THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4828, 26 April 1890, Page 3

THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

(By Teleobaph.) WELLINGTON, Apbil 25. Before the Sweating Commission, a youth, aged 19, a printer, stated that he had been induced to leave England by an immigration agent who told him that he would receive a vacanoy as a cadet on a farm m Taranaii. When he arrived at tbe latter place he was put m a liverj stable, and had to work 17 lioura a day for 03 a week, afterwards was put on a farm, but got no payment. He had been offered work at both the Cape and Hobart, but the agent who was on board told him, "you don't do anything of tho sort. There is plenty of work m XamDalii and you will be better off on a farm." Several other witnesses said they were m the eamo position as himself. A gentleman atteuded and stated that two lads who arrived by the Tongariro would have been taken on as improvers by the local bootmakers, but wero prevented by the Trades Union. ' Two cabinet makers complained of tho number of boys employed m the tradn m proportion ta the number of men. Before the Sweating Commission a solicitor attended for tho purpose of making some statements regarding tha overworking of clerks engaged m banks, mercantile houses, etc. He had, he stated, iv his possession figures which showed conclusively that clerks wore underpaid and overworked, but tho difficulty to be encountered was that if he were to give any of these figures to the Commicsion tbe mercantile firm, banking company, or other corporation to which they referred, would immediately identify thoje of their employees who had supplied him with the statistics, and a black mark would bo placed against them. He suggested that employers be approached so aB to enable employees to como forward to give evidenco without fear of dismissal. If this was not dono ho suggested that a clause should be inserted m the report of tha Commissioners to tlio effect that it was desirable to appoint another Commission to enquire ioto tho condition of clerks. The chairman said that ho was afraid tlmt managers if approached m tho manner euggeatod would reply that it was not within the scopo of Iho Commission to enquire into the condition of clerks, but tho suggestion for aetting up another Commission would receivo careful consideration. Before tho committee this evening a subcontractor related the grievances under which they suffnrcd occasionally owing to tlio original contractors becoming bankrupt and ho thought they should have some lien on monejs duo to the latter. This was the last evidonco forthcoming but Mr Fulton stated that ho would bo aitlijjg hero until Wednesday drafting tho skeleton of tho report to bs submitted to tho Commission. If uny further evidenco wus tendered ho would call the Commissioners together and accept it. A request was re coif ed from tho Trade and Labour Council of Invercargill for tho Commissioners to visit there and tho chairman agreed to consult tho other Commissioners on the subject when thoy arrived. A letter was received from tho Railway Commissioners thanking tho Commissioners for forwarding the evidoneo given by tho railway omplcyees as tn tho wagCß paid and hours worked, and thoy intimated that they would reply to tho Commissioners moro fully later on. The southern members of tho Commission arrive hero on Wednesday morning.