Note 220 — Chapter VII · THE WAR AND WOMEN SUBSTITUTES; NEW LIGHT ON HOURS, LABOUR-SAVING, FATIGUE, FOOD, AND EFFICIENCY

In 1915 a woman working daily in a munition factory from 7 a.m. to 8.30 p.m., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8.45 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., besides spending two hours daily in transit to and from her work, informed an Inspector that she was able to work these long hours chiefly because of the good food she was able to obtain as the result of increased wages. She had an invalid husband and six children under twelve years to support. Although she paid a woman 8s. a week to mind her children and spent 2s. 6d. on tram fares weekly, still her wages allowed her to feed better than she had ever done before.