H.—s

to prevent, if possible, the suffering caused to female assistants in shops by long continuous standing, as shown in Dunedin and Christchurch evidence. 26. This Commission expresses its entire sympathy with the movement to secure early closing; but, having in view the diversity of opinion on the part of its promoters, is unable to recommend any direct method by which this desirable object is to be attained. 27. We recommend that steps should be taken to establish at an early date Boards of Conciliation and Arbitration based on an equitable representation of labour and capital. 28. A system of indenture by which employers should be bound to teach their apprentices their trade, and by which apprentices should remain with their employer long enough to learn it, would remedy many of the evils complained of. 29. For the purpose of obtaining reliable data as to the social and economic condition of industry throughout the colony, Government are requested to take steps as soon as possible for the establishment of Bureaux of Statistics in this colony. 30. Government are requested to introduce with the least possible delay a new Factory Bill embodying the above recommendations. Given under our hands and seals at Wellington, this fifth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and ninety. (1.5.) James Fulton, Chairman. (1.5.) Francis Cherry, (1.5.) Thomas Thompson, (1.5.) Rutherford Waddell. (1.5.) F. E. Wright, (1.5.) D. P. Fisher, (1.5.) J. R. Blair, (1.5.) Frederic Jones, (1.5.) Colin Allan.

ADDENDUM. While assenting generally to the report, w 7 e beg to dissent from that portion of it, on page 1, which says " that the system known as ' London sweating' does not exist." We dissent from this (1) because it is not quite in accordance with fact. One or two instances of what is called " London sweating"— i.e., as commonly understood, "sub-contracting" —did come under the notice of the Commissioners, which shows that the system is already in operation, though only to a very limited extent. We dissent from this (2) because it is misleading. It is misleading because— (a.) There are differences of opinion as to what really constitutes sweating. Miss Beatrice Potter, — e.g., one of the best authorities, who has worked in the sweating-dens of London herself in order to understand the system—in an article in the " Nineteenth Century " defines sweating as consisting in (1) overcrowded or insanitary workshops or living-rooms, (2) long and irregular hours, (3) constantly falling prices and low wages. If this be the understood definition of " sweating," then there is abundant evidence of its existence in the colony. There are numerous overcrowded and insanitary workrooms, great numbers of workers labour long and irregular hours, and wages in many trades are at the lowest possible ebb (vide memoranda of Commissioners, also the evidence of butchers, bakers, tramway-men, shop assistants, waitresses, &c, passim). It is misleading because— (b.) It will tend to create an impression that the duty of taking vigorous action to ward off the evils that oppress the industrial world in the older civilisations is not imperative; whereas, as a matter of fact, unless there be an aroused public opinion and prompt legislative action, w r e shall find, as population increases and the struggle for existence becomes keener, that these very evils will have struck deep their roots in our midst. Rutherford Waddell. D. P. Fisher. Colin Allan.

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