Roland Perry wrote to uk.transport.london on Mon, 1 Nov 2004:

In message , at 17:58:22 on
Mon, 1 Nov 2004, Terry Harper
remarked:
Back in the 1950s, 5/- was about 25% above the hourly rate for labourers, so
today's equivalent would be the minimum wage of £4.90 per hour+25%, say
£6.12. That's a factor of about 24 to 1.

Whereas the £300 vs £20,000 is 67:1

Perhaps the £300 was a little on the low side - being £1.50 an hour or 3
shillings and nine pence an hour.

I was basing that on "Murder must Advertise", which I happen to be
re-reading, where a senior copywriter in an advertising agency was
earning £6.00 per week - I beg his pardon, £6/0/0, or £312 a year. And
Lord Peter Wimsey, if you recall, learning the trade, only made £4/0/0 a
week, or £208. Yet this wasn't considered particularly low....
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 31 October 2004