SWEATED EMPLOYEES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1990, 21 February 1914, Page 7

SWEATED EMPLOYEES.

Sir,—Now the labour question is be- : ■ing so much discussed I think it opportune to call the attention,. of the . Labour Department, Health Department, and public to the manner )u which some. of the businesses iii • the city are being carried on. From personal obserVation'l sde 'poor , devils being worked all ■hours, and a glance at the wagcbook.of somo of these firms would no doubt reveal something of an interesting nature. - I know of rten, apologies would M more appropriate,', hayo-their half-holiday; hours from 6 a.niv'to 8 pan:, and later, sleep on premises.where And .yet, a WliW6"-'iriftn" itf'. t5 a 'compete : against this typo ot : person; Picture somo 'of our restaurants and fish shops 'which are run in this.mariner.' The proprietor smokes his , penny "flor de" tnroty-awnye, expectorates all over .the..premises, where .foodstuffs are sold, and yet the public patronise these people,'and the health authorities never know those things exist. Don't .you think tho hours, wages, -and quarters of the poor fools who are employed in tho establishments' should be looked into ? They dare not." say their' soul belongs to them. :Wlia't are our. factory inspeotors,paid for? .' Not long ago one of these establishments was brought under, notice and a. shocking .6tate of affairs was found to exist. You will find that tho majority of tradespeople' give their employees, one half-holiday per week.' I could iiamo you establishments whore tho hands never had a rest, with, the exception of compulsory ones. This is the kind of master who broods Red Feds, arid my Objection and loathings are ,just as great for the one as the other. These worshippers of mammon if they profess ignorance should, bo. taught how to treat their employees, and,then decent tradespeople would be better' able to enter into competiipn. Hoping his will at. least do soniothing to bring about the exterrnihal!ion of the class I have mentioned,—l am, etc., ICHABOD. ■•' [Our correspondent should bring any such cases as ho mentions under the notice of tho Labour Department.]