THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8732, 19 February 1890, Page 4

THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

The Sweating Commission continued its inquiries at the Education Board office yesterday at 10.30 a.m. Present—Mr J. Fulton, M.H.E. (chairman), Rev. R. Waddell, aud Mr Colin Allan.

James Williams, manager and secretary of the City and Suburban Tramways Company, gave a detailed account of the hours in which the conductors worked on the various lines under the company's control. The wages of the majorit-y ranged from 27s 6d to 32s 6d, in addition to which they each mada about 4s in commission. The conductors had a Sunday off now and again, those on one line having two Sundays oH every H weeks, aud those on another line two Sundays off every 11 weeks. The average number of hours worked on Suudav was four. The long " shilt," about which so muoli complaint was made, came only once in 14 wpeks. On the Ocean Beach line there were four lioys employed each receiving 25s per week. On the Water of Leitli cars there were four boys employed for starting the cars. Their ages were from 17 to 18, and they received 183 per week. The company had nothing to do with tho drivers of the cars. Mr Feaniiey in his evidence spoke about the holiday traffic, and witness would just fay, regarding that, that on holidays when the traffic was so great the 33 conductors could not overtake the work, and the car cleanerß and even the clerks i n the office had to be put on as conductors. While the cars were out they had to stick to the work till it was completed. The total amount of fines stopped last year was only £8 53 from all the men. When the conductors were worked overtime they were always paid extra, at the rate of 6d per hour. If they were uot relieved in their dinner hour they were paid extra for that. Fearnley'B statement that he worked all day without a chance of food was total nonsense, because he had at least 10 minutes at each terminus. There was accommodation at the head office for the men when they had spare time. Witness knew that the cars wore sometimes overloaded, but it was only on holidays that such a thing occurred. The officers of the company had on several occasions been obliged to call in the assistance of the police to have people off a car when they considered it was over-loaded. Walter Hewbury, hairdresser, said that in the

shop in George street in which he worked the employes were engaged from 8 a.m. till 9.30 p.m. On Saturday they were working till 12 p.m. An hour was allowed for dinner and three-quarters of an hour for tea. The wages were 25s a week. He knew that the same hours were kept in other shops. Joseph Braithwaite, bookseller, &c, said he had five men, two boys, and eight females working in his shop. The latter started at 9 a.m., and half their number worked till 6 one night and then till 9 next ulght. The|other half did the same next night. An hour was allowed for dinner and tea. All his employes were allowed a half holiday .every fortnight, and he gave each one a fortnight every year. Wages ranged from 10s per week, up to £3. 'The females were started at 10s, and the highest of them got from 27s to 30s. The men received from £1 to £3. There were chairs all through his establishment, and witness had repeatedly tuld the lady assistants to take advantage uf them. He had seen them ute the chairs. If witness closed his shop at C o'clock he would lose nothiug if all Bhops like his would do the tame, and the public would not lose by it, he thought, as they would make other arrangements. It was principally the working claBS that patronised him after G o'clock. He thought it would be a good thing to have Friday a late night, and a half holiday on Saturday. He had felt a little disappointed on the fact that it was the working class that patronised his shop after 6 o'clock. He thought a law should be passed compelling all shops to shut at 6 o'clock. About one-thii d of his takings during tiie day were received between 8 and 9 o'clock at night. Witness did not think it would bo a hardship to close a baker's or a confectioner's shop at 6 at night, as the public would get into the way of buying before that hour,

The commission them adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The President of the Typographical Society gave evidence regarding the rate for compositors and weekly wages paid in the various printing offices iv JJunedin, which he considered inadequate. The gravest difficulty, however, was boy labour, which had assumed very serious proportions. In one office there were more than two boys to every man employed ; another printing llrm had one" man to 13 co.va, anil by another girls were employed ac the printing trade. Boys were taken on for throe months for nothing, and then frequently told they were unsuitable; and the wages paid to thoie retained were 6s a week for 15 months, with an increase afterwards of 2a Gd per week per annum. A seamstress gave evidence showing that great advantages had resulted from the union. She had now no complaint*to make; could live comfortably, while before it was a hard struggle for existence. About 12 months sluce the most she made was 10s (id a week working from 9 a.m. to l'l p.m., and Bho could now make within factory hours 12s or 13s a weak. It was i\ Meaning not to be allowed to take worli home, A journeyman butcher, who said that his cisc was a typical one, had merely to complain of the long hours of labour—from 8 a.m. to at least 8.31) p.m. on all days but Saturdays, when the hours extended to 11 p.m. There was no reason for keeping open after 0 p.m., incept excessive competition and the failure of master butchers to keep faith with each other as to the time of closing. ftothiDg but «n net of Parliament, preventing employes being kept after a specified hour would in bis opinion meet the case. All laat winter he had not seen his own house by daylight on a week day. His own children knew him, but his position reminded him strongly of a story he had hoard of a boy. who having been struck by his own father in the street, rim home and tolit his mother thnt the man who stajed there on Sundays had been hitting him. The commission adjourned shortly before 10 p.m. until 10 o'clock ou Thursday morning. At the last sitting of the H. M. Court, Tapamii, Mr J. Y. Herbert, Ardmore station, cued one of his shearers named A. Whyto for £b damages for absenting himself from shoal-ing without leave. After evidence had been taken, judgment was given for plaintifl for £3 and costs (6s). WHY KUMAIN DKiP ?-If you have failed to bo cured elsewhere, write or apply to Professor Hiuvey, of the '• Aural Clinio," 145 Collins street, Melbourne for a description of the new, scientific, and entirely successful iilectro-Medication Treatment, whioh completely cures Denfneu, Noises in the Head, Discharges, &c, no matter of how long standing. Har drums no longer necessary. " This treatment is per/eetlysimplo, self-applied,and painless." Advice and illustrated descriptive pamphlet free. N.U.—The Aural Clinic's Kleotric Head Battery Is the only one patented throughout the civilised world.