THE SWEATING SYSTEM. LOW WAGES IN CHRISTCHURCH. (From the "Lyttelton Times.")

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 313, 3 November 1888, Page 5

THE SWEATING SYSTEM. LOW WAGES IN CHRISTCHURCH. (From the "Lyttelton Times.")

The appalling statements made by the " Otago Daily Times " as to tho " sweating system" prevailing in 'Dunedin, ha Tr e led many people to inquire, " Are nob matters just as bad in Christchurch V" Inquiry made in regard to the subject goes to show that, though no acts so terrible a.s those unearthed by our contemporary were discovered, wages in Christchurch are, in some in&tances, so low as to justify the term " sweating " being applied to tbo system under which they are paid. The inquiries made in bhis city wore directed towards the subject of the same, or similar classes of labour so frightfully underpaid by some employers in Dunedin. Here, as Lhere, women seem to be the victims ; but it must be remembered that the very fact of their employment in cerbnin departments of work shows that men have also suffered, as they have been supplanted by the cheaper female labour. This is true of the tailoring trade, and its truth was forcibly pointed out by those—leading tailor* and others connected with the manufacture of clothing — who furnished information to our representative on the subject. The poor women are, in some places in this city, paid a wage so small that they can by working their haidest, scarcely earn enough to "keep body and soul together," to use a homely expie.ssive phrase.

"SWEATING' PRICES. For finishing a pair of trousers the prico paid in one establishment ip, our teprcsentative was intormed, Bd, lOd and Is, according io (he quality of the work required. The shilling a pair is paid only for "ordcis, 5 ' that is for trouseis "made lo measure" tor customers. The "finishing" in this instance includes " basting'" the garments together for the sewing machine, and, after the latter has done iis work, putting in pockets, sewing on buttons, and doing everything not none by machine. When asked how many pairs of trousers a woman cou'd " finish" in a day, a tailor of long expeiience replied, " A pair and a half." Another said, " By working till ten or eleven every night she could finish two pairs." A woman, who was accounted a good hand at her work, made, afc thi? rate of pay, 12s 6d a week. A less skilful hand would probably not earn more than 10& weekly. Whether this sum is sufficient to keep her we leave our readers to decide. It must be borne in mind that the workois in question are not mere children learning the business. They aro, many of them, considerably over age. At another establishment, men's readymade suits are turned out at a cost of 30s, for labour, lining, trimmings, and maker's profit, everything:, in fhort, except the tueed. The lowest price at which this can be done, allowing a fair rate ot wages, is, according to a gentleman ot considerable experience in the business, 40s. To refer to another line of work. A few years ago 9s 6d per dozen was the price paid for making men's flannel drawers, the employers finding trimmings, etc. Now 5s is in some cases paid for the came work, and the trimmings etc., have to be provided by the sempstress.

AN OVERSTOCKED LABOUR MARKET. Despite the miserable pay, there is, unfortunately, no lack of applicants for even such poorly - remunerated work as that mentioned. It has been said that, were all the women employed in the work in question to leave Christchurch in one day, on the next their places vvould be filled by a iresh swarm ot workers. Tina is probably exaggeration, but theie is no doubt that the stiuggle for existence among these poor toilers is becoming keen — far too keen for a young community like ours.

THE CRAVING FOR CHEAPNESS. The Rev. Rutherford Waddell, of Dunedin, said that "sweating" was in a great measureowing bo bheinordinatecraving for cheapness prevailing nowadays. Perhaps so, but it is worth considering whether, also, the inordinate craving for cheapness is not due, at least in part, to the ''sweating. 1 ' The miserably - paid victim of the "sweater" must, perforce, buy the very cheapest articles to be had. Of'whab avail to prove to him or her the folly of buying a "cheap and nasty'" article for a few shillings, when for twice the sum one funr times as good can be obtained ? The truth of this may be fully recognised by the struggling toiler, but he has only enough to buy the "shoddy" article, and cannot afford to wait till the additional shillings required for the good one can be scraped together. As he must have cheap "goods, the tradesman must supply eheapt. goods : fchejf can only be produced by cheap labour, and to obtain cheap labour the worker must be ground down. This the unhappy victim, in spite ot ' himself, rivets his own chains, and helps to uphold the system which is crushing him. No doubt, however, there is an inordinate craving for cheapness nowadays, but when, since the world began, did not man hunger after ''bargains?" 'i he ''depression" of late yea is has, no doubt, sharpened his appetite for cheap goods ; and, of course, he is ready to avail himself of any opportunity for gratifying it, often without thinking wnethor or not he is injuring his fellow-men by doing so. Perhaps some persons may have unthinkingly and unnecessarily helped to support the " sweating " system by their " craviug for cheapness." Such will, without doubt, willingly pay a little more for their purchases when they realise that the trifling advantage they derive from " buying in the cheapest* markets" has been obtained at the cost of much misei'y to their iellow-men.