1048 1104 1058 1103 1060 3.27 2.11 35.44 21.90 36.84 22.21 36.52 22.45 1084 1038 1127 1053 1117 1064 1.28 0.73 15.08 8.34 15.93 8.65 15.89 8.69 1178 1142 1245 1185 1241 1190 2.30 1.49 26.67 15.94 27.51 16.31 27.70 16.60 1160 1070 1196 1095 1204 1114 4.37 6.45 50.88 76.32 51.06 75.75 49.50 73.58 1164 1183 1168 1174 1133 1141 3.50 5-61 41.97 68.79 42.54 67.19 41.43 65.92 1199 1226 1215 1198 1184 1175 Day labourers Summer With board Males Females 1923 1922 earnings board Males Females Winter With board Males Females Without board Males Females Drivers with horse2 Summer With board Without board Winter With board Without board Ye a r l y £ a r n i n g s Labourers With board Males Females Without board Males Females 1 Statistisk 313 186 3720 2112 3987 2320 4002 2363 1184 1135 1274 1247 1279 1270 626 414 7550 4688 7734 4783 7508 4803 1206 1132 1204 1155 1199 1160 Arsbok for Finland, 1924. ! These workers supply their own horses. FRANCE The information used in this report is as follows : (a) In previous reports on wage changes the figures have been limited (except for coal-mining) to the quinquennial census of wage rates undertaken by the French Statistical Department in 1911, 1916 and 1921. The next survey is therefore due in 1920, but inspired by a resolution of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians of 1923, which recommended that such statistics should be undertaken at least yearly, the Statistical Department decided to undertake such surveys at yearly intervals, and the — 69 — results of the enquiry held at the end of 1924 are given (table I). (b) For the coal-mining industry quarterly returns are published by the French Statistical Department, giving the average daily wages for underground and surface workers and of workers for the principal coal-mining districts (table II). (c) The average hourly rates and daily earnings payable in the chief shipbuilding centres in France. No comparative figures for pre-war years are available (table III). (d) The average daily and annual wages of agricultural workers in the chief departments in 1924, published by the French Statistical Department (table IV). As no figures exist showing movements in the cost of living in France as a whole, real wage units have been calculated by using the published index numbers relating to thirteen retail articles of food and fuel. These do not cover certain important items of expenditure, and the results therefore can be taken only as approximate. For certain areas in the coal-mining district (table II) complete cost-of-living index numbers are published, and these have been utilised for calculating real wage index numbers. It will be seen from table I that almost without exception there has been substantial improvement in wages since 1921, and these increases are somewhat greater than those recorded by the retail price index number. As a result, real wages increased in nearly every occupation. In 1921 in the majority of occupations they were below the pre-war level. By 1924 they had increased about 10-20 per cent. It will be seen that the level is on the whole lower in Paris than in other towns, but in Paris also in every occupation, with four exceptions — blacksmiths, turners, cabinetmakers, carpenters — real wages are above pre-war level. The occupations in the table are chiefly those of skilled workers, but a few unskilled are included, and they show relatively higher levels of real wages than those for skilled workers. In the coal-mining industries real wages cannot be given in the Arras region, as no cost-of-living index number for this region is available. Real wages rose somewhat in 1922-1928, but remained fairly constant during 1924 and the first half of 1925. though at a slightly higher level than in 1923. The greatest increase in nominal and real earnings is to be found in the district of St. Etienne. The average level of real wages for all workers for the whole country has remained remarkably constant since the beginning of 1923, varying between 104 and 99 as compared with 1914 = 100. — 70 — TABLE I. AVERAGE NOMINAL DAILY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN FRANCE, IN 1911, 1921, AND 1924' Industry and occupation Building Masons (Paris) „ (other towns) Brickmakers (Paris) „ (other towns) Painters (Paris) „ (other towns) Tilers (Paris) „ (other towns) Glaziers (Paris) „ (other towns) Navvies (Paris) „ (other towns) Labourers (other towns) Metal industry Plumbers (Paris) „ (other towns) Blacksmiths (Paris) „ (other towns) Turners (Paris) „ (other towns) Tinsmiths (other towns) Coppersmiths (other towns) Locksmiths (Paris) „ (other towns) Wood industry Cabinetmakers (Paris) „ (other towns) Carpenters (Paris) „ (other towns) Joiners (Paris) „ (other towns) Turners (Paris) „ (other towns) Printing and bookbinding Compositors (Paris) (other towns) Bookbinders (Paris) (other towns) Clothing and textiles Tailors (Paris) „ (other towns) Weavers (other towns) Leather industry Tanners (Paris) „ (other towns) Shoemakers (other towns) Miscellaneous occupations Brewery workers (other towns) Watchmakers (Paris) „ (other towns) Quarry workers (Paris) „ (other towns) Average nominal daily wage rates 1921 1924 1911 Feb. Oct. Fr. 8.55 4.80 — 4.17 7.25 4.76 8.00 5.05 7.65 4.72 7.60 3.82 3.26 Fr. Fr. 28.00 32.00 19.72 23 74 26 00 24.00 19.25 22.18 28.00 30.00 19 43 22.86 28.00 30.00 20 14 23.92 28 00 31.20 19.52 22.20 26.00 28.00 17.22 19.66 14.01 16.42 Index numbers of real waees 2 1921 1924 1911 Feb. Oct. 100 100 — 97 96 — 102 123 — 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Ill 115 95 104 93 108 96 101 105 100 133 113 120 102 118 111 117 100 128 126 4.65 28.00 30.00 19.36 23.10 32.00 36.00 20 53 23.58 28.00 30.00 20.67 23.63 19.26 22.44 21.33 23.32 26.00 30.00 19.18 22.62 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 104 91 95 93 101 89 81 94 96 96 102 117 98 115 99 109 118 108 102 121 9.00 4.86 9.00 5.05 8.00 4.70 7.50 4.88 32.00 20.36 28.00 20.24 30.00 19.45 28.00 19.80 32.00 23.65 30.00 23.92 30.00 22.86 32.00 22.18 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 105 100 92 93 111 96 no 94 97 121 91 118 102 121 116 113 7.20 4.94 6.00 4.67 27.60 18.54 25.60 17.86 33.20 22.40 29.60 21.58 100 100 100 100 113 87 95 89 126 113 134 115 7.50 4.55 3.32 28.00 18 02 14.33 32.00 22.42 17.44 100 100 100 111 92 100 116 123 131 6.50 4.09 3.95 25.20 17 02 16.30 28.00 19.03 19.06 100 100 100 115 97 96 117 116 120 4.21 7.00 5.31 7.00 4.16 17.06 19.58 100 100 100 100 100 94 — 91 — 116 120 117 109 131 8.00 4.92 10.00 5.12 8.25 5.39 4.74 5 40 8 oa — 30.80 20.70 24.83 — 28.00 18.58 21.87 104 ' Bulletin de la Statistique générale de la France et du Seruice d'observation des prix, January 1925. , . . ' In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Paris : Base, 1914 = 100 ; 1st quarter 1921 = $58 ; 3rd quarter 1924 = 367. Other towns (chiefly foodstuffs), 1914 = 100 ; Feb. 1921 == 430 ; Aug. 1924 = 1"1. — 71 — TABLE II. AVERAGE DAILY WAGES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF COAL-MINERS IN FRANCE, 1913 AND 1920-1925' Average d aily Districts and groups of workers 1922 1920 1921 Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. 6.25 5.51 6.27 5.96 21.55 22.13 21.22 20.99 22.77 18.65 20.32 20.49 20.77 19.49 19.16 18.96 20.40 20.95 20.50 20.19 25.49 25.05 24.75 24.64 25.53 25.15 24.94 24.72 25.19 26.13 26.40 25.53 4.11 4.06 4.09 4.02 16.58 18.08 16.32 15.90 17.12 16.09 15.73 15.82 15.54 14.61 14.21 14.29 15.30 15.84 15.24 15.03 19.11 18.97 18.06 18.24 19.08 19.08 18.07 18.29 19.44 19.71 18.98 18.90 5.72 5.07 5.27 5.40 20.12 20.67 19.16 19.45 21.11 17.78 18.43 18.84 19.29 17.72 17.01 17.35 19.04 19.09 18.41 18.55 23.87 22.99 22.16 22.75 23.98 23.08 22.28 22.87 24.57 23.98 23.54 23.64 1st qr. 2nd qr. 4th qr. 2nd qr. Index nut•nbers of real dail y wages Underground workers Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country Surface workers Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country Underground and surface workers Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country 1925 1924 1923 1913 1st qr. Underground workesr Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country Surface workers Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country Underground and surface workers Arras Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country wages 100 100 100 114 88 93 100 100 100 100 100 100 __ __. = . 106 94 98 110 96 102 126 98 104 122 107 109 108 106 110 113 110 113 118 114 115 118 10.9 106 120 113 108 116 89 95 108 97 96 105 99 100 109 103 104 114 108 107 114 104 99 117 108 101 — —. 