Introduction

Errand boy 1895. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/420

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Wages and earnings information is essential for any discussion of the local standard of living. Some minimum wage rates across particular trades were put in place in the early 20th century and correspondingly we hold records concerning various legislation. Generally speaking central government became more interested in social issues such as unemployment and general standards of living, towards the end of the 19th century. At that time local and national government expanded and it took a direct, interventionist role in local and regional economies.

For the record:

Wages and payments can be found here in a wide variety of the records including those published in Parliamentary Papers. But local historians should be aware that they may only record wages for short periods of time, for specific areas and in particular occupations. Some information on local wages, or payments made for work done, can be found in:

Examples of the above would include such material such as:

Local historians need to be aware that many of the records created by the government relate to agreed minimum wage rates (such as those of the Agricultural Wages Committee in MAF 64) rather than actual earnings.

There is also some local wage information, which was collected during the general Strike in 1926. See chapter 3: General Strike.

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