H.—s

4

31. To what extent?— Not to any great extent. There are only one or two places where it is carried on. On one occasion I found them at work after the hours specified, and on my making some remarks about it they told me that they were simply giving lessons. Of course, I have to take their word for it. I asked one of the girls : she said she was getting a lesson in cutting. 32. It has been stated that some of these are employed for many months without wages? —I could not answer for that. 33. How far does your power extend ? —Over all factories, and where any articles are manufactured for gain or for sale. 34. Including Boss and Glendinning ? —Yes ; and all places occupied for dressmaking. 35. Including the woodware-factories ?—Yes. 36. Eope-works ?—Yes. 37. Do you visit the rope-works here ?—I do. 38. Have you done anything as regards ventilation ?—As a rule, the factories are pretty well ventilated here. There is no penalty provided by the Act for non-ventilation. I should like to speak about the boys. They are taken on as early as 6 o'clock in the morning, and they work till Bor9 at night, and sometimes later—in a few instances, as late as 10 o'clock at night. The employers keep within the law by giving the boys an interval for meals every four hours and a half. 39. Can you inform the Commission what are the factories that this is done in ?—One is a rope-factory. lam pretty well sure the Commissioners know. The Commissioners : Yes, we know. 40. Are not the hours limited for these boys?— The hours are limited for females and children, but not for boys over fourteen years of age. They can work them all day, as long as they give them half an hour every four hours and a half for meals. 41. Is there any limit as to the age of girls being admitted into a factory ?—As to the age of the children—employers cannot employ them before they are twelve years old, and between the ages of twelve and fourteen can work them only half-time, in either morning or afternoon sets or shifts. They cannot work them two successive days. 42. What is your opinion as to this ?—Half a day is quite enough on alternate days. 43. Have you known any case in which evil results have followed below the age of fourteen? — Yes, I have. 44. Many?—No; only one or two cases. 45. Have you heard of them ?—I have. 46. But would you say that over twelve years of age they should work full time ? —ln some cases it would not be advisable. There are some children at twelve years of age quite strong, and there are others, again, not fit for it. 47. Is there any provision as to medical certificate before the employment of girls?— No. 48. Do you consider there should be?— Well, I am not prepared to answer that question. The Commissioners : Some doctors would tell us. 49. Under which Act are you working?—•" The Employment of Females Act, 1881." There is an amending Act to this. 50. What year?—lBBs. 51. It only refers to half-holidays and the publication of newspapers?— Yes. 52. Can you give the Commission any evidence as to the wages paid to young persons? —In some places they have to work for twelve months without any pay whatever. Then they start at ss. a week for twelve months, and sometimes two years ; but this is from hearsay, I do not knowit as a fact; it is from statements made to me by those employed. 53. Are you in a position to give any information as to the cost of living here in this community?—No, I am not. 54. Is there any provision made to prevent the mingling of the sexes together?— No. 55. Do you consider that evil results follow ?—Most undoubtedly. 56. Are there a sufficient number of Inspectors under the Act ?—I think so. 57. You have no difficulty in overtaking your work?— None. The public assist. It is very easy putting down any breach of the law if it exists. A breach of the Act may occur now and then. It is impossible for it to continue. For instance, an employer may commit a breach of the Act, and not be caught; but if he continues any length of time, in most cases I hear of it, and then I take particular notice of him for some time. 58. Then you get information from the employes ?—Yes, sometimes ; but I generally get it from other parties in some way connected with them—anonymous letters and so forth. 59. What do you understand by the word " factory" ?—lt is defined in the Act. 60. That definition would not include an ordinary household ?—No. 61. In the case of the erection of a factory is there any provision made for the submitting of plans to the Inspector?—No, there is not. 62. Do you consider there should be ? —I do. 63. Would you consider it advisable that there should be a list of all employes in the factory posted up, with the hours they work, and the wages they receive ? —There is a notice put up as to the hours they work under the Act, but not as to the wages they receive—simply the hours they work and the hours allowed for meals. 64. Do you think the rate of remuneration should be posted up with the other information ?— I scarcely see what good it would do. 65. It was a recommendation in the Victorian Commission that the ages should be mentioned in the notice. You were speaking about boys being employed a short time back, and spoke about the number of hours they worked. Do you consider this Act should be amended so as to show the total number of hours in the week or in the day?—lt should mention the number of hours in the day.