115 102 105 , 104 90 95 . 115 98 97 _ 117 102 98 . ' Bulletin de la Statistique générale de la France, October 1924 and July 1925. 2 In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used. For Saint-Etienne and Chalon-sur-Saône, the figures include foodstuffs, heating and lighting, clothing, rent, and miscellaneous expenditures. The index for the whole country includes mainly foodstuffs. For Arras no cost-of-living index numbers are available. Towns 1922 1914 1920' 1925' 1st qr. Saint-Etienne Chalon-sur-Saône Whole country ' Second quarter. 100 100 100 352 407 379 1924 1923 1921 ' 325 361 363 334 326 323 1st qr. 2nd qr. 4th qr. 346 339 332 397 388 Ü95 398 406 428 404 412 435 — 72 — TABLE III. WAGES IN THE SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY IN MARCH 1925 District and occupation Bordeaux1 Skilled workers Semi-skilled workers Unskilled workers La Ciotat1 Skilled workers Semi-skilled workers Unskilled workers Nantes3 Highly-skilled workers Skilled workers Semi-skilled workers Unskilled workers Saint-NazaireA Skilled workers Semi-skilled workers Unskilled workers Dunkirk* Skilled workers Semi-skilled workers Unskilled workers Cost-ofliving bonus per day Family allowance per day Hourly rates Average daily earnings (8-hr. day)' Fr. Fr. 2.75-3.75 2.25 2.75 1.75-2.25 22.00—26.00 18.00-22.00 14.00-18.00 2.00-2.50 1.55-1.75 1.25 25.00-29.30 21.50-23.50 19.50 2.75—3.25 2.00—2.75 1.85—2.00 1.75 Fr. 25.20-29.00 1 child 0.70 19.20-25.20 | 3.20 | 2 children 1.60 18.00-19.00 3 children 2.70 17.20 1.75 2.25 1.50-1.75 1.25-1.50 19.50-24.00 1 child 0.70 17.00—19.50 ) 2.00 ( 2 children 1.60 14.00-16.40 2 children 2.70 2.00—2.50 1.75-2.00 1.50-1.75 19.00-23.00 17.00-19.00 ) 3.00 ( 15.00-17.00 Fr. 5.50 Fr. 1.00 for each child. 0.60 for each child. 1 For specially dirty work, 25 per cent, increase. * For skilled and semi-skilled workers, efficiency bonuses are paid. 3 For specially dirty work, 20 per cent, increase ; for overtime, 50 per cent, increase. * For specially dirty work, 20 per cent, increase; for overtime 30to50 per cent.increase. Efficiency bonuses: for skilled and semi-skilled workers, 25 per cent.; for unskilled workers, 20 per cent, increase. * For specially dirty work, 25 per cent, increase; for overtime 30 to 50 percent, increase. " As far as can be gathered from the information available, the cost-of-living bonuses and the family allowances given in Cols. 3 and 4 appear to be included in these figures. TABLE IV. AVERAGE YEARLY AND DAILY WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL MALE AND FEMALE WORKERS IN CHIEF AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS OF FRANCE IN 1924' Maies Departments Ain Dordogne Garonne (Haute-) Hérault Nièvre Seine-et-Marne Somme Var Yonne 1 Labourers Farm servants F e m a l e s Drivers Labourers Farm servants Per fear Per day Per year Pep day Fr. 3,600 3,000 2,600 4,500 4,800 4,800 4,500 3,600 4,200 Fr. 4,000 3,000 3,200 4,300 5,000 5,580 4,000 3,900 4,000 Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. 13.33 10.00 10.66 14.00 13.70 18.00 12.50 13.00 12.50 4,000 3,400* 3,800 4,800 5,910 5,760 5,400 4,500 4,800 13.33 10.132 12.66 16.00 16.20 18.00 16.50 15.00 14.50 2,400 2,000 1,640 2,250 2,550 3,000 2,500 1,320 2,800 8.57 6.50 6.83 8.00 2,500 2,000 2,400 3,000 4,000 3,410 2,500 1,800 3,200 8.33 6.50 8.00 9.00 10.95 11.00 8.00 6.00 10.00 Bulletin de la Statistique '' Head cattle drivers. Fr. 12.85 10.00 10.83 16.00 16.00 16.00 15.75 15.00 15.00 Pep year Pep da; Pep year Pep day 850 10.00 10.00 6.00 10.00 Per year Per day générale de la France, January 1925. The figures include all payments in kind. — 73 — GERMANY The information on wages used in the case of Germany is as follows : (a) Weekly wage rates based on collective agreements published by the German Government in Wirtschaft und Statistik in a number of important manufacturing industries and for mining. In addition to the figures for different industries, a weighted average of the wage rates of workers in all industries included is also computed. Index numbers of real wages are also calculated by the German Statistical Office, but those for October 1924 to July 1925 have been calculated by the International Labour Office (table I). (b) Separate statistics are also published of weekly rates paid in the different localities, distinguishing skilled and unskilled workers. Figures for 1924 and 1925 compared with those for 1913-1914 are given in tables II and III. (c) Separate statistics are also published showing the monthly salaries for 13 different grades of state officials in the different districts and also for bank officials. Figures for three of these grades of state officials (1 low, 1 medium, 1 high) and two grades of bank employees are given in table IV. (d) Monthly returns are made by the German Statistical Office to the International Labour Office showing real wage rates in certain typical occupations in Berlin. These figures, expressed as rates for a 48-hour week, are published each month in the International Labour Review and are summarised in table V. Owing to the frequent and violent changes in the level of prices which occurred in January up to the end of 1923 and led to very rapid adjustment of wages, it is extremely difficult to obtain accurate comparisons of real wage levels in Germany before and after the war. The difficulties have been pointed out in previous reports on " Wage Changes in Different Countries ". The problems raised, however, by the extreme fluctuations of prices are very complex and the effects of such changes on the cost of living are difficult to estimate. The International Labour Office has, however, recently published a special report on the " Workers' Standard of Living in Countries with a Depreciated Currency 1 " a special chapter of which is devoted to the wages of German i INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE : The Workers' Standard of Life in Countries with a Depreciated Currency (Germana, Austria, Poland). and Reports, Series D. No. 15, 1925. Studies _ 74 — workers in 1920-1924. To this the reader is referred. In 1924 and 1925, however, monetary conditions became relatively stable und it has been possible to measure fairly accurately the level of real wages. The index numbers of real wages have been calculated by dividing the index number of nominal wages, not by the cost-ofliving index number for the same date, but by the cost-of-living index number for the period during which wages were spent. Wages earned during one week are largely spent during the next. Consequently wages earned in the course of one month are largely spent during a period beginning and ending one week later than the month during which they were earned. The cost-of-living index for a period one week later than the period covered by the wage statistics has therefore been employed in calculating real wages. This is indispensable for the years 1922-1923, during which the rise in the cost of living was so rapid that the index number for one week was inapplicable to the following week ; this method was observed in the real wage index numbers published by the German Federal Statistical Office, reproduced in the following tables, and has been continued by the International Labour Office. Further details as to the method of calculating real wages will be found in the Report referred to in the previous paragraph. It will be seen from table I that in all occupations real wages rapidly declined in 1922 and 1923. The lowest point was probably reached in the autumn of 1923. From December 1923 onwards prices were stabilised, and real wages began to rise. The race between wages and prices — the former always trying, but never succeeding, to catch up the latter — was discontinued. During 1924 real wages definitely increased in all industries, and the index number of real wages at the end of the year was estimated at 90 for skilled and 97 for unskilled as compared with 74 and 88 respectively at the beginning of the year. A further slight rise occurred at the beginning of 1925. During the period of falling wages in 1922 and 1923, it will be seen that unskilled workers fared better than skilled workers relatively to 1914, and it is estimated that their real wages fell to a little over 60 per cent, of the pre-war level in 1923 as compared with less than 50 per cent, for skilled workers. During 1924 and 1925 pre-war relative positions had been more nearly approached, and though unskilled workers are relatively better off than skilled the differences are not so