_Training and Wages._--_Machine Ruling_ is the only process for which training can be said to exist. In some houses women are still articled or apprenticed to this branch, but in many they simply learn their trade as they can, from the foreman or forewoman. They generally begin as machine feeders of the ruling machine. The secretary of the Union of Bookbinders and Machine Rulers gave the information that women had been first employed as machine rulers about twenty years ago. He himself had learnt his trade under a woman who was head of the whole department. The final wage of a woman machine ruler is 17_s._ to 20_s._ In one case a female ruler was taking 22_s._, but I was told that was because she was a relative of the employer. The minimum wage of a man belonging to the Union is 32_s._ I was informed, however, that the man always worked a heavier machine, generally made the pens, was responsible for the good condition of all the machines, and that his output was always in advance of that of a woman. _Men and Women._--In six businesses (the largest in Birmingham visited) the proportion of women machine rulers is about three to one man. An attempt was made about eight years ago to organise the women machine rulers in Birmingham, but met with no response. The secretary of the men's union informs me, "The reason why the attempt failed is probably that they have little to complain of. The wages vary from 4_s._ to 5_s._ per week for beginners, to £1 per week of fifty-two hours." TABLE PROCESSES. All _table processes_, such as folding, knocking-up, gumming, numbering, paging, interlaying, etc., are done by women. The average wage varies from 8_s._ to about 12_s._ 6_d._ Numbering seems to be about the best. Three numberers had taken 15_s._, but the average maximum was between 11_s._ and 12_s._ 6_d._ ENVELOPE MAKING. _Training._--A beginner is given a teacher, that is, a more experienced worker, for six weeks. The teacher gets the profits of the beginner's work, and the beginner is paid about 4_s._ per week. All the work in the establishment was piecework, with the exception of the new Scotch folding machine, which turns out 25,000 envelopes per day, as against 2,000 done by hand. The day wage is 12_s._ per week. _Sub-divisions._--Envelope folders take 7_s._ to 15_s._ The smallest envelopes are 6_d._ per 1,000, the largest 1_s._ 10_d._ _Average wage_ for folding is 10_s._ to 12_s._ _Stamping_, 7_s._ to 10_s._ _Stitching_, 8_s._ to 10_s._ _Gumming_, 10_s._ to 14_s._ _General Remarks._--Envelope making is not a seasonal trade. _Hours._--Maximum, 49½ per week. 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., winter. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., summer. One week's holiday in August. One week's holiday at Christmas. COLOUR PRINTING. Colour Printing takes about six months to learn well. _Wages._--10_s._ to 12_s._ for a woman. A man employed on a heavier machine took 20_s._ The forewoman takes 14_s._ BOOKBINDING.