WORK AND WAGES IN ENGLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 94, 5 December 1872, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES IN ENGLAND.

EXTRAORDINARY ST ATEMENTS. (MANCffESTEIJ COURIER.) A mektino of needlewomen was held on Thursday night, .at the Camden rooms, Camden street, Liverpool, when there was a large attendance, the room being filled by a well conducted and respectable gathering. The females present represented every class of liccd'ewomen, from the well-attired young peruou employed in the mantlemakers' departmeut of a fashionable establishment, to the poor, worn, and jaded creature who has to toil for a " sweater," in some miserable garrei, at wages which were stated to be so low that they " could not liye on them." Mr William Simpson presided. The only males admitted were the representatives of tile Prces. -Mr Simpson who was received, with cheers, 1 said lie understood thai there were persona in Bold street who paid wretchedly low prices. (Applause.) He alluded to the good example which had been set by Messrs Haigh, and Messrs Shellard and Hodgson, and hoped it would be followed by others in the same street. (Hear, hear.) But if all in that street wrote letters tojshow that they did not keep their people long, and that they paid them good wages, lie would only say that/he would be soon in a position to confront them.with evidence whieli would prove ,them to be unadulterated liars. ■ (Loud and continued' applans.;.)' He did not take any statement without being thoroughly informed about it. (Cheers, and " That's right.") Messrs Haigh paid ISs a. week to some hands, and 5s to others ; they had no apprentices, and the 5s was paid to improvers. . This was better than rjopie shops in the same neighbourhood,-where they asked young ladies to work two years for nothing, got two guineas from their poor parents, and after their time was out, worked them 12 and 14 hours a day, and only paid them 143 a week.' (Sensation, and loud 'cries-of "Shame.") Messrs Shellard 'and Hodgson paid 12s, 15s, 21s, and 22s a week. (Hear, hear.) This was the last private meeting they would hold, and he hoped that when the needlewomen next met they would be surrounded by all those people who were.so anxious to coine forward and assist them, (Hear, hear, and a p'r.vs .)• A mantle maker said she worked for a house in Bold street, from half-past eight in the morning to half-past eight at night. When the inspector came round, it was represented to him 'that there was a less number of females employed than was the fact,. so that the . place might not be brought within the operation of the Work Shops, Act. ; The wages paid there were ss, 7s, Ss, and 10s a.week for experienced hands, and they had to find themselves. They "were doing the same thiug now to cheat the inspector. Mr Simpson : Well we can stop that. The inspector has oniy to be made acquainted with it to stop it. Au old woman, 1 (a plain sewer): I have to work 12 hours a'day ;■ Is a day, -and have to find my food. (Sensation. )

Another old woman : . But I have worked five days for Is 6d—("shame' I ) —working ah home. . I Svill state that, for it is true, before my judge. A canvas sackmaker said she'worked from seven to seven; had an hour for dinner. She got 7s a week, and was bound to make 24 sacks, with tarry twine, in one day, It was very hard work. The sacks sold at Is to 14d each, and tlie'stuff cost about 4d. Mr Simpson : Of course they expect you to appear respectable. (Laughter.) The female: Yes, sir.. A poor, pinehed-looking old woman: I have worked two years for 4s a week, from half-past seven to six o clock, and half an hour for dinner. A middle-aged femalt: I get .6d <i dozen for making sacks. My wages are Gs a week. An oilskin jacket maker said her wages were lid a day, and she worked iu a first-class house. Mr Simpson: It' is strange that " first-class houses" pay the worst. The female': We are not able to move our feet when we come out of the shop at night. A woman : I make gentleman's pants at lid a pair. A machinist: I work from six in the morning to twelve at night; I have the assistance of a "bastec." The two of us make a dozen pair oi : the best gentleman's pants, and get between us 43 a dozen. Mr Simpson : 2s fur working 18 hours ! The woman : Yes, and And our own silk. Young girls, workers in linen cuffs and collars, stated that they work-from. nine in the morning to seven at night, and got 7<l a day. An Elderly woman said she kept two machines but could not make 5s a week. She had to wait half a day sometimes for work, and was dragged from-any. portion of the town. She'worked for a number of the select vestry. Another WOUlfln • I have to do the oamo and. ray master goes to a Methodist chapel. A voice : Religion has nothing to do with the payment of wages. (Laughter.) Mr Simpson sail I he intended to open a shop in the neighbourhood of St Anne street, where the needlewomen might come and have the use of the rooms, and sewing machines without paying one penny. A young female: I have been discharged from a firstclass shop because I have attended these meetings. Mr Simpson said this should be attended to. He also announced that there would be a registry opened for enter! ig the names of needlewomen, and that the nex meeting would be a public one. This concluded the proceedings.