H.—s

56

Mr. B. N. examined. 1379. I am a drysalter at Belfast —Henry Berry and Co. 1380. lam at present locked out because I joined a labour union and I asked for overtime. I was earning £1 10s. per week. We worked from Bto 7.30 or 8 ; the average would be about ten hours and a half a day, Saturday included. The trade is converting the sheep-runners into sausageskins—very dirty and wet trade. 1381. The reason we were locked out was because we asked for more wages and overtime. Mr. B. 0. examined. 1382. lam a drysalter at Henry Berry and Co.'s, at Belfast. I corroborate everything that Mr. B. N. has said. Mr. B. P. examined. 1383. lam a drapers' assistant, working in 's. I have been nine years in the trade. 1384. With regard to early closing, the shop-assistants are unanimous as regards early closing on Saturday. Our firm advise us (the shop-assistants) to form a union. 1385. Majority of cases, wages of assistants are £2 to £3 per week ; an exceptional man can get more. 1386. I know of a case where a man made during ordinal-)- hours £1 ss. a week. He was on commission. This handicaps an employer who pays good wages. Mr. B. Q. examined. 1387. lam seventeen years of age, and have worked for , a tailor. I worked for him for about three years. He used to get me there sometimes at 5 o'clock in the morning, and keep me at work till 9at night. I have been at work four years. 1388. I had an hour for dinner and an hour for tea. 1:189. At first I got ss. a week, aud after about twelve months I got 6s. a week. I had no overtime given me, hut sometimes my master would give me 6d. for myself, but that was very seldom. Once he gave me 2s. (id. as a Christmas-box. 1390. was a very religious man. I had tea given me three times while there. The room we worked in was in the dwelling-house, but after a time he built a separate workroom. No journeyman was employed. There were two boys, an improver, and myself there. Mr. worked for Mr. . The hours of work were very long. I never saw the Inspector at the factory. Mr. B. E. examined. 1391. I have been working for a tailor named , and worked for him five years. The hours were supposed to be from 8 to 6 p.m., but we worked till 10 or 11 at night. 1392. There were seven boys working there during my time ; now I believe there are eleven or twelve. himself is the only man engaged. His work came from 's. My wages at first were 9s. per week, but the last year they were increased to £1 10s. —that was the fifth year. 1393. I never got overtime payments, but sometimes he would give me a shilling or two. Some of the other boys were getting ss. per week. 1394. — used to make us mend drawers, darn stockings, do household work, ironing, &c. He has been carrying on this system, to my knowledge, for eleven years. He never made any attempt to teach me my trade. The boys were bound apprentices. 1395. 's brother-in-law has started business on the same principle as himself. 1396. When the apprentices are out of their time they are not fit to take a first-class place. I had to go as an improver for eighteen months after I left his employment, and had served the full time, five years, with him, for which period I was his bound apprentice. Mr. B. S. examined. 1397. I can corroborate what the previous witness has stated. The boys worked the hours, and were treated as mentioned by him.

AUCKLAND. Tuesday, 25th March, 1890. Eichard Gamble examined. 1398. I am a sergeant of police, and the person appointed under " The Employment of Females Act, 1881," to inspect factories, &c. 1399. I have been about nine years thus employed. 1400. Some of the factories are very well suited for the purpose, others are not, not having been built with the object of being employed as factories, both as regards ventilation, and sanitation, and space per individual. I can produce a list of most of the factories. 1401. I think, altogether there are about eight or nine hundred girls at work in Auckland under the Factory Act. This is not including shop-girls. Dressmaking, tailoring, bootmaking, jam, lollies, waterproof clothing, saddlery, broom-making, upholstering, tobacco- and cigar-making are the principal industries in Auckland.