Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/427

NOTES AND MEMORANDA 405 Comparing the increase in female population in 1885 over 1875, with the increase in the number of women engaged in gainful pursuits in 1885 over 1875, it is found that while the female population increased 17'69 per cent. between 1875 and 1885, the number of women en- gaged in gainful pursuits during the same time increased 64'56 per cent. The male workers have increased 1'16 times as fast as the male population; the female workers have increased 3'65 times as fast as the female population. AGE PERIODS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN INDUSTRY. PERCENTAGES. Percentage of Population Percentage of whole Population Age Periods. engaged in gainful pursuits. at same Age Periods. Women. Men. Women. Men. 10 to 13 years 0'13 0'55 14 ,, 19 ,, 23'19 11'69 61'11 64'91 20 ,, 29 ,, 41'08 28'17 59'77 95'40 30 ,, 39 ,, 15'05 22'46 30'44 97'74 40 ,, 49 ,, 8'72 17'16 22'58 96'82 50 ,, 59 ,, 5'45 11'48 19'79 93'70 60 ,, 79 ,, 5'86 8'76 21'80 75'46 80 years and over 0'51 0'27 15'84 27'55 Unknown 0'01 0'01 Totals 100'00 100'00 36'26 80'13 It is obvious from the above table that a large proportion of the working women eventually marry and retire froin 'gainful' occupation. Of the male workers 67'69 per cent. were single, and 32'81 per cent. were married, of the females 88'29 per cent. were single, and 11'71 per cent. married, the word' married' including ' widowed or divorced.' For an examination into the effect, if any, of the increased employment of women, on the birth, death, and marriage rates, the reader must be referred to the report itself. Cr,ZmA E. COLL?.T i?ECENT LEGISLATION AND PARLIAMENTARY I)AP. ERS 1 An Act has just been passed by the Governor-General of India in Council to amend the Indian Factories Act, 1881, and it will come into operation on the 1st of July. It is not to be applicable to indigo fac- tories or premises situated on and solely used for the purposes of a tea or coffee plantation, or to factories running less than four months in the course of the year, or to factories employing less than fifty manual labourers simultaneously, or to works of any kind where steam, water, or other mechanical po?er is not used, or to any factory which the Governor-General in Council may from time to time, by notification in the Gazette of India, exclude from its operation, or the operation of any I The Editor regrets that he has been compelled by want of space to postpone the greater part of the matter falling under this head.