great. As will be seen from the table the — 75 — relative figures are for July 1925 100 per cent, for unskilled and 93 per cent, for skilled. There are also evidences from the table of a levelling up as between the different occupations. In July 1923 the range of index numbers for real wages was from 36-65 for skilled workers but was only from 82-105 in July 1925. As regards the salaries of state officials and bank employees as shown in table IV, it will be seen that the figures show similar movements to those of the industrial workers given in table I, with the exception of bank employees in June 1923, who received exceptional salaries in that month. The index numbers of real salaries of the lower grades were, at the end of 1924, equal to or superior to those paid in 1913, but for the intermediate and higher-grade officials real salaries are somewhat less. The lower grades of bank employees seem to have received the largest increase in nominal wages, and in 1924 their real salaries were considerably above those prevailing in 1913. The final table (table V) gives for certain dates in 1924 and 1925 the average rates of wages payable for a week of 48 hours in 11 principal occupations in Berlin. They show a substantial rise in the rates of wages from September 1924 to June 1925 for. all occupations. The high rates paid to workers in the building trade as compared with the other occupations will be noticed. This higher rate for the building industry is apparently confined to Berlin, and is not shown in table I which relates to all districts in Germany. — 76 — TABLE I. (a) WEEKLY WAGE RATES ACCORDING TO COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS, WITH (b) INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES IN GERMANY, 1913, 1922-1924, AND 1925'. (a) Weekly Wage Rates Industry and occupation Coal-mining Hewers and drawers Surface workers Metal trades Skilled workers Unskilled workers Building trades Bricklayers and carpenters Labourers Woodworking industry Skilled workers Unskilled workers Textile trades Spinners and weavers (male) Spinners and weavers (female) Unskilled workers (male) Unskilled workers (female) Chemical trades Artisans Processmen Printing trades Compositors Helpers State undertakings (chiefly transportation) Skilled workers Unskilled workers Weighted average of all industries Skilled workers Unskilled workers 1922 1913 1921 1923 1925 July Jan. M. M. M. 36.72 24.84 1,626 1,410 27,918 1,086,000 33.84 24,096 918,000 28.50 39.30 31.02 43.38 31.62 43.38 31.62 45.84 32.58 36.20 23.13 1,407 1,322 25,379 23,500 992,325 27.35 910,652 22.21 34.91 25.88 40.10 27.61 39.51 27.09 43.18 29.39 37.69 29.48 1,617 1,539 23,000 21,863 966,000 26.66 910,000 23.58 36.47 30.63 41.06 34.57 44.48 37.33 52.78 44.03 31.43 22.78 1,431 — 22,193 19,793 915,000 25.62 817,000 22.20 34.25 29.16 37.79 31.32 38.68 33.73 43.53 37.92 26.18 1,312 22,674 860,000 20.69 27.34 29.60 27.46 28.46 17.37 968 17,315 655,000 14.59 19.69 21.19 22.75 22.94 21.38 1,716 20,442 770,000 17.62 22.07 23.88 21.74 23.71 14.38 841 15,019 557,000 11.84 15.72 16.93 16.85 17.66 32.99 26.76 1,536 1,436 27,646 1,135,300 25.92 25,738 1,034,200 23.04 33.48 29.16 36.72 31.86 35.76 30.43 38.50 32.54 33.21 24.16 1,280 1,089 20,586 17,824 700,000 25.80 629,000 21.93 35.95 30.44 42.80 36.23 40.29 35.14 45.84 39.97 34.56 23.70 — - 22,248 21,096 860,000 24.00 817,000 18.72 34.08 26.52 36.18 28.08 39.69 31.37 41.53 32.94 35.02 24.31 _ — 24,855 22,529 974,000 27.31 874,000 22.87 35.63 27.24 38.45 28.97 39.79 29.98 43.32 32.51 July Jan. M. R. M. July Dec. March July R. M. R. M. R. M. R. M. 1 The figures of nominal wages are taken generally from Wirtschaft und Statistik and from Síoíistuches Jahrbuch far das Deutsche Reich, 1923. Family allowances for married workers are included in the figures where such were paid. — 77 — TABLE I (cont.) (b) Index Numbers of Real Wages Industry and occupation 1922 1923 l 1924 1925 March July 1913 Coal-mining Hewers and drawers 100 Surface workers 100 Metal trades Skilled workers 100 Unskilled workers 100 Building trades Bricklayers and carpenters 100 Labourers 100 Woodworking trades 100 Skilled workers 100 Unskilled workers Textile trades Spinners and weavers (male) 100 Spinners and weavers (female) 100 Unskilled workers (male) 100 ., „ (female) 100 Chemical trades 100 Artisans 100 Processmen Printing trades 100 Compositors Helpers 100 State undertakings (chiefly transportation) Skilled workers 100 Unskilled workers 100 Weighted average of all industries Skilled 100 Unskilled 100 July Jan. July Jan. July Dec. 73 96 51 66 50 64 83 107 90 108 96 103 94 101 93 98 66 97 48 70 47 68 72 89 84 92 90 97 87 93 89 95 73 89 42 51 44 53 66 75 84 90 89 95 94 101 105 111 77 96 48 60 50 62 76 90 94 111 98 111 98 118 103 124 85 59 57 73 91 92 83 82 96 93 99 68 66 72 65 62 67 78 77 76 98 89 95 99 91 96 104 81 93 99 83 92 79 91 57 66 59 67 73 80 88 94 90 97 86 91 88 91 65 76 43 51 36 45 73 86 95 111 105 122 96 115 103 123 71 97 44 61 43 59 64 73 85 97 85 96 91 105 90 104 72 94 49 64 48 62 74 88 90 98 90 97 91 98 93 100 1 The index numbers of real wages have in general been taken from Statistisches .lalirbach für das deutsche Reich, 1923 and from Wirtschaft and Statistik 1924. For October, November and December 1924, and for 1925, they have been calculated by the International Labour Office. The cost-of-living index numbers used are as follows : October 1924 = 122.6; November 1924 = 122.45; December 1924 = 122.88 ; March 1925 = 125.9; July 1925 = 133.7. — 78 — TABLE II. AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE RATES ACCORDING TO COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS WITh INDEX NUMBERS IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN IMPORTANT TOWNS IN GERMANY, 1913-1914 AND 1924-1925' Nominal weekly wage rates Occupation and Centre 1924 1925 Index numbers of nominal wages (1913-1914 = 100) 1924 1925 191M914 July Dec. March June R. M. R. M. R. M. R. M. 43.46 42.72 46.64 43.61 36.04 35.04 36.57 37.06 38.85 33.70 34.45 35.52 46.61 47.03 38.88 40.32 41.60 41.28 52.42 49.40 42.72 43.20 46.30 43.68 49.15 35.04 36.04 35.06 30.74 29.76 30.21 30.82 30.97 29.33 29.15 30.24 36.96 38.48 32.64 34.56 37.13 35.52 34.00 40.48 36.72 35.04 32.86 32.16 32.24 31.20 33.28 29.38 34.84 30.72 24.64 26.62 23.81 23.35 24.13 25.27 July Dec. March June 55.82 58.43 55.92 50.40 48.79 52.61 98 94 97 101 87 103 107 101 108 110 107 120 121 106 119 118 119 127 128 125 155 138 126 153 40.80 40.38 36.00 37.44 40.75 37.40 43.20 49.40 45.60 42.72 43.24 44.93 71 97 97 102 95 104 75 107 106 114 120 122 83 112 117 124 132 128 88 137 148 141 140 154 36.34 38.40 43.68 34.56 33.94 36.00 42.83 41.23 46.85 36.38 37.44 39.84 43.70 43.68 48.58 42.43 40.51 44.64 119 95 98 97 88 88 107 105 133 107 102 103 126 112 143 113 113 114 129 119 148 132 122 128 30.36 34.56 39.84 31.20 30.58 30.72 36.39 37.01 42.62 32.69 31.68 34.08 37.26 39.17 44.26 37.63 34.46 37.92 131 119 125 121 104 103 123 130 167 134 127 122 149 139 179 140 131 135 151 147 186 161 143 150 42.66 42.24 42.72 43.20 43.20 38.72 40.61 43.69 39.93 41.15 43.63 44.60 40.50 40.25 42.55 48.30 30.94 33.60 35.04 37.44 38.34 29.28 31.68 30.24 46.56 46.84 46.12 47.04 41.28 32.64 99 90 105 99 109 76 100 94 111 105 113 83 101 101 113 119 121 79 109 108 117 116 133 85 22.32 24.05 24.96 28.62 30.24 31.86 29.70 31.32 31.75 28.75 30.48 32.78 24.00 24.48 25.92 24.00 25.92 24.00 26.40 33.48 32.40 31.92 29.28 25.92 92 118 116 118 106 111 99 124 122 125 108 120 103 131 124 135 114 in 109 138 126 131 129 120 M. Building trades Bricklayers and Carpenters Berlin Hamburg Cologne Munich Leipzig Frankfurt a/M. Unskilled workers Berlin Hamburg Cologne Munich Leipzig Frankfurt a/M. Woodworking industry Skilled workers Berlin Hamburg Cologne Munich Leipzig Frankfurt a/M. Unskilled workers Berlin Hamburg Cologne Munich Leipzig Frankfurt a/M. Metal industry Skilled workers Berlin Hamburg Cologne Essen Stuttgart Frankfurt a/M. Unskilled workers Berlin Hamburg Cologne Essen Stuttgart Frankfurt a/M. 1 24.30 24.30 25.65 24.30 22.73 21.60 32.20 31.68 29.76 28.32 25.01 25.92 Siaiisfiscfies Jahrbuch für das deutsche Reich, 1924-1925, and Wirtschaft und Statistik, 1925. — 79 — TABLE III. AVERAGE NOMINAL SHIFT EARNINGS, WITH INDEX NUMBERS, OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF COAL-MINE WORKERS IN THE CHIEF COAL-MINING DISTRICTS IN GERMANY, 1913 AND 1921-1925 • Index numbers of nominal earnings (1913 = 100) Nominal earnings District and groups of workers 192 J 1913 M. Western Upper Silesia 5.87 Hewers Other underground