SWEATING IN AUCKLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5518, 21 September 1892, Page 3

SWEATING IN AUCKLAND.

» j The Auckland Star says :~" We hare on several occasions dealt with the unsatisfactory condition of women engaged m various brunches of tba clothing trade. Our hopo wag that the efforts of Miss Morrison would result m such an improvement bb would commend itself equally to employers and workwomen. The efforts of tho enorgetio secretary of the Tailoroiaea Union to procure a fair rate of wages for tbe workers bay)) been to a great extent baffled by tbe opposition of some of the manufacturers. The fact) revealed are aa painful as they are startling, and certainly give lotno colouring to the sarcasm Isvolled at us by our Dunedin rivals that ' Auckland bi<is fair to become tbe sweatshop of the colony.' If ever there were reasons to justify a combination of workers, they oxist m oonnection with tbe clothing trade m Auckland. Not only are the wages paid to girls wretchedly inadequate, but shirt-makiag, for example, shows an Ominous tendency to develop all tbe woret features that havo associated this branch of industry with poverty and suffering m the old country. We think most persons will agree with us that such a state of affairs is nothing short of scandalous. In deeiriog the reoognition of the union and the general acceptance of log rates, workwomon are asking nothing unreasonable. The proposals made to manufacturers by Mies Morri«on, on behalf of the Auckland Tailoresses' Union, ure distinguished by their moderation. In the matter of apprentices, for instance, tbe tailoresses do not seek to interfere with existing oonditions, although the number is ont of all proportion. In Dunedin the proportion of apprentices accepted at the conference with manufacturers was one apprentice to every five journeywomen. The tailoraesoi id Auckland, however, offered to allow one apprentice to three experts, and, that being refused, have gone a slop further nnd offered to submit tho whole question lo arbitration ; but this proposal has beeu declined by employers. Mies Morrison and her colleagues doprecatn strikes but we hopo tho pressure of public oninion will be so strong that if manufacturers will not cjo so of thejr own free motion their sense of justice to thejr employes will be qulokened by a strong remonstrance of a justly jnconsed pommunjty. 4' the preient moment there ore many tajlore?BBB m fair and eunny Auckland who are toiling.for a ntarvßjt<on pittance. It is riot only with regard tp'tbe e«anty images she receives that tbe tailoress has groupd pf pproplaipt. Tb.s whole system oil which tbe clothing trade is worked m AuoWsnd j> rppreheoßible to tbe l#;fc

degree, and one to which manufacturers' tonaciously adhere. The number of apprentices m come Auckland faclories i» simply regulated by the will of the tmployer. It is | stated that m one establishment at present 14 apprentices uro employed to one expert worker. Tbe effects of employing 10 man; unskilled hands will be that work turned out m Auckland must necessarily be of inferior quality. We are informed that one Auckland firm sends tiork to Dunedin to an establish- ■ ment whero the highest, wages are paid. The I Auckland firm wo have mentioned find it to their nd vim! age to pay oitra to hnvo good work turned out rather tlian an inferior sort done by apprentices."