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GROSS AND NET GAIN OF RISING WAGES 89
go to, when machines improve, is thus not so easy to
determine d pnon:
It is also obvious that even in an advancing com-
munity the remuneration of certain kinds of labourers,
whose numbers continue disproportionate, may either
not increase at aU, or increase very little, the whole
gain from increased productiveness being for the benefit
of the labourers whose own labour improves in quality,
apart from the fact that it is employed on more pro-
ducti~e machines. Strictly speaking, unless there is a
rise in the scale of living, accompanied by an improve-
ment in quality all round, there is no reason why, in
modern times, a man who can only drive a spade into
the ground, or wheel a barrow, or carry bricks up a
ladder, should receive any higher reward than similar
labourers- in former ages. The fact that such labourers
are little better off is not inconsistent with the fact that
workmen general1y receive a larger reward than in any
former period.
The way is thus cleared for answering the question as to
whether the remuneration of labour has increased gener-
ally in proportion to the increased severity of labour.
I t cannot be denied, first of all, that there i~ a great
increase of the productiveness of labour itself, as well
as a great increase of the absolute amount of remunera-
tion. This is admitted on all sides. The increase of
production is the very fact which is assumed. Nor is
the increase of remuneration denied-the only question
is of the proportionate remuneration. Before passing
from this point, however, I should like to dwell a little
on the fact already referred to, of an improvement in
the quality of non-mechanical labour, because, as this
labour is largely the subject of direct exchange without
much intervention of capital, the mere fact of improve-
ment implies almost a proportionate increase of re-
muneration. At any rate, the labourers concerned get
almost the whole benefit, because they exchange with
each other. I refer to such employments as those of
teaching. medical attendance, nursing, domestic service,