WORK AND WAGES IN ENGLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3036, 11 November 1872, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES IN ENGLAND.

EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENTS.

(From the Manchester' Courier, July 25.) A meeting of needlewomen was held on Thursday night, at the Camden rooms, Camden street. Liverpool, when there was a large attendance, the room being filled by a well-conducted and respectable gathering. The females present represented every class of needlewomen, from the well-attired young person employed in the mantlemakers’ department of a fashionable establishment, to the poor, worn, and jaded creature who has to toil for a “sweater,” in some miserable garret, at wages which were stated to be so low that they “ could not Jive upon them.” Mr Win. Simpson presided. The only males admitted were the representatives of the Mr Simpson, who was received with cheers, said he understood there were persons in Bold street who paid wretchedly low prices. (Applause.) He alluded to the good example which had been set by Messrs Haigh and Messrs Shellard and Hodgson, and hoped that it would be followed by others in the same street. (Hear, hear.) But if all in that street showed letters to show that they did not keep their people long, and that they paid them good wages, he would only that he would be soon in a position to confront thorn with evidence which would piove them to be unadulterated liars. (Loud and continued applause.) He did not take any statement without being thoroughly informed about it. (Cheers, and “That’s right.”) Messrs Haigh paid 18s a week to some hands, and 5s to others ; they had no apprentices, and the 5s was paid to improvers. This was better than some shops in the same neighbourhood, where they jfsked young Jadies to work two years for nothing, got two guineas irom their pemr parents, and, after thejr time was out, worked them 12 and M hours a day, and only paid them 4s a week. (Sensation, and loud cries of “ Shame.”) Messrs Shellard and Hodgson paid T2s, Iss, 2ls, and 22s a week, (Hear, hear.) This was the last private meeting they would hold ; and he hqped, that when the needlewomen next met"they would be eiuTpqnded by all those people who were so anxious to come forward and assist them. (Hear, hear, and applause.) A Mantic Maker said she worked for a house in Bold street from half-past eight in the morning to half-past eight at night. When tho inspector came round, it was represented to him that there was a loss number of females employed than was the fact, so that the place might pot bp brought within the operation of the Workshops Act The M ages paid there were ss, 7s, Bs, and 10s a week for experienced hands, and they had to Hud themselves They were doing the same thing now to cheat the inspector. Mr Simpson : Well, we can stop that. The inspector has only to be made acquainted with it to stop it. An Old Woman (a plain sewer : 1 have to work twelve hours a day ; get Is a day, and have to lind my food. (Sensation.) Another Old Woman : But 1 have worked hvc days for Is Gd—(“ shame”)—working at home. 1 will state that, for it is true, before any judge. A Canvas Sack maker said she worked from seven to seven ; had an hour for dinner. She got 7s a week, and was bound to mako twenty-four sacks, with tarry twine, in one day. It was very hard work. The sacks sold at Is to I4d each, and the stuff cost about -fd.

Mr Simpson : Of course they expect you to appear respectable. (Laughter.) The Female : Yes, sir. A poor, pinched-lookiug Old Woman ; I have worked two years for 4s a week, from half past seven to six o’clock, and have half an hour for dinner. A MiddL-aged Female : I get fid a dozen for making sacks. My wages arc Os a week. An Oilskin Jacket Maker said her wages were lld a day, and she worked in a firstclass house. Mr Simpson : It is strange that “ firstclass houses ” pay the worst, The Female : We are not able to move our feet when we come out of the shop at night. A Womau ; I make gentlemen’s pants at lid a pair, A Machinist: I work from six in the morning to twelve at night; I have the assistance of a * baster,” The two of us make a dozen pair of the best gentlemen’s pants, and get between us 4s a dozen, Mr Simpson : 2s for working 18 hours ! The Woman: Yes, and find our own silk ! Young girls, workers in linen cuffs and collars, stated that they worked from nine in the morning to seven at night, and got 7d a day. An Elderly Woman said she kept two machines, but could not make os a week. She had to wait half a day sometimes for work, and was dragged from another portion of the town. She worked for a member of the select vestry. Another Woman : I have to do the same, and a master goes to a Methodist chapel. A Voice : Religion has nothing to do with the payment of wages. (Laughter), Mr Simpson said he intended to open a shop in the neighborhood of St. Anne street, where the needle-women might have the use of the rooms and sewing-machines without paying one penny. A Young Female : I have been discharged from a first-class shop because I have attended these meetings. Mr Simpson said this should be attended to. He also announced that there would be a registry opened for entering the names of needlewomen, and that the next meeting would be a public one. This concluded the proceedings.