PROVISION FOR WORKMEN IN MANUFACTORIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11484, 25 July 1899, Page 6

PROVISION FOR WORKMEN IN MANUFACTORIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Being on a visit to the colony, I had the pleamro of being shown over some of tho largest of the manufactories and foundries.' Like many others, I was greatly surprised at tho want of accommodation for the workmon. On duo occasion I passed through a foundry at meal time, and was more than surprised to see the men sitting about eating their midday meal. I inquired if the firm did not provide a placo for the men to havo their dinner in, as there was not even hot water or soap to cleanse their hands before taking their meals.' Sir, have you no law here to make employerssupply the necessaries for cleanliness among the workmen? To me it seems ijiost selfish on the part of the employer to deny his men such a paltry thing. I have seen numbers of works at Home, where hot water and soap v/ero supplied to the workers, and a room for them to' take their meals in, and many workmen here living in the" suburbs bring their, midday meal with them. Surely it is not much to ask for a place in which to parlako of the same. I should liko to see some of tho employers of labour visit tho large works at Home and take a lesson.—l am, etc.,. ■ ; .Cleanliness. .