Star.
London, England, 1830-07-23 00:00:00

~~

~DIS'

N°. 13,533.

INTERRSTING PARLIAMENTARY PAPER.

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NARDWARB AND METALS.

(Continued from the liras of yesterday.
fluErTlZLD.—Frout accounts laid before Committee,your it
appears there are at least eleven different branches of manufacture
in steel and metal goods carried on in Sheffield and its vicinity.
comprising manufactures of—lit, table knives ; 2d, pen-knives and
pocket-knives • 3d, scissors ; 4th, razors ; sth, files ; 6th, saws ;
7th, ;001;1; Bth, fenders and stove grates ; 9th. Britannia me.
tel
r
s; 10th, silver and silver plating ; 11th, cut nails, Itc.-1
of these trades exhibits a curious instance of the subdivision
of labour, there being, in each, three, four, or five different sets of
workmen engaged in the completionjof each article; as, for Instance,
for knives—forgers, grinders, and finishers; for files—forgers,
grinders, cutters, and hardeners; for saws—smiths, grinders, handle
makers, and finishers. And each of these subdivisions are spin
divided into best, second, and third rate workmen, earning various
rates of wages. As an approximation to their average earnings, it
has been stated to your Committee that
The best class earn about 2ss. per week.
The second class
The third clam
For one of the highest class, there are three of the second, and
eight of the third. In several of these trades, boys earn -
tonally ; and women also get einploymmt at fair wages. All
persons are paid in , aml plurally work by the piece. They
comprise not less than I N peens.. in the town of 84*ffield alone.
It has been stated to pee Committee, that formerly two-thirds of
their manufactures was used at home ; now the foreign consump-
tion IS about one-half the whole. Having stated at some length the
division of employment in Sheffield, your Committee will not repeat
the same d silks as applicable to Birmingham, but only remark,
that there also the workmen may, it is said, be divided into three,
classes, earning respectively about 12s. 18e. and 245. per week,
working ten hours each day, and six days per week; that women
and children are enabled to get considerable earnings in many
trades, and that all the workmen are paid in money, and generally
by the
_piece.
In Wormsau.turrow—Your Committee are informed that the
locksmiths, though working fourteen hours per day, have lately
earned not more than from 11s. to 14s. per week, being a great re.
duction on their former wages. The screw.makers (about 1000 in
number) and hinge-makers, have laboured under a similar depres-
sion. The wages of these workmen, it is said, were steady till after
the peace ; in 1814, a great depremion commenced, which continued
in 1817 ; from 1818 to 1822, a gradual improvement took place;
in 1823, 1824, and 1825, wages advanced higher than ever; in
1828, they came down, and have ever since been gradually lower.
It is asserted by experienced manufacturers of Wolverhampton,
that, before the Peace, one-third of the locks, screws, hinges and
edge.tools, were for exportation, but new they do not exceed one.
sixth ; that the Germans and Fkmings are beginning to compete
with us, and that the American Tarif has operated injuriously to
our heavy goods. alone of these classes of workmen made any pro.
Ivision for want of work, but are described, during the time of high
wftn, as generally improvident and extravagant. There are other
trades (as the japannen, near 500 in number, who earn from 1L to
30s. per week) who have not experienced these reverses.
Your Committee abstain from entering into any farther details as
to the amount of earnings, or the fluctuations in employment, in
others trades or manufactures, but content themselves with obser-
ving, that they apprehend the same general results would arise from
inquiries respecting them.
On the average of several years, it will be found that there is
considerable fluctuation in the demand for labour in each manufac-
ture, and that the amount of earnings in most cases, if spread at all
equally over the whole period, would suffice for the support •in de.
cent comfort of those employed.
Before your Committee state the plan which they think might be
adopted to lessen the evils arising from temporary want of work,
it will be incumbent on them to detail shortly how working me.
thanks and manufacture. are now assisted in each cases.

