116

H.—22

2nd. We are of opinion that the direction in which your Commission might most materially assist us as woollen manufacturers is by recommending to the Legislature the relaxation of the Employment of Females Act, known also as Bradshaw's Act; and we would urge this on your favourable consideration on the following grounds : —■ (1.) It does seem hard to us that, after going to the great expense of importing and fitting up the machinery necessary to manufacture woollen fabrics, the Legislature should step in and compel us to let the machinery remain idle for sixteen hours in the twenty-four so as to comply with the requirements of Bradshaw's Act. (2.) As all the work done in our manufactories is paid by the piece, it seems to us an unnecessary interference on the part of the State to step in and say to the women employed, " You shall not work more than eight hours out of the twenty-four." There is not a week passes that we are not urged by the women employed by us to set the law at defiance by permitting them to continue their work for an hour or two beyond the legalized time. Further, the employment in itself is of the most healthy description, as can be seen by the members of the Commission paying a personal visit of inspection to any of the factories represented by vs —in fact, we would most strongly urge the Commission to make such a personal inspection, and we shall be delighted to arrange to enable you to visit any or all of them. (3.) The relaxation of Bradshaw's Act that we would suggest is the adoption of the system that prevails in England and Scotland, as follows : From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing two hours for meals, from Monday to Friday inclusive, and on Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing one hour for breakfast ; or, altogether, fifty-seven hours per week. Of course it is understood that, in asking for this relaxation, we are willing that the working of any such alteration should be made subject to special inspection on the part of the Government, and further, that it should only extend to the six summer months of the year, say from Ist October to 31st March. (4.) Should it be deemed inexpedient to relax by legislation Bradshaw's Act in the direction indicated above, we would suggest that, in the case of our woollen factories, a law be introduced whereby we may have the privilege by special license, and subject to special inspection, to work two hours per day longer than the time recognized by Bradshaw's Act. In"submitting the above for your consideration, we may, in conclusion, state that, in the event of your desiring to see any of us personally during your visit to Dunedin, we shall be happy to attend, on your giving us the necessary notice of time and place. We have, &c, John H. Moeeison, Manager, Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company (Limited). ROSS AND GrLENDINING, Roslyn Woollen Mills. McLandeess, Hepbuen, and Co., Kaikorai Woollen Factory.

No. 143. Notes of a Visit by the Commission to the Mosgiel, Roslyn, and Kaikorai Woollen Factories. On the 17th of May the Commission visited the Mosgiel Factory, situated on the Taieri Plain, about twelve miles from Dunedin, accompanied by Mr. Morrison, manager for the Company. They found the mills in full working, and inspected the various processes in the manufacture from the raw material of woollen tweeds, rugs, shawls, blankets, flannels, hosiery, and yarns. The number of persons employed was forty, earning wages from £1 to £1 10s. per week, and working eight hours a day, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation of Factories Act. The premises were roomy, well ventilated, warmed, and thoroughly wholesome and comfortable in every respect. The labour was of a very light kind, and especially suited to women and young persons. A. large capital —amounting to £60,000 —was invested in the works, and the average profit since the commencement amounted to 7 per cent, per annum, making an ample allowance for wear and tear. The Commissioners noted with satisfaction that only native coal was used at the factory—the proximity of a colliery enabling steamcoal of excellent quality to be delivered at 10s. a ton. The manager of the works represented to the Commission that the industry was in a flourishing state, and needed no artificial assistance, being able to compete successfully with the imported article so far as the trade has been at present developed. He stated that the present duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem was distinctly protective, and added that his industry would be independent of such protection, and would be in a more favourable position without protection, provided that the requirements of the Regulation of Factories Act were relaxed with respect to the length of working hours. He informed the Commission that weavers and other piece-workers employed in the factory would willingly work nine hours or nine hours and a half a day if they were permitted to do so, and that the extra work would not affect their health or be any hardship to them, while the extra wages would be a great consideration. The advantage of this system to the Company would be that they could keep all their machinery employed when business was brisk, instead of keeping looms idle though they had orders in hand —the spinning process not being able to keep pace with the weaving under the eight-hours system. Mr. Morrison represented this to be a very important matter — sufficiently important to make the difference between working the factory at a certain profit independently of protection, and working it precariously even with a duty of 15 per cent. He stated that if the legal hours were lengthened, he did not think the rate of wages would be lowered, but that the Company would be willing to pay the present liberal rate of wages to pieceworkers for longer hours for the sake of keeping all the machinery at work. The Commission also examined the working manager at some length on this subject, but his evidence coincided very closely with that of Mr. Morrison. They elicited from him, however, an admission that if the legal hours of labour were lengthened the wages of day-workers would not be increased, as they had not been reduced when the working-day was shortened from nine hours to eight. He stated that no hardship