SWEATED LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 646, 25 October 1909, Page 4

SWEATED LABOUR.

;CJ^'' -''.;'"'-' ': ',' .£'lS7ijJs * ''- /-■ i -.--Four/;and .sixpence.. does not-:seem.;.muoh-:tfor: thb! making of' a dozen vyhite. petticoats, •• with deep tucked;flounces,, inlet vvith two.rows 'of. insertion, and finished with an edging of embroidery, ,-Yet,;this,is considered good enougb ' ! p'ay-by:■ a'-MelbOurno 1 girl?who:'wo'rks f at .home' for-a, factory.: -Shb.does not-put in/button- . holes, or sew-on ;buttons; but otherwise .she finishes, the .'garnients-at -tho rate' ,of ./.lid. , apiece;;'„Plainly-tuoked muslin or Japanese-silk shirt', blouses 'ar« made - under liko , circumstances, at' the-rate of : 35.; per -.dozen (an ordinary:dressmnkbrvrill,charge 3s. Cd. to is. '6d. : for tho'making, of one);,;and .the most .elaborate : pin-tucked■'".and inlet whichvtakes an expert, factory hand nearly, a day to complete, . means ~the ha'ndsohie return of.- one shilling., Sixpence; to/hinopence - each is ' "«xccll4nt money/'for-.ornate: camisoles, and. thb. rate; per dozen .foroheaper lines:is equally; inadequate., ■ However,-, the • manufacturers-say that,/with' a .growing 'demand., for ready-to-wear: : garments ;and;-tho ;increasing'/price :bf {materials, "something/has to go down,'and,' in any caio,'th«r« is.'no lack of workers.'"•:: Still;- the small pay . 'of /those' who;'work so hard docs, comb as a : shock.',,, At /the .same' time,,- the .great ■ majority;.' of: girls'.'so employed declare that nothing, would ■ induce them, tpfgointocdomestio'service. "We know-/exactly what 'we have to d0,./and. our.' . ovonings, are ■ bur ;own,'' is ,what/they say.