WAGES AND PRODUCTION.

Colonist, Volume XXX, Issue 5024, 6 October 1887, Page 4

WAGES AND PRODUCTION.

Milhall, writing of wages, says:— "British operatives earn from 30 to 38 rer cent of the manufactures they produce, but in the United States the workman gets only 18 per cent, although in other respects he is beiter off than his English brother." And he also gives a table to show that in 1850 the United States artisan earned in wages 23 per cent, and in 1880 he earned less than 18 per cent of the Take of manufactures. " This small ratio of wages," ho adds, "explains how Americans are able to compete . with European nations, where labor is cheaper, and to undersell even British manufacturers in many things." -Towards the conclusion" of the chapter on "wages," Mulhall goes on to show that the product per operative in the United States has risen 88 per cent since 1850, white wages have only risen 48 per cent. The improvement ia production has been double the rise in wages, thus confirming the principle that the beet paid operatives are the most productive, and consequently (he cheapest. It is necessary to explain that the average vrage paid to the operatives had been previously cited for 1880 as follows :—

The position of the last-named being .the best on the list, as only 80 per cent of his wages, as against 83 per cent of the wages of the United States artisan, are needed for food.

Great Britain Europe United States Australia .. Shillings per week. Wages. Food. .. 31/- 14/- .. 20/- 11/- .. 48/. .16/- .. 40/- 12/-