In lame of the trades in London (particularly the tailors) all the
journeymen are in organised clubs, for mutual support during want
of work ; and out of the general fund, to which they all contribute
when in work, each man out of employment has a right to a weekly
allowance, not limited b the amount be may have before contri-
buted. However be in some respects such a society may be
in a home trade, where the demand for labour is much greater at
one period of the year than another, it yet appears to operate as a
combination to regulate and keep up wages ; and so far has this been
the case, that no reduction in the wages of these persons appears to
I have taken place since 1816, notwithstanding the change in price of
almost every article of life. Your Committee do not enter on any
consideration of the operatien of this system, relative to the wages
of those j who are employed entirely on articles of home
consumption = but it seems evident, that if the same kind of coenbi.
nation existed among workmen manufacturing articles of export
(coming into competition with the fabrics of other countries,) that
such a system might be productive of the worst effects ; your Com.
mittee indeed apprehend it would be of way short duration, and, as
far as it went, would be injurious, and it would deceive the hopes
of those who trusted in it. _ _ _ _ _ _

The jOgiiney 73,;1;-b;uiiiinakers throughout the whole kingdom
(not mere than 1000 In number,) and some other trades, belong
to similar eoriedea. - - _ _

In the neport of the Combination laws, much evidence will be
found on this point. Without entering farther upon the subject, it
does not appear to your Committee advisable to give any additional
legal facilities to the extension of such societies, which, however ad.
vantageoue in some respects, appear to have the effect of keeping up
jealousies between masters and men.
Among the carpet manufacturers, and several other trades, there
are clubs (or unions of trade) for mutual aid in want of employ.
meat. Few of these have any fund beforehand, but draw the sup.
port from increased contributions by the men who remain at work;
have no secure investment for their money, and no legal mode of
compelling the observance of their rules.
By far the greater portion of the manufacturers and mechwies
throughout the kingdom have however at present no fund for my.
port during a cessation of employment; a few, of superior chows%
have a sniall deposit in a Savings Bank, but an overwhelming sem.
jority have no resource when out of work, but to live much sum,
to exhaust their credit, pawn their clothes and furniture, wad, I.
Belly, apply to the parW whereby their spirit is broken ad that
independent feeling lost.
In cases of temporary stagnation of demand, for any manufacture,'
one of two courses appears to be adopted by master manufacturers
as they are very different in their Jae., and have an important ra
Terence to the subject which your Committee are now considering,
they think it right briefly to describe them. In the one ease, on the
demand for goods becoming sleek, the quantity nude le also dimi-
nished ; a less amount of work being given out, and the workmen
paid (by the piece) nearly as much se before. Having, however, but
three or four days work per week, they are obliged to betake them.
selves for support dozing the other days to whatever fund their tow.
dieught may have provided t thereby, the quantity of goods made
Wow reduced nearly to the real demand, no glut is formed in the
market, and on the temporary depression being removed, the men
again resume their work without peat loss. This Is the ever with
several trades having a fund to fall back upset, and appeals •benel.
dal to all parties.
In the other we, where there is no fund or provision for support
during temporary stagnation of demand, the reduction takes place
by lowering the wages of workmen on the same amount of work
doe i the consequence of which is, that they endeavour to make up
dillossoo by lengthening the bows of labour, and redoubling
titsmosidoss hereby, at the time when the actual doused for
Auk sMaufacture is the least, raising the supply to the highest
OIL
lip di means a accumuladon of the goods undo takes place;
la OM when an demand again 1111110310Cas it tabs a
I eg dies to work off the stem in the-hands of capitalists. which
bars boss supplied at a Me of wages ruinously lento the waiting
classes. This must alms* always take Ow where eselmmes have
no fund to depend ss Amin a dbai ss of their eandoige, And
shows stroniely obausingsatanis piewhiem.
In many important trades Ade Is mom or hos the ; has boo
exemplified lately in the Less made at Wolombompeos sad am.'
were; and • very isteIiisesoMMAISMNANIIIISnit sf Ilbachemee
4111111111 that in the moo trade 464110 is of pima Alamo always
ammomaidod by dm ipssmot of work dem"
Your Comit“ ow SO Mate MI Outline at the Plan
they have conddered, Amy *IA may be radially hart:-
doced ea as to lams &swift ailing has she lisatvadom if em.
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Senzilptimat Fund limiodeoof sIW sup* of osy: jades
or rant might