THE WHITE SLAVES OF BRADFORD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2355, 29 March 1897, Page 3

THE WHITE SLAVES OF BRADFORD.

TO THB BpITOB OF THB TIMARtf HSRAtn. Sir,— l have no doubt but Jihat a great many of your readers experibricbd a feeling of righteous indignatiori after perusing the article on the Bubjectof?.the Bradford wooleombers and the "abomination of woolcombing as carried out Jit Bradford." With your permissibn'T. should be glad of a little space J m which to point out a few inaccuracies. Takingthe article from Pearson's Magazine first,. I noticed m one of my recent Home papers that this article had been forwarded to the Textile Operatives Union m Bradford by the Government authorities m London with a request for information and recommendations on the matter, and that the answer returned was that " the article m question so grossly misrepresented the true state of affairs as to rendep any further action unnecessary." This coming from an association of operatives most directly concerned m the business' should be a sufficient answer as to the reliability of the statement contained m the article referred to. There is however a well known saying that "' where there is smoke there is sure to be fire," and m the combing trade m Bradford there will be found conditions of labour demanding radical reforms ; but here It is necessary to draw the line and say that it is not m connection with— quoting again from your leader — those whose work it is to take the greasy wool aa shipped from Timaru, say, and cleanse and Otherwise prepare it for the spinner." Judging from the article frbrh Pearson's Magazine and the reference made therein to the "foul noisome yellow dust," I have no doubt; but that >the grain of truth upon which the article is based was obtained from one of those establishments engaged m preparing a low, grade of mohair, the bulk of which iB imported from that home of abomination, Turkey, and which is used for the production of lustres, Sicilians, mttmirß, aad other

lately fashionable materials for ladies' dresses, etc., the Craze for which haa m no small way assisted ih bringing about the present low prices forcolonial wools. I am sorry that I have not available any statistics astothe number of men who have met with an early and untoward death by " woolster's disease," an m- - curable malady contracted when working; amongst this pestilential stuff m its raw state, the virulence of which is so acute that, it is seldom that twenty»four hours elapse before the contraction of the^disease-andthedeathiof the sufferer; So lonß, however, as Dame. Fashion de- 7 mapds ;-the, wearing, of .such fabrics, I suppbWhuman life will be di Utile'corisideration. From a humanitarian point 'oj. View it would be as commendable for ou^ sympathetic ladies to bind themselves "tbgetlier Tti 1 for the tiup>, pression of thi s* lustre cH^fe atftb auppiress thejuse of ..birds'" plumage m the iii aiming of their hats and bonnets. ■-- / I am, etc., ■' ? Edwin Bold.