CAN IT BE TRUE ?

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 April 1919, Page 3

CAN IT BE TRUE ?

A. correspondent of one of the local dailies relates how ".a young lady" replied to an advertisement for persons to make shirts' at home in their spar© time. She was instructed to apply at a suburban factory, and learned that the terms offered 2/6 per dozen shirts, including the making of a polo collar, and 2/9 per dozen for neglige shirts, the making to include all but the running up of the side seams and the fitting of the sleeves, which are done by machinery. " These prices," remarks the correspondent, " are just about one-half of those paid in the Old Country factories before the war. And as the pre-war prices here for shirts averaged about double those charged at Home, it would he safe to say that about twice the Home rate for making should rule, that is 9/- or 10/- a dozen, jto say nothing about increase of wages, war bonuses, etc., due to the increased cost of living.', The writer of the letter goes on to say that 4d each should cover entire cost of making the shirts, and adds : " compare this with the retail selling prices of the goods. Who gets the profits V There must be plenty to do the work, or the rate would rise." It's up to the people who run the shire factory to explain in print that this correspondent is all wrong, and that such prices as she states they offered never were offered. But, up to date, at* any rate, they have not explained anything of the kind. Perhaps they are too busy ?