ITALIAN CIGAR WORKERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2519, 1 September 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

ITALIAN CIGAR WORKERS.

All the women arid girls employed in the cigar manufactories in Rome (which are a State monopoly in Italy) have been on strike; their chief grievance having been that an order was issued forbidding the continuance of their time-honored privilege of carrying their " scaldini " into the workroom. Evpryone who has been in Italy knows what a "scaldini" is; but for the benefit of those who have not it may be explained that it is 1 a small pot of common glazed earthenware, with a handle over the open top, like a basket. It is about half filled with hot embers, and is in constant use with the poorer classes during the winter to keep their hands and feet warm, being carried like a'basket when they are moving about, and,placed beneath the feet when seated. Another point of dispute was the supply of water which the "sigarie" have to use while rolling the cigars. In short, they held out stubbornly but, finding that their employers did the same, they bit on the idea of appealing to Royalty itself. Some 300 of them marched up to the Quiririal'to ask an audience of the Qneen. Her Majesty, they .were, told, was out driving, but just then the carriago of the Prince of Naples drove out from the palace, and was immediately surrounded by' the excited women with demands and petitions. His Royal Highness politely raised his hat to all, but made it evident that he could not then and there enter into the merits of the case, and drove on. But luck was on the side of the cigar women that day, for as they were proceeding along the Via del Quirinale Queen Margaret's carriage was seen returning to the palace. As it approached, the whole body of women threw themselves on their knees in the street exclaiming, "Grace, grace, your Majesty ; a petition, a petition." The Queen kindly stopped her carriage, and, having heard the cause of this singular demonstration, caused the women to be told, with her usual affability, that if their grievances were reasonable she would do what she could to help them; and matters have since been accommodated through the intervention of one or two gentlemen, one of whom seems to have been especially successful in managing the refraotory cigarmakers and bringing them to mutual concessions.