HORRIBLE WORK FOR WOMEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 77, 28 March 1900, Page 4

HORRIBLE WORK FOR WOMEN.

The St. Olave's (Southwark) Board of Works lately discussed the question of the employment of women by the dust removal contractor. At a previous meeting the matter had been referred to a committee, who now reported that, after having interviewed the contractor and one of the women working for him they saw no reason why the board should take action.—Mr. Bean in opposing the adoption of the report, isaid the contractor stated he only paid [the women 10s. a week, and that he never employed men except when the females were drinking at Christmas and holiday times. He had then to pay the men 255. a week. It was all a question of cheap labour, and it was much to be regretted that public attention had not before been drawn to the terrible fact of women working up to their waists in filth. Twelve con tractors in the metropolis employed between 500 and 600 females in this horrible work. What did the medical officer of health of the City say of it ? He declared in his report that it was leathsome, inhuman, and a danger to public health.-The Chairman (Mr. Shand, J P.): And yet the City employ no less than 80 women at the work.— Mr. Bean moved that woman labour at the wharves be abolished.—The chairman declined to accept the motion upon the ground that the board had no power to interfere %vith the contractor. —Mr. Besley moved that the report be referred back. To put the matter in the mildest form, the work was very degrading for woman. —The chairman said the contractor had stated women were employed not because they were cheaper than men, but because they were more deft with their fingers ("Oh! oh!"). He (the contractor) thought it was an excellent occupation for females, and very healthy, and his opinion was confirmed by a Mrs. Greenwood, who was connected with a West-end committee formed to inquiie into women's work, and who wrote stating that any employment was better than none, and that if women were deprived of wharf work they might be driven to courses even more degrading, —Mr. Bean: That is a regular woman's letter; a woman cannot reason for toffee (Hear, hear, and laughter). The committee's report, recommending that no action be taken, was carried by nine votes to six.— Lloyd's Weekly.