The Hastings Standard Published Daily. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1896. SWEATING.

Hastings Standard, Issue 94, 14 August 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1896. SWEATING.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

More than half a century ago Tom Hood penned his famous poem, the " Song of the Shirt." What the poet did for the poor seamstresses of England, everybody knows. Since then various persons in various climes have taken up the cause of the overworked and underpaid. A few years ago New Zealand set up a Commission to inquire into the sweating system, and legislation was the result. But although the Factories Act has done much to alleviate the pernicious system, sweating still exists to an alarming extent. It is only when the flashlight publicity is given to such cases as that heard in Wellington yesterday that the ordinary mortal thinks seriously of the question ; and it is only when infamous sweaters* such as Edward Gawne receive the total inadequate punishment of a paltry fine of £5 and costs that indignation is aroused. That a woman in his employ should require to be on duty 15 hours a day for the munificent sum of 8M per hour is a disgrace to the Empire City. But sweating is reported to be very common at the seat of the Government, and it is said that in some of the factories 6s per dozen is paid for finishing trousers. At this price, a woman, working hard, can make about 10s a week. Shirtmaking is reported to give even less remuneration, and longer hours are required to make even 7s 6d per week. When a culprit like Edward Gawne is brought to Justice an example should be made ; but the Wellington Magistrate apparently looked upon the offence as an everyday one, and inflicted a fine totally inadequate for the offence committed.

Wellington is not the only place in New Zealand where sweating is allowed to prevail, and we need not go outside of Hawke's Bay to find people of the Gawne type. Even in Hastings many employees are overworked and underpaid. It was only a week or two ago that we had complaints from domestics servants in the country, where, besides their ordinary work, they were compelled to tend the horses, dip the sheep, and assist in the farm work generally, and all for a sum not at all in keeping with the remuneration given.

If the law protects the worker from the sweating employer, then the law should be enforced in such a manner that the evil must be eradicated at any cost; but if the leniency extended to Gawne is to be extended to all culprits

of the same class then the sooner an amendment is made the better. Imprisonment should take the place of a fine.