THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 445, 12 February 1890, Page 5

THE SWEATING COMMISSION.

OPENING AT DUNEDIN. INSPECTOR HANSEN’S EVIDENCE. Dunedin, Feb. 10. The Sweating Commission opened this morning. The Chairman explained that the scope of the Commission is very wide, and is not only to inquire into sweating, but into all the relations betweeen employers and employed. Mr Hansen, Inspector of Factories, gave evidence relative to the working of the Employment of Females Act. The practice of overtime has been largely put a stop to of late owing to the press criticisms. He knew an instance in which a refusal to take work home led to a dismissal. Under the Act he had no right to interfere with this system of sending work out, nor had he the power to compel admission to the factory. The employment of young persons was not carried on here to any large extent. In some cases he found young girls working after hours, but he was always told that they were merely receiving lessons. Young boys were taken on at six in the morning and kept ab work sometimes as late as ten at night. This occurred at a rope factory. Females’ hours were limited by Act, but not boys’. He expressed the opinion that no child under fourteen should be allowed to work. He knew cases in which evil results ensued. The Act required a good deal of amendment. Evil results occurred from mixing the sexes in factories. Legal provision ought to be made for payment for overtime. Barmaids, who did not come under the operation of the Act, often worked from eight in the morning till midnight.