workers2 3.72 3.06 Surface workers' Lower Silesia 4.38 Hewers Other underground workers2 3.63 3.10 Surface workers' Ruhr District 6.82 Hewers Other underground workers2 4.80 4.37 Surface workers' Aachen District 6.02 Hewers Other underground workers2 4.54 3.95 Surface workers' Saxony 4.98 Hewers Other underground workers* 4.32 3.91 Surface workers' Weighted average all industries 6.51 Hewers Other underground workers * 4.44 3.95 Surface workers' Jan. Apr. July 19 2 4 1925 Oct. Apr. "Jan. 1925 Apr. July Oct. Apr. R.M. R.M. R.M. R.M. R.M. 6.04 6.31 6.35 6.54 7.07 4.11 4.21 4.35 4.34 3.69 3.69 3.80 3.74 4.01 103 110 121 107 113 121 108 117 124 Ill 117 122 120 4.29 4.66 4.96 4.99 5.13 3.64 3.88 4.12 4.18 3.32 3.47 3.67 3.71 3.78 98 100 107 106 107 112 113 113 118 114 115 120 117 6.01 6.44 7.56 7.64 8.03 4.81 4.67 5.44 5.44 4.65 4.52 5.26 5.26 5.61 88 100 106 94 97 103 111 113 120 112 113 120 118 5.57 5.78 6.67 6.76 7.49 4.18 4.36 5.01 4.99 3.76 4.05 4.66 4.72 5.04 93 92 95 96 96 103 111 110 118 112 110 119 124 4.53 5.10 5.25 5.68 6.15 4.10 4.54 4.67 4.96 3.58 3.89 3.96 4.08 4.67 91 95 92 102 105 99 105 108 101 114 115 104 123 5.85 6.27 7.27 7.36 7.76 4.63 4.57 5.20 5.22 4.46 4.33 4.94 4.95 5.28 90 104 111 96 103 110 112 117 125 113 129 125 119 131 122 128 128 119 134 ' Statistisches Jahrbuch für das deutsche Beich, 1924-1925, and Wirtschaft und Statistik, No. 10, 1925. The figures include family allowances for wife and two children under 14 years of age where such were paid. The value of free coal is, however, excluded. ! Including hewers on repair work, but excluding drawers. ' Excluding craftsmen, women, and juveniles. — 80 — TABLE IV. NOMINAL AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARIES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL SALARIES OF MARRIED OFFICIALS IN STATE EMPLOYMENT IN GERMANY AND OF MARRIED BANK EMPLOYEES IN BERLIN, 1913 AND 1922-1924 > Nominal monthly salaries Groups State officials 'Low grade Intermediate grade High grade Bank employees3 Assistants Employees on simpler work Employees on more difficult work s i s 1922 1923 1924 II s July January June January July December M. M. M. M. R.M, R.M. R.M. 157 342 608 6,798 9,095 12,193 45,890 1,058,000 170,093 1,556,000 226,523 2,875,000 115 211 310 169.50 193.25 344 386.50 547.50 614.25 160 250 13,033 13,683 137,754 1,529,000 145,915 1,641,000 168 205 216 257 225 269 280 13,852 156,283 1,780,000 243 303 318 Index numbers of real salaries * State officials Low grade Intermediate grade High grade Bank employees Assistants Employees on simpler work Employees on more difficult work 100 100 100 75 45 36 61 40 33 77 51 41 68 56 46 93 87 78 100 92 82 100 100 147 99 75 51 114 79 95 75 116 89 115 88 100 89 49 76 79 93 93 • Statistisches Jahrbach für das deutsche Reich, 1923, and Wirtschaft und Statistik, 1924. ' There exist XIH different grades of state officials. The figures given in the table refer to group III, VIII and XI respectively and show the salaries of married civil servants in towns in which the cost-of-living is highest (Ortsklasse AJ. Family allowances for wife and two children between 6-14 years of age are included when such were paid. • The figures for bank employees are minimum salaries ; they include family allowances for household and children. • The index numbers of real salaries for 1922 and 1923 have been taken from Statistisches Jahrbuch für das deutsche Reich. For 1924 they have been calculated by the International Labour Office ; ihe cost-of-living index numbers used w e r e : Base 1913-1914 = 100 : January 1924 = 110; July 1924 = 116 ; December 1924 = 123. — 81 — TABLE V. AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE RATES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS IN BERLIN, 1923-1925' Occupation 1 January 1924 1 May 1924 1 September 1924 1 March 1925 1 June 1925 Building trades Masons Carpenters Plumbers, painters Labourers (general) Engineering trades Fitters, turners Labourers Furniture trades Cabinetmakers Printing and Bookbinding Compositors ' Hand Machine Machine minders Bookbinders . R. M. R. M. R. M. R. M. R. M. 33.60 33.60 33.12 30.24 32.64 32.64 35.04 30.24 43.54 43.87 43.20 35.52 52.32 52.80 52.80 40.80 55.68 55.16 57.605 43.20 24.00 19.68 21.60 16.80 30.72 23.04 24.96 26.40 38.88 51.00 42.24 40.80 45.60 27.00 29.03 30.00 32.25 33.60 38.64 33.60 29.76 42.00 50.40 42.00 3 38.40 46.00 55.20 46.00 38.403 _ 24.96 — 27.84 2 — 1 Figures calculated from hourly rates communicated to the International Labour Office ! by multiplying the latter by 48. No collective agreements exist for this group. " Married workers only. » Book and job. f The wage rate for painters was 55.20 R.M. in June 1925. GREAT BRITAIN A considerable amount of information is available as to the movement of wages in Great Britain. The statistics given in the present report are as follows : (a) Nominal weekly time wage rates for typical occupations in the most important centres are published at irregular intervals in the Ministry of Labour Gazette (table I). (b) Returns from representative employers showing the numbers employed and the total wages bill, published each month in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. From these average per capita earnings have been calculated by the International Labour Office (table II). 6 — 82 — (c) Average earnings of miners per shift in the different coaliields based on returns collected by the Mines Department (table III). (d) Salaries of various grades of Government officials whose basic rates ranged in 1914 from £100 to £500 a year based on figures published by His Majesty's Treasury, showing the "cost-ofliving- bonus " paid to such officials (table IV). (e) The London and Cambridge Economic Service publishes (¡ach month an index of nominal wage rates. This is an unweighted average of 11 different rates. Corresponding real wage index numbers have been calculated by the International Labour Office (table V). (f) Statistics of average weekly earnings of railway workers are published at irregular intervals (approximately annually) based on returns collected by the Ministry of Transport from all the raibvay companies of Great Britain (table VI). (g) The only statistics available as to wages in agriculture are the minimum rates of wages |fixed from time to time by different statutory bodies. From 1918 to September 1921 minimum rates of wages for ordinary adult labour were fixed by the Agricultural Wages Board. This Board was abolished in 1921, and Conciliation Committees were set up, which were superseded in turn in 1924 by District Agricultural Wages Committees (table VII). The figures presented in these seven tables show that a certain stability in wages was reached in 1923,1924, and 1925. The figures in table I indicate that during the years 1923 to 1925 wage rates did not suffer much change. Slight increases are indicated in the building trade and among skilled shipyard workers, whilst a decline or stationary situation is shown in engineering, printing and furniture. As a result of the rise in the cost of living from March 1923 to December 1924, real wages showed no increase except among shipwrights and joiners, who in December 1924 recovered the position they had lost in 1923. Real wages of all categories increased slightly in the first half of 1925. The figures in table II are obtained by dividing the total pay-rolls of certain establishments by the number of workers employed. They are therefore an average of the earnings of men, women and juveniles and, as stated above, are thus affected by changes in the proportions of these classes of workers as well as by short time and overtime. They are more suitable for short period or month to month comparisons than for long period comparisons. — 83 — During 1924 the real wage index numbers show a rise in the first half of the year in all the industries covered by the table, but a decline occurred in the last six months in all except cotton. A slight improvement took place in July 1925 except in the woollen and worsted trades. Real wages are now approximately 20 per cent, higher than in 1914, though, as indicated above, this comparison is not a very exact one and may be modified if separate figures were available for men, women and juveniles. The low lewel of wages of coal-miners which has been a feature of the mining industry in Great Britain for many years, is clearly illustrated by table III, though during 1924 and 1925 wages increased slightly from the low level previously recorded in 1922 and 1923. Real wages at the end of 1924 are estimated at only about 80 to 90 per cent, above the pre-war level. Only in the Eastern Area (comprising the Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire coalfields) have wages risen proportionately to increases in cost of living. Owing to the decline of the export trade, wages in the South Wales coalfield — the chief exporting area — are exceptionally low. The salaries of various grades of public officials given in tabic IV show that only the lowest-paid groups have received additions fully compensating for the increased cost of living. In all the groups, however, the level of real wages has been fairly constant during 1923, 1924, and 1925, ranging from 100 in the lowest group to about 80 in the highest. The movement of real wages as shown by the previous four tables is roughly confirmed by the unofficial figures given in table V as to the course of wage rates. In the remaining tables no real Avage index numbers are calculated, as no comparable figures are available for pre-war years. The figures for earnings of railway workers in March 1921. 