A FEMALE STRIKE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1051, 4 January 1883, Page 3

A FEMALE STRIKE.

It. is not often we hear of wom n u and girls turning out on strike, but that unusual o;o -urrence has been witnessed in Mo bourne during the last few days. At intemiforsome few years past we have received communications complaining of the starva tion wages paid by the clothing manfacturors to their hands ; but books have always been prodvead to disprove the statements made, and after some slight controversy the subj c has been allowed to drop. It, appears however, that in the opinion of Messrs Beath, Shies* and Co., low as the prices paid for needlework have been, they l ave not been low enough ; so about six or seven weeks ago 10 per cent was deducted from the wages given by them for piecework. There was grumbling at this, but necessity demanded acquiescence. Encouraged by the success achieved, the firm in question determined to have another slice off the earnings of its employees, but when a further reduction was announced some flesh and blood rebelled. In three factories the white slaves submitted, but those in the fourth ‘ went out.* Once more the books are brought out for inspection, and our reporter is assured that good hands can make what certainly appear very decent wages. ‘But, on the other hand, the • nployees assert that such wages cannot be made unless they work, not only the full eight hours in the factory, but take home w I-’ and sit up until 10 or 11 every night, I* ii,li,d to labor until 10or 11 under the old ?oa!e to meet their requirements, what will they have do do under the new f It is ; Ossibls t' at the state of the trade renders the reductions unavoidable ; but if not, th# decrease in prices certainly seems very much like an attempt to grind (he faces of the poor and helpless. We fear that in the attempt to protect their interests many poor women and girls wifi undergo great suffering, and anything but a ‘Merry Christmas.’ But, after all, the discipline they will undergo will prove salutary if it leads them to overcome the silly vanity which withholds them from the comparative freedom of domestic service and keeps them the serfs of an overcrowded trade. If the custom of * going out to service’ had been established amongst the class that now furnishes the factory hands, the offer of needlework would not have had the overpowering attraction which it has undoubtedly possessed. If women young women especially—are wise, they will make baste to quit a business ip which employers can knock off 10 or 20 pet cent, of their earnings at pleasure.—MelSourne Agurs.