Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1907 THE SWEATING SYSTEM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8945, 20 December 1907, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1907 THE SWEATING SYSTEM.

A remarkable booklet has just been issued in Loudon from the pen of Mr C. H. Norman, entitled "Our Factory Workers," price oue penny. It sets forth the actual conditions still existing in mauy of the Euglish manufacturing districts. It shows that a great increase iv the bulk of child labour has taken place in North Lancashire, and Mr Norman quotes the remarks of oue lady inspector who fouud in one factory some forty little girls employed in labelling reels of sewing silk, each girl doing about forty gross per clay, and having to lick the labels. In Nottingham she fouud hosts of little girls doiug half-time at school aud half in the lace factory. Children from five to eleven were employed at homo during the dinner-hour. In mauy homes the father was out of work, and the mother and children were working at lace for a remuneration of from yA to 2VA per dozen yards! Another evil that sprung up uuder these shocking conditions is the "bonus" system. The bonus soou becomes recognised as part of the regular wage. The system is much in vogue in the North of Ireland, where each mill has a different method of making use of it. In some mills workers are allowed entrance to the mill for five or ten minutes after the time of beginning work, and at the end of mealhours, by paying a fine of Id or 2d. After that hour they are out, from the factory until the next meal hour, and lose, in addition to the wages for the amount of time lost, their bonus. The worst case which came uuder notice was in a mill where spinners received 10s a week as wages, including 2s bonus, and piecers 6s 9d, of which 1s was bonus. The gate was closed exactly at (5.30 a. m., and after meal hours, and workers who were late were closed out until the next meal time, and lost respectively 2s ancl Is bonus, as well as the wages for the time lost. In the majority of the mills the workers are not allowed eveu a minute's grace before the gate is closed." The light is being let in upon all these dark doings, and it would appear that the workers of Great Britain are on the eve of having their sad lot ameliorated. Not before it was needed !