1923. and 1925 are given in table VI. Wages in the British railway services are regulated automatically by the cost-of-living index number, and since 1923 only small changes have been made owing to the slight fluctuations in the cost of living. The figures for agriculture in table VII are minimum rates, no information as to standard rates or earnings being available. From 1918 to 1921 a national minimum was fixed. For subsequent dates the figures are weighted averages (as calculated by the National Farmers' Union) of various district minima. The same body estimates the 1914 wages as 18s. a week for 58 hours. — 84 — TABLE I. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF TYPICAL CLASSES OF TIME WORKERS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Nominal weekly wage rates Industry and occupation Building Bricklayers Painters Labourers Engineering Fitters and turners Labourers Shipbuilding Shipwrights Shipjoiners Labourers Road transport Tram-drivers One-horse carters Printing Hand compositors 3 Bookbinders, etc. Furniture-Making Cabinetmakers Upholsterers Baking Table hands 1923 1914 July 1920 Dec. June 1922 June March Sept. 1924 Dec. 1925 July s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 40 7 100 10 36 3 99 3 27 0 87 3 93 8 93 8 80 7 71 10 71 9 54 1 71 2 70 1 53 4 73 4 72 1 55 6 73 6 73 0 55 7 89 6 70 9 89 3 70 6 72 9 55 8 56 6 40 3 56 5 40 3 56 6 40 2 56 6 40 2 41 4 91 3 40 0 101 0 22 10 70 4 84 10 94 7 64 0 58 7 60 5 40 1 48 11 50 9 38 6 48 7 £0 5 38 6 55 7 57 9 38 5 55 7 57 9 38 5 30 7 25 7 68 2 73 3 66 1 63 3 57 2 59 02 57 U 59 1 52 8 51 3 53 2 59 2 53 2 35 8 33 11 93 4 93 8 93 4 93 4 86 2 86 6 77 0 75 10 73 9 73 4 73 9 73 4 73 9 73 4 - — 76 3 76 2 72 6 72 5 74 8 74 6 74 9* 74 8* 65 11 63 4 64 8 64 9* 38 11 22 10 39 9 102 1 38 9 101 1 30 3 1921 83 3 Index numbers of real wages • Building Bricklayers Painters Labourers Engineering Fitters and turners Labourers Shipbuilding Shipwrights Shipjoiners Labourers Road transport Tramdrivers One-horse carters Printing Hand compositors Bookbinders, etc. Furniture-Making Cabinetmakers Uphlosterers Baking Table hands 100 100 100 94 103 122 105 118 136 96 108 109 101 111 114 — 101 111 114 105 117 119 100 100 87 117 105 141 102 133 83 102 83 101 81 98 84 102 100 100 100 83 95 116 94 108 128 77 82 95 68 73 97 67 72 96 74 80 93 77 83 98 100 100 100 109 118 112 121 111 118 107 114 107 116 112 120 100 100 99 104 120 126 130 139 124 129 118 124 115 120 120 125 100 100 97 98 - — 110 113 104 107 104 107 107 110 100 104 — - 126 121 119 122 ' Labour Gazelle, March and aOctober 1922, April and October 1923, February and October 1925. '5 Estimated figures. On book and jobbing work. * Figures for September. In calculating the index numbers of real wages the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Base 1914 = 100 : December 1920 = 265 ; June 1921 = 219 ; June 1922 = 184 ; March 1923 = 174 ; September 1923 = 175 ; December 1924 = 179 ; July 1925 = 173; September 1925 = 176. — 85 — TABLE II. AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Average weekly earnings 1914 Industry Textiles Cotton Woollen Worsted Boot and Shoe Pottery General a v e r a g e * 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending 25 July 18 Dec. 17 Dec. 16 Dec. 22 Dec. 28 June 20 Dec. 27 June s. d. s. d. S. d. s. d. 19 18 16 6 9 1 42 46 46 9 1 4 41 41 34 42 40 4 9 2 20 11 40 6 19 6 52 10 19 4 43 9 1 0 42 10 45 6 42 7 42 8 43 10 37 5 38 8 s. d. 36 0 39 10 37 9 46 7 37 2 39 10 s. d. s. d. S d. 34 IO'/» 37 6 37 3 42 5 Average weekly earnings Class Week ending 28 March 1921 s. d. Carters Clerks Engine drivers Firemen Guards Porters (goods) Signalmen Stationmasters Inspectors and foremen 79 2 102 6 115 7 85 10 88 0 74 0 90 2 129 6 120 10 Workshop staff Erection fitters Labourers (loco, etc.) 100 5 78 11 ' Ministry Week ending 24 March 1923 s. d. 58 1 83 6 101 7 75 10 72 6 53 4 68 4 112 10 104 10 77 54 1 8 Week ending 29 March 1924 s. Week ending 28 March 1925 s. d. 58 3 84 10 106 0 78 6 75 6 53 10 68 4 112 2 106 1 79 56 d. 58 11 84 3 102 7 76 5 73 4 54 4 68 1 113 0 103 10 80 57 1 7 5 6 of Labour Gazette, 1921-1925. TABLE VII. MINIMUM WEEKLY WAGES OF ORDINARY ADULT MALE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES Hours Date July 1920 July 19211 September 1921 October 1921* December 1921 February 1922 September 1922 December 1922 anuary-December 1923 anuary-August 1924 anuary 19253 J R îte s. d. 42 46 42 40 37 33 31 28 27 27 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 11 11 6 Summer Winter 50 50 50 50 — _ 51 — 48 48 48 — 48 48 — 50 Vs 50 3/ s 50 i »«/, 1 From July 1921 to September 1921 national minimum rates fixed by Agricultural Wages Board. » From October 1921 to 1924 average of minimum rates fixed by Conciliation Committee. s For January 1925 average of rates fixed by Agricultural Wages Committees. — 89 — GREECE The Minister of National Economy at Athens has forwarded to the International Labour Office a comparative table of wages paid in the years 1914-1924 in the Athens and Piraeus districts. It is not clear whether the figures relate to rates or to earnings and also, owing to the large range in wages in the base period (1914-1916), it is not possible to calculate index numbers of nominal and real wages as in other countries. The figures are, however, of interest as showing the level of wages at the present time. The figures have been obtained for the most part from employers' and workers' organisations. The index numbers of the cost-of-living in Athens published by the Ministry of National Economy are as follows : Base July 1914 = 100 ; July 1922 = 616 : July 1923 -.-= 1032 ; July 1924 = 1278. TABLE SHOWING DAILY AND MONTHLY WAQES IN ATHENS AND PIRAEUS, 1914-1916 AND 1918-1924 • Industry 1914-1916 1918-1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 55 55 55 55 60 69 57 66 60 66 Daily vages in drachmas Engineering Turners Adjusters Patternmakers Electricians Welders Construction Masons Plasterers Carpenters Painters Chemicals Workers Foremen Gas worlcers Glass worlcers Wood workers 3.80 — 6.50 8—15 2 50 - 6.50 6.50 - 15 16 6 - 8 15 - 18 5 - 8 25-30 6 - 8 - 5 75 —6 — 7 50 - 6.50 16 18 20 20 - 1 - 5 3.50 9 6 9 5 — 7.50 5 7 13 22 16 - 9 — 16 - 15 - 30 — 18 4 5 5 5 20 25 24 25 25 - 30 18 — 25 30 25-30 26 - 40 35 35 35 45 42 25 25 30 30 35 35 - Z5 35 40 33 12 - 14 20 - 24 15 35 - 50 25-30 50 50 30 45 40 — 50 35 55 22 38 36 48 60 75 75 70 65 30 45 47 75 65 48 60 60 80 1,700 1,300 1,230 1,400 2,000 1,900 1,400 2,000 2,300 2,400 1,800 2,250 1,100 950 750 1,650 1425 1.125 2,145 1,853 1,463 Monthly wages in drachmas Textiles Weavers Spinners Dyers Food workers Navigation Engineers I II III 200 160 90 — 150 250 300 180 120 820 1,000 - 1,600 760 800 480 - 750 700 - 1,000 600 600 400 300 ' Communication of the Ministry of National Economy to the International Labour Office. — Uü — HUNGARY The information available for Hungary is taken from the following sources : (a) Weekly wage rates in certain occupations in December 1923 and 1924 compared with July 1914, and daily rates for the mining industry published by the Hungarian Federation of Trade Unions. For each industry an unweighted average is also published of the average rates in the various occupations (table I). (b) Average weekly earnings for certain categories of workers in the metal trade, communicated to the International Labour Office by the Hungarian Employers' Federation of Iron and Engineering Works (table II). For each of these tables, index numbers of real