Edited by H. de B. GIBBINS, M.A. Crown 8vo., 2s. 6d. A series of volumes upon these topics of social, economic, and industrial interest that are at the present moment foremost in the public mind. Each volume is written by an author who is an acknowledged authority upon the subject with which he or she deals, and who treats the question in a thoroughly sympathetic but impartial manner, with special reference to the historic aspect of the subject. The following Volumes of the Series are now ready. 1. TRADE UNIONISM-NEW AND OLD. G. HOWELL, M.P., Author of The Conflicts of Capital and Labour. Second Edition. 2. PROBLEMS OF POVERTY: An Inquiry into the Industrial Condition of the Poor. J. A. HOBSON, M.A. 3. THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT TO-DAY. G. J. Holyoake, Author of The History of Co-operation. 4. MUTUAL THRIFT. Rev. J. FROME WILKINSON, M.A., Author of The Friendly Society Movement. 5. THE COMMERCE OF NATIONS. C. E. BASTABLE, LL.D., Professor of Political Economy in the University of Dublin. 6. THE ALIEN INVASION. W. H. WILKINS, B.A., Secretary to the Association for Preventing the Immigration of Destitute Aliens. (With an Introductory Note by the Right Reverend the Bishop of Bedford.) 7. THE RURAL EXODUS: Problems of Village Life. P. ANDERSON GRAHAM. 8. LAND NATIONALISATION. 9. A SHORTER WORKING-DAY. GIBBINS, M.A. HAROLD Cox, B.A. R. A. HADFIELD, and H. DE B. 10. BACK TO THE LAND. HAROLD E. MOORE, F.S.I. 11. TRUSTS, POOLS, AND CORNERS. J. STEPHEN JEANS. 12. FACTORY LEGISLATION. R. W. COOKE TAYLOR, Author of The Modern Factory System, etc. 13. WOMEN'S WORK. LADY DILKE, AMY BULLEY, and Margaret WHITLEY. 14. THE STATE AND ITS CHILDREN. GERTRUDE TUCKWELL. Other Volumes are in preparation. METHUEN & CO., 36, ESSEX STREET, W.C. PREFACE THE writers of the present volume have a purely practical object in view. They have no desire to discuss, theoretically, the duties, rights, and responsibilities of women. They consider that it would be unwise to give prominence to considerations affecting the political or social position of women, in a work dealing specially with their industrial situation. On the other hand, they are fully aware that there is a necessary connection between the views which appear to be in course of formation as to the proper position of women in the labour market, and the change which has taken place in the standpoint from which all questionseven the most abstract-regarding the condition of women are now discussed. Various reforms have been forced on us within the last thirty years through the necessity of recognising, legally and socially, that development in the relations of women to the state and to society which has been brought about by the pressure of the altered circumstances of modern life. Unfortunately, the agitation which has accompanied the carrying of these reforms has been characterized, in some directions, by a deplorable lack of self-control and judgment on the part of certain of 205567 |