The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1895.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 190, 10 August 1895, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1895.

For th.B cause that laoks assistance, For' the -wrong that kseSs resistance, For tie futuro in the distance.' And the tood that wa can ao.

The report of the Department of Labour laid before Parliament contains a mass of information of great value, to everyone who wishes to have a clear and intelligent perception of tbe condition of the ever-increasing army of toilers for daily bread in this colony. When the Department was first created many of the Conservative oigans did not hesitate to declare that it was superfluous, and that the chief persons benefited by it would be a staff of highly-paid officials. The establish, ment of labour bureaux was coldly received by these journalistic prophets of evil, who waxed pathetically eloquent about the encouragement that would be given to loafers, and obstinately shut their eyes to the advantages likely to result from an institution that would aid the employer in his quest for workmen, and give the seeker for work information where employment was to be found. Possibly there are few persons now who would not admit that experience has shown that the Department of Labour has supplied a felt want in the community.

To say nothing of the direct benefits conferred by the Department upon the working classes, it is highly important, it we are to guard against the evils that have grown up in connection with industries in older countries, that we should have full and accurate information of the actual conditions under which labour is carried on in New Zealand.' There is a good deal of loose talk about this country being a working man's paradise, but it is more satisfactory to learn from official records founded upon reliable data whether the rate of wages paid, the sanitary conditions under which workpeople pursue their labours, and the amount of employment forthcoming, are such as to enable the great masses of the people to live in a state of tolerable comfort.

Not the least interesting portion of the annual report is that which deals with the position ot women workers in this colony. The Seddon Government has fully realised the important place which women fill in the industrial army, and, to. quote the words of the report, "It was thought neither wise nor just that the necessities of one half of our population should be neglected, or that women citizens of our colony should not be provided with equal means of escaping destitution as their male relatives, so far as the resources of the Government allow." With this object in view a Labour Bureau for women has been lately established in the Government Buildings at Wellington. The experiment is only in its first stage, but, in the opinion of Mr Tregear, the energetic Secretary of the Labour Department, there are signs that it is likely to prove a success. It is pointed out that there is no wish to interfere with well-conducted private registry offices, but there is a rapidly growing practice of women engaging in employments which were formerly reserved exclusively for men. In many cases the wages paid to feminine workers are less than those received by their male competitors. In common fairness, therefore, women should possess equal facilities with men for gaining information where work is to be obtained.

Another step recently taken by the Government in the interests of women workers was the appointment of Mrs Grace Neill to be an Inspector of Factories. The importance of employing female inspectors in regard to industries in which so many of their sex are engaged is now acknowledged in England as well as in New Zealand. It is gratifying to find that the local experiment has been a success. The Secretary refers in terms of praise to the manner in which Mrs Neill has discharged her duties, and the report she furnishes, which is included in the annual report, gives some interesting particulars respecting various branches of industry which we can easily believe were more apparent to the practised eye of a lady inspector than to the visual organs of the male sex.

The dress-making business has been from time immemorial one of the main sources of employment for girls who were obliged to earn a livelihood, and it is not satisfactory to learn that Mrs Neill considers the trade is at present on tbe decline. Various reasons are assigned for this. The leading dressmakers, Mrs Neill states, suffer from the fact that " society ladies who wish to be stylish and up to date, get their smartest frocks from Paris London, Melbourne, or Sydney, and let the local tailor build them a tweed suit for practical wear." The modern

simplification of dress "in the prevalent, fashion of plain skirt, coat and blouse," and scientific methods of measuring and fitting, whereby every woman can be her own dressmaker, are among the reasons which, in the opinion, of the inspector, depress the trade, and many dressmakers who have to earn a living, go out to work at from as to 3S per day. Mrs Neill concludes that "the chances of a girl earning a fair living at dressmaking are very slight." We think, however, that Mrs Neill has overlooked an important factor in this connection. It is a very common practice in middle - class families where there are many girls, for one or two of them to learn the dressmaking business, and among their own circle of friends these young ladies do a large amount of dressmaking which never comes within the ken of factory inspectors. They are thus enabled to contribute very materially towards their own support, or even to maintain themselves entirely.

The tailoring trade, so far as women are concerned, she considers in a much more encouraging condition thau dressmaking, and there is a steady increase in the number of,girl workers employed in it. Dunedin is quoted as affording an instance of the benefits that result from organisation. The numerically large proportion of girls employed in the clothing trade in that city enables them to employ a Secretary who devotes herself to their interests. As protection is thus afforded against undercutting, and the log rates are uniform the Dunedin girl workers are placed at a distinct advantage over many of their fellow tradeswomen in other cities. The good effects, Mrs Neill states, are apparent in the healthy appearance and exceptionally fine physique and independence of character, that as a rule characterise Dunedin women workers employed in the tailoring trade.

Although there is room for improvement in the condition of women workers in this colony, their lot is far superior to that of factory employees in Great Britain. On this subject Mr Tregear writes :—" The class of factory hands'on this side of the world is so much stronger and better in every way—in physique, intelligence and education — that tbe principle of high wages for superior work is established. I have been informed by an employer having large establishments in Great Britain and some in this colony, that the average rate paid by him to women workers in England, is from ios to 15s a week. The New Zealand branch of his firm paiys its girls from^i to jQx ios a week, and can well afford to do so because the superior strength and ability of the colonial hand, allows a class of material to be committed to their charge which is never allowed to be touched by the employees in the Old Country." The manager of Messrs Bell and Black's match factory in Wellington gives similar testimony, and Mrs Neill contrasts the condition of the Old World factory girl—bare-headed, gaudy, and noisy—with the neatlydressed, well-educated girls who work eight hours a day in New Zealand woollen mills. One great aim of social reformers should be to. maintain this high standard among our workers, and in this respect the Labour Department renders material assistance.