wages are given, based on the cost-of-living index number calculated by Mr. Dalnoki-Kovats. The heavy depreciation of the Hungarian currency, especially in 1924, is seen from the figures of nominal wages in table I which increased about four to five-fold in that year. Real wages, however, which were considerably below the pre-war level in all occupations, with one or two exceptions in 1923, increased in 1924. Real wages were highest in the printing and bookbinding trade (100-120 per cent, as compared with 1914), and lowest in the metal and engineering trades (50-80 per cent.). A similar movement is shown in table II, which covers also the years 1921,1922 and 1925. It will be seen that real wages reached their lowest level in 1922 (40-50 per cent, of their pre-war level) and increased in 1923. In view of the sharp rise in the cost of living in the early months of 1924, real wages considerably declined in this period and fell to about 40 per cent, of their pre-war level. In May and June 1924 the currency became relatively stable and consequently the cost of living since that date shows very little fluctuation. Money wages were able to catch up the rise in prices, and real wages increased during the latter half of 1924 and the first six months of 1925. TABLE 1. AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY W A G E RATES AND INDEX N U M B E R S OF REAL W A G E S O F VARIOUS CATEGORIES O F WORKERS IN I M P O R T A N T INDUSTRIES IN HUNGARY, 1914 AND 1923-1924' Nominal weekly wage rates Industry * and categories of workers July 1314 31 Dec. 1323 31 Dec, 1924 31 Bee. 1323 31 Dec. 1324 Kr. Building industry Caipenters Bricklayers Painters Cement workers Wood and furniture Joiners Turners Hides and leather Shoemakers Saddlers Tanners (skilled) „ (unskilled) „ (females) Food industry Pork butchers Bread hands Flourmill workers Millers Printing and bookbinding Workers in printing trade (skilled) Workers ! , assistants Typographers (skilled) (assistants) Boookbinders (males) „ (females) Clothing industry Nat-making Women's hats (females) Men's tailors Women's tailors Women's tailors (females) Textile industry Workers in jute trades Males Females Workers In cotton trades Males Females Spinners (general) Males Females Metal and engineering industry Tinmen Turners Engineers (high grade) Blacksmiths Locksmiths Patternmakers Founders Labourers Mining Hewers 3 1 Index numbers ol real wsses|lS14=lH)r Kr. 33.75 122,362 42.75 120,000 42.75 139,200 36.72 114,340 42.20 146,736 31.83 135,780 28.08 132.000 32.00 179,409 33.75 122.362 25.00 128,275 46.00 179,836 99,795 29.00 70,484 21.00 46,302 13.00 88.499 30.26 40.50 132.000 39.60 135,045 65,049 21.00 74,400 25.80 92.139 29.50 37.00 121,045 78,360 24.00 37.00 108,602 70,493 24.00 29.00 108,332 65,060 18.50 38.75 131,621 Kr. 524,073 504.000 576.000 537,600 528,000 541,869 538,000 670,032 524,073 507,477 723,696 412,080 322,224 226,932 403,968 570,000 625,424 271,104 297.120 524,714 700 000 392,700 587,637 381,536 586,411 352,140 749,581 72 56 65 62 69 85 94 112 72 102 78 69 67 71 58 65 68 62 57 62 65 65 58 58 74 70 68 93 70 80 87 75 102 114 125 93 121 94 85 92 104 80 84 94 77 69 106 113 98 95 95 121 114 115 92 107 81 59 71 26.00 40.00 48.00 32.00 23.20 146,400 134,400 116,784 400,000 719,472 648,384 316,608 71,362 312.200 46 73 56 73 54 24.00 15.00 66,000 46,750 244,000 279,400 55 62 61 111 24.00 17.00 66,000 71,500 259,325 222,000 55 84 64 78 25.00 16.00 43.47 41.61 53.58 46.17 49.02 52.44 38.88 50.73 21.09 82,500 49,500 299,477 230,000 113,110 110,400 126,720 99.840 117,984 115,680 121,968 144960 72,000 475,716 475,200 504,000 388.176 475,200 556,800 561,600 639,216 302,000 66 62 52 53 47 43 48 44 62 57 68 71 86 65 68 56 50 58 63 86 75 85 27.00 120,000 354,000 88 78 60,000 Áz Aruk es ¡iêrek Alakulasa ai 192Í (The Level of W a g e s and Prices in 1924), EsztenuV.£i!, published by the Hungarian Federation of Trade Unions. 2 T h e averages for each industry are unweighted arithmetical averages of rates in various occupations of t h e industry. Figures for t h e chief occupations only are given in this table. a Daily rates multiplied by 6. * In calculating t h e index numbers of real wages, t h e following cost-of-livins; index numbers have been u s e d : Base 1914 ^= 100 ; December 1 0 2 3 ^ 5 0 2 2 0 2 ; December 1924 -(675830. TABLE II. AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY EARNINGS WITH INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY IN HUNGARY, 1914 AND 1921-1925' Index numbers of rea! earnings (1914 = 100) * Average nominal weekly earnings Categories of workers Skilled workers Semi-skilled Unskilled Females Juveniles 1914 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1921 1922 1924 1925 FlFSt hall year Oct. Sept. Sept. Sept. J«iy Oct. Sept. Sept. Sept. July Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. Kr. 38.34 31.86 19.98 17.28 10.80 928 806 609 400 338 3,748 3,168 2,236 1,564 1,130 92,928 74,784 49.392 41,520 25,296 456,240 370,176 243,696 197,328 139,392 475,104 379,632 251,760 215,856 155,184 46 48 58 44 59 43 44 49 40 46 1923 65 63 66 64 62 73 71 75 70 79 76 73 78 77 88 1 Communication from the Hungarian Employers' Federation of Iron and Engineering Works to ths International Labour Office. * In calculating the index numbers of real earning the following cost-of-living index numbers hav; been u s e d : Base 1 9 1 4 = 100; October 1921 = 5292; September 1 9 2 2 = 22687; September 1923 ^ 375308; September 1924 = 1635784 ; July 1925 = 1625400. INDIA Statistics of wages are only available for the Bombay Presidency, viz. (a) Monthly per capita earnings in the cotton mill industry in various districts in 1914, 1921, and 1923. Comparable figures for these three years are available separately for both sexes and for youths and children. The data are based on detailed enquiries by the Labour Office of the Government of Bombay in 1921 and 1923. Index numbers of real earnings are given, based on the official cost-of-living index number (table I). (b) Average daily earnings of agricultural workers in various districts of the Bombay Presidency. The data are also based on a special enquiry held by the Bombay Labour Office. The latest figures refer to the year 1923. No index numbers of real wages have been calculated as no adequate cost-of-living index numbers are available (table II). Nominal wages in the cotton industry declined slightly from 1921-1923, except in the city of Bombay, where they remained almost unchanged. In agriculture wages appear to have fluctuated somewhat irregularly according to the groups of workers and districts. In general, however, the figures show a decline during 1921 and 1922 as compared with 1920, followed by a recovery in 1923. Real wages in the cotton industry were considerably higher in 1923 than in 1921, as the fall in the cost of living was much greater during these two years than the wage reductions. Real wages were in 1923 in general 20 to 30 per cent, above the pre-war level. The greatest increases are shown for youths and children and the smallest for women. — 93 — TABLE I. AVERAGE NOMINAL MONTHLY PER CAPITA EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS IN THE COTTON MILL INDUSTRY IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, 1914, 1921, AND 1923 ' Index numbers oí real earnings (May 1914=1001' Nominal monthly earnings Centres and groups of workers 1914 May Bombay City Men Women Youths and children i All workers 3 Ahmedabad Men Women Youths and children î All workers * Sholapur Men Women Youths and children 2 All workers 3 Bombay Presidency Men Women Youths and children 2 All workers 3 1921 May 1323 August 1921 May 1923 August Rs. a. P- Rs. a. P- Rs. a. P- 18 10 9 16 6 0 6 6 8 10 7 3 34 17 18 30 15 6 0 10 2 6 10 0 35 17 17 30 10 5 14 10 7 5 0 1 114 104 115 112 126 117 123 121 15 9 7 13 7 15 2 9 1 11 3 9 34 19 18 30 2 9 6 2 11 4 6 11 33 18 17 29 0 2 3 7 9 7 11 0 132 117 154 133 139 118 157 140 14 5 6 10 3 13 9 9 11 11 6 4 25 10 14 20 13 15 12 9 9 9 0 4 22 8 12 17 3 9 7 10 10 7 11 6 108 112 134 116 101 95 123 108 17 9 7 14 0 0 13 11 8 1 4 11 33 16 17 28 6 9 3 14 10 1 7 4 33 16 16 28 1 3 9 9 10 10 6 1 117 110 132 117 126 117 138 126 ' Report on an enquiry into the wages and hours of labour in the cotton mill industry (Bombay,2 1925). As children were considered all persons less than 15 years of age but more than 12. As youths those between 15 and 18 years. 3 Counting two half-timers as one full-timer. 1 In calculating the index numbers of real earnings the following cost-of-living index numbers were used : Base July 1914 •--. 