AND ON THE CONTINENT.

135

1817 96s. lid. Such variations in prices represented a completeuncertainty of existence for the operative. Regularity of livingconditions is the first essential for a regulated standard of living.According to Chadwick’s estimates, which refer to retail inter-course, prices for food fell from the “ thirties ” in the followingproportion (12).

An operative’s family, consisting of man, wife, and threechildren from two to seven years of age, requires weekly for food : —

Prices for similar quantities in

1887.

1859.

1849.

1839.

I.—Bread, etc.:—

s. d.

s. d.

S. d.

s. d.

Eight 4 lb.loaves .. 1

6 lb. of flour .. 1

4 8f

5 4

5 8

7 6

Half-peck of oatmeal)II.—Meat :—

5 lb. beef .. ..)

2 lb. bacon .. .. J

3 ni

4 0£

4 5

4 0J

III.—Accessories :—

40 lb. potatoes ..)

7 qts. milk .. 1

Vegetables, etc. .. J

4 6*

4 3

4 3

4 3

IV.—Colonial Products ,

etc., including:—

3 lb. sugar .. .. \

J lb. coffee .. .. |

I- lb. tea .. .. f

1 lb. butter .. .. J

5 3

(1 11

He*

8 !)J

Totals ..

18 5i

20 6|

21 H

24 /I

The following were the prices of the most important necessaries :

1887.

1859.

1849.

1839.

Pence.

Pence

Pence.

Pence.

Flour, per lb. ..

1-41 ..

166

1-83

2

Fresh meat, do.

6*

64

8

7

.. 64

Bacon, do.

63-

<)

8

Tea, do.

2/2

•• 4/4

.. 6/-

Sugar, do.

2

5

.. 5

.. 7

Soap, do.

3

4

.. 5

.. 5

At present, however, there is a reduction of from 5 to 10 percent, on these prices for articles which are supplied by co-opera-tive stores, which is the usual mode as regards the better-situatedoperatives of centralised industries. House-rent has risen little,

12. D. Chadwick : “ Expenditure of Wages,” read at the British Association,Manchester, 5th Sept., 1887.