Women's Trades Unions.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4869, 7 February 1894, Page 1

Women's Trades Unions.

The report of the Women's Trades Union Association (England) for 1892-3 etates that the present year haß been one of greater depression than the former one, and the discouraging conditions have been more strongly marked. The organisation of workers who are paid below a living wage ia only possible in times of unusual hopefulne s. A satisfactory account is Kiven of the Eopemakere' Union, the membership of same continuing firm end steady. The Confectioners' Union, however, has been dissolved, as juvenile labour does not lend itself to permanent organisation. The Tailoressea' Union is steadily maintaining its position. The Women Booktolders' Union has, however, been dissolved through exceptional circumstances. Mebtings have been held, and lectureß delivered, in great numbers to explain the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Acts to working girls and women. At the annual meeting of the association Mr Stephen Fox, who presided, Baid the aaacc : ation, owing to dißtreßß and other causes, had not made much advance. They had been pushing forward very earnestly the educational -work to Bhow the women and girl workers the real meaning and importance of Trades Unionism. The laat census Bhowed that there were 1,800,000 working women, and he should over-estimate the number if he said there were 90,000 in Trades Unions. But there were hopeful signs for tbe future. More attention wap paid by the public to the subject, and it was escaping from th 9 tyranny of vaiioua phrases coined by the Manchester School which bad fexercised a pernicious influence. The men were beginning to lay aßide their ' jealousy of women workers and to work hand in hand with them. Mrs Hicks moved a resolution — " That the work of the Women's Trades Union Association is worthy of public support," remarking that its work bad been to a great extent educational, but was practical, too. She thought that before long all the women engaged in the Frenchpolishing trade would be well organised in a Union. An employer ought to see that the workers who helped to create his wealth worked under decent and sanitary conditions. Yet the sanitary condition of more tban half the factories in Lancashire and Yorkshire was a Bhame and a disgrace upon omr civilisation. The resolution was seconded by an employer and carried unanimously.