100; May 1921 -= 167; August 1923 = 154. TABLE II. AVERAGE NOMINAL DAILY EARNINGS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY WITH INDEX NUMBERS, 1913 AND 1920-1923' Index numbers nl nominal dally earnings (1813=100) Nominal daily earnings Centres 1913 1920 1920 1921 1922 1923 9 0 235 6 10 185 9 8 143 6 2 165 219 165 174 143 208 173 198 139 225 171 215 137 2 0 9 0 0 6 9 224 5 0 7 6 0 10 2 174 0 0 9 6 0 7 6 149 4 0 6 11 0 9 5 204 224 156 171 183 220 158 181 173 165 214 143 235 9 1 15 3 183 8 1 1 4 151 5 1 4 10 136 1 0 14 7 156 204 146 153 154 223 154 168 159 234 160 171 154 1922 1921 1923 Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. field labourers Guzerat Deccan Koukan Karnaiic 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 4 00 00 60 60 Urdinary labourers Guzerat Deccan Koukan Karnatic 0 0 0 0 4 4 5 4 10 9 20 9 0 8 30 3 0 7 10 0 0 0 8 20 Skilled labourers Guzerat Deccan Koukan Karnatic 0 0 0 0 13 10 12 9 0 1 8 51 10 1 0 4 0 21 0 71 6 0 14 10 0 1 9 7 6 7 50 50 50 50 8 10 0 8 4 0 6 7 0 6 11 0 7 10 0 8 11 0 6 50 6 30 9 7 9 7 11 2 1 13 15 10 1 0 2 71 4 14 8 0 15 Labour Gazelle (Bombay!, January 1925. — 94 — ITALY Information on wages for Italy is as follows : (a) Nominal weekly wage rates in certain occupations in Rome and Milan. These figures are calculated from hourly rates communicated monthly to the International Labour Office by the Statistical Offices of the two towns. Figures for 1914 are only available for Rome, and have been calculated on the weekly basis of 54 hours (tables I (a) and I (b)). (b) Daily earnings of various groups of workers in textiles and in the iron and steel industry in 1923 compared with 1913-1914. These figures were obtained directly from certain employers by the factory inspectors. The figures for textiles are representative of the whole of Italy, while those for iron and steel refer only to Lombardy (table II). Real wages have been calculated for tables I (a) and I (b) by using the cost-of-living index numbers for Rome and Milan respectively, and for table II by using the cost-of-living index number for Milan. No cost-of-living index number exists for the whole of Italy, and the Milan index number is probably the most appropriate one for the textile and iron and steel industries. As regards the figures for Rome — table I (a) — information is available for 1924 and 1925, in comparison with 1914, but no cost-of-living index number based on 1914 is available. It will be seen that in the printing and bookbinding industry the real wages are a few points below, and in the building industry slightly above, especially for masons and carpenters. As regards the textile industry (table II) real earnings in 1923 seem to be considerably above the pre-war level, especially as regards female workers, and in the iron and steel industry real wages appear to be about 97 per cent, of their pre-war level for steel workers and 94 per cent, for general helpers. — 95 — TABLE I. AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF WORKERS IN THE IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES IN (.i| ROME AND (/.) MILAN, 1914 AND 1924-1925' (a) Rome Average nominal weekly vage rates (Lire) Occupation 1914 1 Aug. Building trades Masons 36.18 Carpenters 36.18 Joiners 32.94 Plumbers 36.18 Painters 36.18 Labourers (general) 21.06 Engineering trades Fitters 38.88 Ironmouldcrs 30.24 Turners 36.18 Labourers 21.06 Furniture trades Cabinetmakers 44.82 Printing and Bookbinding Hand compositors 49.68 Machine compositors 36.18 Machine minders Bookbinders 23.76 1924 1925 Index numbers oi real wage rates (July IHM—10O)« 1925 1924 1 July 1 1 Oct.' 1 April 1 July 1 July 1 Oct. lApril 1 July 148.80 148.00 153.60 144.00 212.70 122.40 182.40 182.40 158.40 144.00 201.60 120.00 187.20 187.20 175.20 158-40 235.20 136.80 187.20 187.20 175.20 165.60 235.20 136.80 100 100 100 100 100 100 121 121 101 98 93 96 114 114 103 99 100 101 114 114 103 104 100 101 144.00 s 156.00 151.203 112.80' 153.60 153.60 153.60 105.60 172.80 172.80 160.00 110.40 172.80 172.80 168.00 115.20 100 100 100 100 105 96 100 92 108 100 95 88 108 100 100 92 199.20» 192.00 235.20 235.20 100 94 106 106 167.20 167.50 174.90 174.90 100 98 95 95 112 103 99 95 99 96 95 99 96 190.00 217.15 198.75 198.75 159.60 167.50 174.90 174.90 150.00 152.00 160.00 160.00 100 100 100 i ' Figures communicated to the International Labour Office. s • Figures for 15 September. Average of two figures. ' In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers have been u s e d : Base (shifted) June 1 9 2 4 = 100; September 1924--- 102; March 1925 - 111 ; June 1925 - 111. — f workers wages have remained stationary. TABLE 1. AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS IN THE SOUTH LIMBURG COAL MINES AND IN THE METAL INDUSTRY IN THE NETHERLANDS, 1914 AND 1920-1925' Nominal weekly earnings Industry and occupation 1914 1920 4th qr. 1921 4th qr. 1922 4th qr. 1923 4th qr. 1924 4th qr. 1925 1st qr. 2nd qr. Florins Florins Florins Florins Florins Florins Florins Florins Coal-mining '• Hewers All underground workers Surface workers All workers Metal trades All workers 20.40 16.74 11.16 15.84 58.74 49.32 33.18 44.22 46.92 40 86 29.28 37.32 41.52 35.76 26.10 32.94 44.94 38.28 25.98 33.98 39.00 33.48 24.36 30.96 13.30s 35.51' 36.79s 31.86' 28.67' 27.10' 38.32 32.94 24 24 30.48 36.72 31.80 23.34 29.40 27.223 Index numbers of real earnings " Coal-mining Hewers All underground workers Surface workers All workers Metal trades All workers 100 100 100 100 130 133 134 124 121 128 138 124 115 120 133 118 124 129 131 124 106 110 120 108 105 110 121 107 100 121 146 136 121 113 115 101 106 127 104 1 Haandsdirtfl van hel Centrant Bureau mor ile Statistic!;. '- Daily earnings multiplied by 6. - 1910. 'Second half. «First half. ' In calculating the index numbers of real earnings the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Base 1911-1913 -^ 100; December 1920 == 221; December 1921 - 190; December 1922 176; December 1923 ---• 178; December 1924 ----- 181; March 1925 = 179; June 1925 .-. 179. These figures, which refer to Amsterdam, are a combination of two series, the second being calculated on the basis of the first, which was discontinued in 1920. — 104 — TABLE H. AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINOS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN THE NETHERLANDS, 1914, 1920, AND 1923' Nominal average weekly earnings Index numbers of real earnings1 Industries 1914 1st Hall 1920 1st Hall 1923 Beginnliig Fl. Fl. Fl. Diamonds 37.58 81.61 51.09 100 104 79 Printing Printers Lithographers 20.58 15.76 39.80 37.95 39.12 35.83 100 100 110 88 132 110 13.73 10.89 28.80 25.37 30.52 25.22 100 100 96 106 129 134 12.61 8.86 27.93 18.07 25.23 15.44 100 100 101 93 116 101 10.79 26.22 22.44 100 111 121 15.23 31.29 31.24 100 94 119 12.57 12.65 11.92 10.49 25.15 25.44 28.10 26.81 26.07 27.65 25.00 24.25 100 100 100 100 91 92 108 117 120 127 122 134 1914 1920 1923 1st Halt Beginning Wood S mills - | SLd Clothing Males Females Leather Boots and Shoes Paper Textiles Cotton cotton j( We avers Spinners Wool j Reavers 1 Spinners ' Maandschrifl van het Ceniraal Bureau voor de Stalisliek, 31 May 1924. ' T h e cost-of-living index numbers used for conversion of nominal earnings into real earnings were : Base 1911-1914 = 100 ; June 1920 = 219 ; March 1923 = 172. TABLE III. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES FIXED BY COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS, AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN AMSTERDAM, 1914 AND 1920, 1921, 1923' Nominal weekly wage rates Index numbers of real wages (base 1914-100)= Occupations 1914 1920 January January Compositor (hand) Compositor (machine) Bookbinder Carpenter Mason Navvy Plumber Baker, journeyman 23 years of age 1921 July 1923 July 1920 January 1921 July 1923 July Gallito Guilders Guilders Goilders 15.39 17.67 13.20 18.843 18.843 18.003 19.20 38.25 42.75 38.25 43.203 43.203 40.803 43.20 38.25 42.75 38.25 45.12s 45.123 42.72s 45.12« 36.00 40.32 36.00 43.38s 43.283 40.80s 43.38s 121 118 141 112 112 111 110 120 116 139 115 115 114 113 135 132 158 133 133 131 131 14.00 31.00 37.00s 36.00s 108 127 149 ' Maandschrifl van het Ceniraal Bureau, voor de Stalisliek 1923, No. 9. ' The cost-of-living index numbers used for conversion of nominal wages into real wages were: Base 1911-1913 = 100; December 1919 = 205; June 1921 = 208; June 1923 173. 