HOBBLE SKIRT STRIKE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13277, 30 November 1911, Page 4

HOBBLE SKIRT STRIKE.

That the "horrible hobble" would have the far-reaching and evil effect it has on trade, not even its^enemies could foresee, but the mischief is now made evident by the fact that, entirely owing to tho introduction of the tight skirt, the whole- of the girl employees of the Brook Manufacturing Company, at Northampton, numbering J,200, were locked out on October 12tii.

The girls, owing to tho introduction of the hobble skirt, and the consequent decrease in the demand for underskirts, had been assigned other work, at which- they declare they cannot earn a living wage.

Previous to the introduction of the hobble fashion, the whole of the girls were engaged in the making of underskirts, .it which they were able to earn as mucli as £1. per week. The hobble skirt de::lt a deadly blow at the underskirt makers, and the firm, rather than dismiss the girls, introduced the making of children's pinafores, the payment for which is fivepence per dozen. The most expert underskirt girls assert that they cannot make more than three dozen pinafores a day, and the return for their hard work does not amount to a living wage. About I^o of them struck, and the rest were in consequence locked out.