"HOME FACTORIES,"

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 95, 23 April 1926, Page 6

"HOME FACTORIES,"

" GIVEN OUT" WORK. AN AGE-OLD PROBLEM. (By to : yy DUNEDIN, this dajr. Evidently there are still many poer women who have to sing "The Song oi the Shirt," and it is not music to tailoresses, shirtmakers and other fejnafc clothing operatives who are employed in regular factories. i Miss J. Runoiman, secretary ot the Dunedin Tailoresses' Union, mentioned dnring a dispute heard at a sitting 6? the Conciliation Council what she described as the "giving out" practice of certain firms. She objected to it, not only because it diverted work from operatives in factories, but also because some of the homes into which such work was sent might be insanitary, Mr. Cookson. for the employers, said that, though the practice might be ia vogue,-be-was not aware of it, and I*B objected to it as strongly as did Misa Runeiman.

Tlio subject was not pressed, and it is likely that widows arid others who aresupporting themselves in tins way* will continue to d° so ?

It was mentioned by Miss Runciman that where such work was done wove supposed to 'be registered under tl*a Factories Act, but, as it was only when occupiers reported themselves that supervision consequent on registration could be exercised, the firms who employed, them and the women who did the work would probably continue on their own terms.