3 Daily rates multiplied by 6. — 105 — TABLE IV. NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL WAGES OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN DAIRY ESTABLISHMENTS IN WARGA, 1913, 1922, and 1924' Index numbers of real wages" Nominal weekly wage rates Occupation Machinists Cenirifugal machine workers Butter makers (high grade) Cheese makers (high grade) Storekeepers Unskilled Jan. 1913 1922 July 1924 Oct. Florins Florins Florins 14 00 11 50 13 00 13.00 9.00 10.50 30.50 28.50 30 50 32.50 21.50 23.00-28.00 29.00 27.00 29.00 31.00 21 00 26.50 Jan. 1913 1922 July 1924 Oct. 100 100 100 100 100 100 117 133 126 134 128 130 118 134 127 135 132 143 1 Maandschrift van hel Cenlraal Bureau voor de Stalisliik, No. 12, December 1924. * In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used: Base 1911-1913 =•- 100; June 1922 =- 187; September 1924 = 176. TABLE V. AVERAGE NOMINAL HOURLY EARNINGS AND INDEX NUMBERS OF REAL EARNINGS OF VARIOUS GROUPS OF WORKERS IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY IN AMSTERDAM, 1920-1925 « Average nominal hourly earnings Groups of workers Carpenters Bricklayers Concrete workers Cement workers Labourers Carpenters Bricklayers Concrete workers Cement workers Labourers 1 1920 1921 June June Cents Cents 102 110 104 107 92 127 155 120 130 116 100 100 100 100 100 132 148 121 127 133 1922 1923 June June Cents Cents 103 122 108 144 104 117 118 123 90 108 Index numbers of 141 154 132 135 138 128 124 127 139 124 1924 June Cents Dec. Cents 93 98 88 95 83 94 97 85 91 81 1925 March. June Cents Cents 91 92 82 91 81 92 100 90 90 81 109 102 96 104 107 110 111 106 102 107 real earnings' 115 113 108 113 114 111 106 99 102 106 Maandschrift van hel Cenlraal Bureau voor de Slatistiek. In calculating the index numbers of real earnings, the following series of cost-ofliving index numbers have been used : Base June 1920 — 100 ; June 1921 -- 95 ; June 1922 85 ; June 1923 = 79; June 1924 =-. 79; December 1924 — 83 ; March 1925--= 82; June 1925- 82. 1 — 106 NEW ZEALAND The information available for New Zealand is as follows : (a) Weekly wage rates published once a year in the New Zealand Official Year Book, for certain occupations. The rates given are averages of the rates in four principal industrial districts and refer to 31 March of each year. For shipping and cargo workers the estimated average of board and lodging is included. Real wages are also given based on the general index of the cost of living published by the New Zealand Government (table I). (b) The same source also gives the average weekly wage rates of various categories of agricultural workers for the years 1914 and 1920-1924. These rates include the estimated value of board and lodging. Nominal wage index numbers are therefore given (table II). It will be seen from table I that real wages have generally increased from 1920-1922 and slightly decreased from 1922-1924. The lowest level was reached in 1920, when real wages were about 70 to 80 per cent, of their pre-war level. By 1922 the real wages of nearly every category were near or above the pre-war level, and slight reductions in 1923-1924 left wages still above or very near the pre-war level for the majority of occupations. The general level of real wages in different occupations shows a much smaller range than in most countries and if ships' stewards are left out of account, (where the figures are not strictly comparable owing to the inclusion of board and lodging), it will be seen that the level of real wages varied from 89 per cent, of the pre-war level for engine-drivers to 110 per cent, for wood-sawyers. The real wages of unskilled workers show very little difference from those of skilled workers. The figures for agricultural workers given in table II show that they received wages in 1920 on an average 50 per cent, above the pie-war level. These declined for most categories in 1921 and 1922, and since that date have remained fairly stable except for wool-pressers. TABLE 1. AVERAGE WEEKLY MINIMUM WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS1 OF REAL WAGES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES IN NEW ZEALAND, 1914 AND 1920-1924 ' 1914 ?' 1921 1920 s. d. s. Food and Drink Bakers (journeymen) 77 55 0 Butchers (first stopmen) 72 6 92 Meat-freezing (chamber 92 hands) 64 0 Meat preservers 59 6 79 Brewing (labourers) 47 77. 66 Clothing and textiles Tailors factory hands 56 0 77 Tailoresses (shop) coat 39 hands 30 0 Boot operators (males) 52 6 75 Woollen mills 71 Spinners (males) 51 0 General hands 67 46 6 Adult females 26 3 37 Building industry Bricklayers 68 57-! 88 Carpenters and joiners 64 37 79 2 87 Plasterers 67 82 Plumbers 66 67 Labourers (general) 52 Sawm iHing 67, 67 Engine-drivers 54 0 Sawyers 53 0'/t 72 Labourers 51 0 65 Ship, Boatbuilding Shipwrights 62 8 74 Boatbuilders 74 58 9 Metal works, etc. 75 Blacksmiths 61 7 Boiler makers (journey87 62 8 men) Moulders (iron and 64 77a 84 brass) Engineering Fitters, etc. 64 7>/., 84 82 Electrical workers 61 107.1 Motor mechanics 64 nli 88 Skin and leather 58 0 90 Curriers 49 6 General hands 76 Mineral and stone workers 53 11V2 70 Brickmakers 46 9:l/4 60 General hands Coal-mining Surfacetippers 53 77 s 67 Labourers 54 3»/, 67 62 Engine-drivers 55 0 63 3 76 Miners (hewers) 55 11 66 Truckers Railways Engine-drivers, first 75 0 114 grade 60 0 Firemen 96 Shipping and cargo (') working Assistant stewards, first class 40 47.2 84 Ordinary seamen 41 1'/« 65 1 ! Index numbers oi real wanes (1914 ,-- 100)3 Average weekly wage rates 2 Industry and occupation s. d. 1922 s. d. 1924 1923 s. d. d. 89 6 0 94 6 95 3 7'/* 105 77-> 107 107, 104 9 s. 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 d. 91 6 102 9 105 93/. 101 27-i 101 2«/a 92 974 88 83/j 88 8a/* 80 87 io 3 / 80 82 92 105 104 102 75 78 90 92 88 84 77 100 101 98 77 72 95 95 92 82 97 112 107 104 lov, 92 0 79 86 0 87 1 89 10 81 10 81 10 81 84 97 93 90 3 0 47 83 57i 48 91 45 93/4 83 8 45 »h 84 4 77 84 98 97 94 84 85 106 101 99 3 6 6 81 6s/.! 93 9 77 82 6 40 9Va 45 0 85 9 74 6 41 0 85 9 74 6 41 0 82 86 112 107 104 85 90 107 102 99 84 83 104 99 96 99 97 96 94 11'/. 2 107i 57* 76 63/4 75 73 75 73 75 0 97 94 100 102 84 0 9 1 6 10 6 5 4 V/t 107, 1 57i 63/j Ì1' 107 IIV4 99 li'A 93 03/¡ 101 1 105 7V4 96 10»/* 102 51/4 94 574 3 84 63/i 76 6 /4 98 6 96 6 94 3»/4 99 11»/, 85 672 88 l3/i 88 5 88 6 91 11 Vi 94 U7 4 80 5 80 2 63/i 96 5»/i 91 l l ' / i 96 o»/! 88 5s/4 91 H'/i 83 ll»/, 6'/4 81 3 81 3 1'/. 102 57, 102 17'. 100 2 2% 77 80 80 83 87 96 95 95 94 98 93 92 91 91 93 90 93 88 88 90 73 98 108 104 101 80 96 114 110 110 75 90 105 100 98 95 7 92 47, 70 83 93 90 94 74 84 95 91 97 74 9 89 IO»/, 72 71 80 77 90 94 3 94 3 81 88 99 96 93 91 117, 76 83 95 92 88 101 4V, 93 97, 102 57* 100 10 101 Pit 101 9 101 03/ 101 9 94 5 94 1 94 5 94 5 94 1 94 5 76 85 94 93 90 78 88 99 97 99 80 84 95 92 90 100 0 85 9 100 0 85 9 92 0 79 0 95 8 79 0 91 92 104 101 102 91 93 105 102 99 87 5»/4 101 8 6V» 79 OV4 91 0 99 0 83 0 99 0 83 0 77 87 114 117 113 75 91 118 113 109 I1' 1 li 8 9 4 113/, 27v til 0 0 93/4 2 88 88 62 89 84 0 0 87s 07s 107., 113 8 96 3 94 1% 73 10 89 89 90 104 95 8 8 6 l3/4 4»/» 107 8 90 3 94 7V, 73 10 86 86 87 101 92 84 8 86 8 87 6 3 l /4 103 43/i 92 108 93 ih 86 0 68 6 108 93 2 10 6 4 8 à* 86 0 68 6 73 73 67 70 70 88 87 61 76 82 101 100 100 100 104 103 102 101 102 105 97 98 98 101 102 89 82 87 92 89 94 86 91 99 96 123 126 141 136 131 92 96 108 106 103 New Zealand Official Year Book, 1925. The figures are average rates in four principal industrial districts and refer to 31 March of each year. " In calculating the index numbers of real wages, the following cost-of-living index numbers have been used : Base July 1914 -= 100 : February 1920 = 171 : February 1921 = 186 ; February 1922 --165 ; February 1923 157 ; February 1924 = 162. * Including the estimated value of board and lodging. — 108 — TABLE II. AVERAGE NOMINAL WEEKLY WAGE RATES AND INDEX NUMBERS OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN NEW ZEALAND, 1914 AND 1920-1924 • Index numbers of nominal wages (1914 = 100) Average nominal weekly wage rates 2 Categories of workers 1914 s. Agricultural and pastoral workers General farm hands Harvesters Ploughmen Musterers Shepherds Wool-pressers d. 1920 s. d. 41 8 63 0 64 4 112 8 45 8 6 8 0 53 10 79 2 46 6 6 0 6 48 0 94 4*/s 1921 s. d. 53 0 112 8 580 79 2 53 0 101 71/2 1922 s. d. 50 4V«. 90 6 " 54 IV» 112 9 " 56 7>/2 99 0 1923 s. d. 1924 s. 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 151 175 149 147 130 197 127 175 127 147 114 212 121 141 119 209 122 206 124 164 133 190 119 181 124 164 133 190 119 152 d. 51 6V< 51 6 8/4 105 5 105 5 60 11 VJ 60 11 V¡ 102 1 Vs102 l