The first of these modes is what is technically termed “_driving_,”
especially when effected by compulsory “overwork;” and it is called
the “economy of labour” when brought about by more elaborate and
refined processes, such as the division of labour, the large system
of production, the invention of machinery, and the _temporary_, as
contradistinguished from the _permanent_, mode of hiring.
Each of these modes of making workmen do _more_ work for the _same_
pay, can but have the same depressing effect on the labour market, for
not only is the _rate_ of remuneration (or ratio of the work to the
pay) reduced when the operative is made to do a greater quantity of
work for the same amount of money, but, unless the means of disposing
of the extra products be proportionately increased, it is evident that
just as many workmen must be displaced thereby as the increased term or
rate of working exceeds the extension of the markets; that is to say,
if 4000 workpeople be made to produce each twice as much as formerly
(either by extending the hours of labour or increasing their rate of
labouring), then if the markets or means of disposing of the extra
products be increased only one-half, 1000 hands must, according to
Cocker, be deprived of their ordinary employment; and these competing
with those who are in work will immediately tend to reduce the wages
of the trade generally, so that not only will the _rate_ of wages
be decreased, since each will have more work to do, but the actual
earnings of the workmen will be diminished likewise.
Of the economy of labour itself, as a means of cheapening work,
there is no necessity for me to speak here. It is, indeed, generally
admitted, that to economize labour without proportionally extending
the markets for the products of such labour, is to deprive a certain
number of workmen of their ordinary means of living; and under the head
of casual labour so many instances have been given of this principle
that it would be wearisome to the reader were I to do other than allude
to the matter at present. There are, however, several other means of
causing a workman to do more than his ordinary quantity of work. These
are:--
1. By extra supervision when the workmen are paid by the day. Of this
mode of increased production an instance has already been cited in the
account of the strapping-shops given at p. 304, vol. ii.
2. By increasing the workman’s interest in his work; as in piece-work,
where the payment of the operative is made proportional to the
quantity of work done by him. Of this mode examples have already been
given at p. 303, vol. ii.
3. By large quantities of work given out at one time; as in
“lump-work” and “contract work.”
4. By the domestic system of work, or giving out materials to be made
up at the homes of the workpeople.