H.—2

20

are the lowest. lam speaking of table hands—not machinists. I have three brothers and a sister ; one brother is working at Mr. Hudson's, the rest go to school. I have parents—father and mother. Father works at Hudson's ;heis an engine-driver. Mother attends to domestic duties at home. My brother comes home at night. Mabgabet Gow, examined, stated :— 182. lam over eighteen years of age. I sew at a table, making coats. lam not a machinist. I earn 10s. a week. The hours are from half-past 8 a.m. to half-past 5 p.m., with an hour for dinner. I sometimes go home, hut oftener remain during the hour. I have three brothers and two sisters. One brother is at work—he is a plasterer ; the other two go to school. One sister is working here at a table. We take our meals beside the table at which we work. We do not work during the dinner hour, excepting for ourselves. The machines are not working at the time. We find it very cold in our room in the winter. We get away at 2 o'clock on Saturday. I know the 'contents of the Act. We are perfectly satisfied with it, and should not like to lose the half-holiday. Elizabeth Amy, examined, stated: — 183. lam eighteen years of age. lam working at a sewing-machine, making trousers. lam on piecework, and earn from 245. to 265. a week. I work from half past 8 till half-past 5. The meal hour is from Ito 2. I have my dinner on the premises. I have beeu here about five months. I have worked at the machine at Home, but not in any other establishment here. Ido not take any work home. I do not know whether any of the hands take work home. We have the half-holiday on Saturday, when we leave off work at 2 o'clock. We appreciate the holiday, and would not like it taken away. Although lam working in the room above the furnace, Ido not find it too close or warm ; it is sometimes too cold. In summer time the windows are kept open. I do not think the room is unhealthy. I have not had a bad cold since I have been here. lam satisfied with the Act, and should like it to remain as it is. At the Establishment of R. Saunders and Co. Annie Bowee, examined, stated : — 184. lam over fifteen years of age. I have worked at a machine for a year, and am paid by the week. I get a rise of wages every six months. At first I got 55.; lam now getting 12s. I commence work at 9 in the morning, an leave off at 6 in the evening. The dinner-hour is from 1 to 2. On Saturday we leave at 2 o'clock. I have a brother and a sister. My brother is twenty-one years of age, and works as a tinsmith. My sister is at school. My father is not living. My mother is at home, and is supported by my brother and myself. I know the provisions of the Act as to hours, aud do not want any alteration. Igo home to dinner. Some who work at the machine get 255. Saeah Haeeis, examined, stated: — 185. lam not yet eighteen years of age. I begin work at 9 o'clock, and leave off at 6. I get one hour for dinner, from Ito 2, and go home for it. I get 17s. Gd. a week, at mantle-making. I have been at this work about four years. I have been at this place since it was opened—a few months ago. I was not working before (he Act came into operation. I have parents. Father is a gardener; mother attends to domestic duties at home. I have one sister married; another, fourteen, at home ; two brothers and a sister at school; and a younger brother, three years old, at home. I know the provisions of the Act, and do not wish them altered. Some of the girls live at a considerable distance— three and four miles from town. At the Establishment of Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co. Mrs. Scott, examined, stated: — 186. lam over eighteen years of age. I work at a sewing-machine. I have been here since I began to work—between seven and eight years. I get* 30s. a week at daywork. I begin work at 9 in the morning, and leave off at 6in the evening. The dinner hour is from Ito 2. Igo home to dinner. I know the provisions of the Act, and am very well pleased with it. Ido not wish it altered. As a rule, we leave at 2on Saturday. Sometimes it is a little later than that, but very seldom, and only in order to finish some work in hand urgently required. lam in the mantle room. I should not like the half-holiday done away with. I worked before the Act came into operation. We began then at 9 in the morning, but did not get away till 8, and very often 10, o'clock at night on the ordinary days, and 12 on Saturday night. The pay was no better then than it is now. lam a widow, and have a child between eight and nine years old. He attends school. My mother takes charge of him while lam at work. There is no piecework done here that lam aware of. We never take work home. There was a notice posted up in the workroom, but the painters have painted it out. I have no desire that the Act should be amended in any way. We get the holidays mentioned in the Act, and are paid for them. I think all the girls are of the same opinion with regard to the Act. Eosina Jewitt, examined, stated: — 187. lam going on for fourteen years of age. I am in the mantle-room, sewing. I have been here about four months. I get no wages at present. lam apprenticed as a learner for just a year. Ido not know what I shall get when the year is up. I commence work at 9in the morning, and leave off at 6in the evening. The dinner hour is from 1 to 2. I generally bring my dinner with me, and remain on the premises during the hour. Sometimes Igo home. We have conveniences for making tea. Nearly all take their meal in the workroom. My father is a shoemaker ; my mother is at home. I have two brothers, one two years old, the other ten, who goes to school. I have three sisters, two of whom are machinists, one working here, the other at home. We get the half-holiday on Saturday, and we should not like to have it taken from us.