LADIES’ HATS AND WAGES

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14521, 19 November 1920, Page 6

LADIES’ HATS AND WAGES

(Tto the Editor.) Sir, —While watching the people going into the Show to-day, I wondered how many ladies knew, when ordering their new hats for the Show, what labour was used in the making of them and how it was paid. To enlighten them, let me tell you what came under my notice recently. A certain millinery establishment in our progressive town is paying first-year girls the magnificent sum of 10s per week and second-year girls 18s per week, and to cap all, the/ were told to-day that if they took half a day for the show they would lose half a day's pay. It will be an interesting piece of calculation how much to deduct. Enlightened New Zealand—a working man’s paradise—perhaps; but not for his daughter. We don’t possess such a thing as sweated industries — oh no, no.—l am, etc, ANTI BOLSHEVIG. - Frankton, November 17, 1920. FREE KINDERGARTEN, FRANKTON. (Tto the Editor.) Sir, —I beg a little of your valuable space to draw attention to the valuable work being dune re the above in St. George’s Hall. The writer was privileged to witness a demonstration by Hie tiny students a day or two ago, when Miss Rapson, the mistress, pul them through their lessons, or drill, whichever it ought to be termed. This was carried out in a manner highly gratifying to ttie parents and friends who were present for the special occasion. From Hie moment ’’assemble” was sounded in deep tones on the piano by the assistant. Miss Brough, and the Lilliputians—of three and four years mostly—trooped in in single file from an ante room, till the end of the afternoon’s display, not a hitch occurred to mar the work, which Miss Rapson has evidently striven to, inculcate in her little charges in a manner in which the artistic and practical are happily blended. This cannot fail to 1 ave a refining and otherwise highly neneflcial effect on Hie whole life of the children. There are about 25 on the roll, but if Hie Franklon mothers as a whole knew of Hie advantage to be gained by Hie attendance of their children, 1 venture to predict Miss Rapson would be besieged by applications for admission.—l am, etc., E.B. THE WOOL OUTLOOK. (To Hie Editor.) Sir, —I am nut of a pessimistic nature or anxious to decry my country, lull when one reads daily about Hie commercial slump in America and the whole of Europe practically in Hie throes of financial dislocation and industrial strife, it occurs to Hie ordinary business man how can we escape our quota. The opening wool sales at Christchurch arc not by any means exhilarating, though we may be buoyed by a temporary belief that Hie best method is to hold our wool to maintain full rates. . As lias been reported, there is is a good demand for our mutton and lamb, which will obviously increase Hie wool supply, unless Hie flocks are reduced, and as prices are u.pidly getting hack to pre-war values, v hat is to be gained by holding? wool on the off-chance of something eventuating? While it is being held it is accumulating storage, interest, and insurance charges, and locking up money wanted for the compulsory loan now on Hie market, as well as diverting it from lucratßc channels. Would any buyer pay sellers’ prices under the present conditions when he lias to face receding markets? No, lie would adopt a hand-to-mouth policy, knowing the quantity hold here and elsewhere. Our taxation is increasing in company with wages, and money is daily hardening, and yet our wool is unsaleable at sellers prices. I think interfering with supply and demand under present conditions will only complicate matters, unless something of an unforeseen nature should occur to rally markets; and is it likely? If it is the Dominion’s intention to hold, its, wool for better prices tonnage will be diverted elsewhere, and if Hie London markets should improve it is apparent we would get deeper in the "mire” with augmented stocks and charges.—l am, etc., P. VIRTUE. November 17, 1020.