THE SCOURING INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 179, 24 April 1919, Page 6

THE SCOURING INDUSTRY

. Sir,—May I ho permitted a little space for the purpose of putting, before your readers a few facts concerning the woolscouring industry as controlled in our part of the- country?-

Could you tell me, Sir, whether the wool-scourers arc bound by contract in canyinp out their obligations when handling Government wool? I have be«n wondering (assuming, of course, that there has been a duly dra,wn-up contract) to what limits they are allowed to proceed. I have wondered also what the intention was of those in charge of that Government Department controlling the wool commandeered in Now Zealand, in appointing inspection for various districts in which scouring is done. I Imve heard it mentioned that these inspectors are paid anything from .£IOOO down to i'oOO per year and expenses, and thinking of tiie manner in which the scouring industry is conducted, and the methods employed to score off the Government without being detected, it is Teally a pimle to know what the inspectors are paid for. Is is not it fact that under the contract washing is restricted to 48 hours per week! . Why. then, aro some scourers allowed to wash for more than the stipulated period, especially at this time of tho year? Assuming, Sir, and I am reasonable in doing so, that the scourers wash and dry to their full capacity during, say, four of' the warmest summer months, how are they, -»hen washing at this time of the year and to the same capacity as in summer, going to dry with the same I results as are obtained -during tbo suni- ' nipr months? Think of our shorter days, with their dewy nights, and a diminished heat in the sun's rays. I understand I Bcourers are paid according to weight I and results. Sure, the , weight will be there, but of the. rest I am doubtful. Were these men riot tied down to a certain allotment per year, based on the "Capacity of each works or rather the number of hales oaeh of these works could handle in a day. Why have these conditions been violated? When a tailor or a saddler who is- working on Government contracts violates his agreement the law conies down heavily on the offenders. Why then, are these scourers allowed to press' wool Tvhicli is not thoroughly dry ? Can the authorities imagine for one moment how much this country has paid out for execssivo moisture in wool since the scourers have been on Government work? Tho whole thing constitutes a great .scandal. Wat it not intended that that all wool, or at least 00 per cent of it, should be sorted; was it not agreed that oxtra money be paid in order to have the wool sorted in a proper manner? How, then, can a firm wash 24 bales ppr day when employing one sorter? Xoii would be astonished to know some, of he methods employed to beat the inspectors. Assuming that one man can sort properly, say, three bales of «i her bet the Government in limiting the washing of wool to 48 hours to get a reasonably °ood iob -.lone, and also to keep the emnlovecs engaged for the full period of [X months? Why arc th«e men ■rushed ™ fl sweated, and forced to work m-eitime in order that the employer living is so severely fell? lhanKing jou ■m anticipation.—l am, up _- rThe matters raised in. the foregoing letter wee brought under the notice of a responsible Officer of the.lmpeml Sto plies Department, and he made the W-c-win" 1 statement in reply:- The Btfvl«ment that we pay for. wet wool is ineorwet. Scourers are paid for wool on the weights as determined m their own work but the.se weights . are checked when'the wool is received into he port store. In addition, .be ore woo toe the scourer's works it is subject to msnection bv an inspector appoinlcu for. Cp«?pose,and it is also thoroughly exuiiined by the supervising wool who is re=ponsiblo for its valuation after has been scoured It would be impo* B iWe for botli of these ofhcers to pass wool not in a fit state for slnpment. The Department has by various mails received highly satisfactory reports from the, In • pe'rial authorities regarding the ,tatc in which the scoured, wool rcachfa, its des. tination, and in no single instance has nny complaint been made-reganhng wool •u'riviiur in a damaged condition as-the si Sf being padSd improperly scoured As to the suggestion that some o t works are being given more wort than they can properly deal with, w bade of allotment is a proportion' calculated from the anion., o wool t eated by the individual works; befou.the i * nui«ition came into operation. ilii>; u nsl » C'been accepted from the' « equitable, nno it has b«n fa thful toi lowed always. It is true that all he works aro dealing with more wool than thev did in the times before the wai, mftCreason is that ".are not sending Homo wool novf that is dirty. He froVhts are higher, and the spacejs valuable It is not considered good polCT to pay freight on dirt, and l Y e have ufe dirT removed by scouring in Hift omnitrv Tho reference to the crowding msst mm

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