SONG OF THE SHIRT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 449, 26 February 1890, Page 5

SONG OF THE SHIRT.

HUNDRED AND TWELVE HOURS. WORK FOR 14s. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Adelaide town hall the other day to protest against the sweating system as affecting those branches of female labour in Adelaide connected with the tailoring trade. Sevoral startling statements were made as to the miserable pay which is given in the leading establishments in the city. According to these, the shirts are paid for at the rate of 3s 6d to 4s per dozen, and the women who make them earn only 14s per week, or 13s deducting cotton, after working 1G hours per day. It was also stated that many large establishments pay their dressmakers nothing the first year, 2s 6d per week the second year, 5s a week the third year, and it takes several years before 10s a week is obtained. It was urged that a Female Factories Act was much required to prevent the over ; working of young girls, and Dr. Campbell, M.L.C., quoting from experience among his patients, said that girls make flannel shirts and earn 2s 6d per week, finding their own cotton, by working from 9 in the morning till 1 the next morning. They make a dozen shirts if they are experts. Flannel pants are paid at 3s per dozen, and by working 15 hours a day six pairs can be made. Stress was laid on the terrible temptations to which young girls earning these rates of pay are exposed if they are fond of dress or have relatives dependent on them for support. A strong committee, consisting of Trades and Labour Council, together with the Hon. J. C. Bray, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and several members of Parliament, was appointed to organise female trades unions in connection with all trades in whiqh sweating i? practised.