13

H.—2

84. Mr. Fulton.] We have not posted the notice required by the Act, but we hare registered in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin. 85. The Chairman.] Do you think the Act works favourably—have you any objection to it? — We are perfectly satisfied with it. 86. Do you find the holidays objectionable ?—We do not object to the holidays mentioned in the Act; but we do to any holiday that may be proclaimed by the Mayor. 87. Mr. Bradshaw^ Do you think the inspection sufficient and complete? —I cannot say that it is. 88. Tou do not object to the Act, but regard it favourably. Do you not think others may he breaking it ?—Undoubtedly. 89. Are any of the females married ?—None that we employ. 90. The Chairman.] Do you know if any of them support their parents ? —No; nor is it necessary with any that we employ, so far as I am aware. 91. Mr. Fulton.] Are you acquainted with these Acts ? —-We have a copy. 92. Mr. Bradshaw.] Do you think that eight hours a day is a sufficiently long time for any female to work ?—'Yes ; we are satisfied with eight hours. 93. Mr. Strode.] Do you think they are capable of working any longer continuously ? —I do not think so. 94. The Chairman.] It would he no advantage to the women ?—No ; nor to us either. 95. Mr. Fulton.] Are there any clauses you feel specially burdensome ?—No; the only objection is the holidays. Mr. Henet Hogg examined. 96. By the Chairman.] lam Secretary of the Operative Tailors' Society. It is a society for males only. 97. Do you desire to explain any particular view to this Commission ? —Tes ; the object of my writing to the Commission offering to give evidence was to represent that to a great extent the Act is, for the purposes for which it is intended, a dead letter, for, notwithstanding that the Act limits the hours during which females may he employed, there are establishments in this city where girls work the given number of hours, and then roll up their work and take it home with them, working into all hours of the night. In other establishments they work long after the hours prescribed by the Act. If you go to these firms they will tell you that their employes are earning large wages, and show you their hooks, taking care to keep out of sight the fact that to earn that amount of wages they have to work twice or thrice the legitimate number of hours. I know of an instance of one person working till past midnight. There are factories in this city (Mr. Hermann's, of Stafford Street, is one) in which the girls have been kept working till 4 or 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoons, aud keeping some one standing at the door, to watch. I came to know this in consequence of looking about for information to expose the abuses of the trade in the columns of tho Trades Journal, to which I was asked to contribute, being Secretary to the Tailors' Society. There is another place, not in my own trade, the proprietors of which were fined for an infringenent of the Act. I refer to the City Steam Laundry Company. This case came to the knowledge of the Inspector, I believe, in consequence of a letter which appeared in the Evening Star, stating that the women were working in the place in question from 8 in the morning till 8 at night. The parents of some of the young persons let them go to such places to earn money that they may spend it in drink, but well-to-do people do not allow it. The effect of this is very detrimental to the physical health of these girls as the future mothers of the population. 98. Mr. Strode.] In what direction do you suggest the Act should be amended ?—One direction should be, to prevent work being taken home. 99. Mr. Bradshaw.] Tou mean, to prevent any person, firm, shop, or factory from giving work to any of their employes to take home after they have been working during the day? —Tes ; I think there should be a penalty for allowing that to be done. 100. From what you say, I infer that the inspection is not sufficient or complete? —It is not. In fact, it is a dead letter ; and the same may be said of the weights and measures' inspection. 101. Do you know anything about the conveniences for males and females on these premises?— I know of no complaint with regard to the accommodation for males. Ido not know what accommodation is provided for the females, but there ought to be in all places proper lavatories, waterclosets, &c. 102. Mr. Fulton.] Are you aware of any places where there is not proper provision in this respect ?—No. I knew of one some time ago ; but the accommodation has been completed since. 103. Mr. Bradshaw.] Do you consider eight hours is a sufficient time for any woman to work in this country ?—Certainly, quite sufficient, because they are continuously at work, and not supposed to be looking up from it, particularly in my own trade. They must keep constantly going. 104. Mr. Fulton.] With regard to holidays—there are four specified in the Act ?—Tes, that is a sore point with the employers. If it were all piecework, they would not object, but I do not think there is more than one-third paid for holidays. I always tell them they regulate the wages to make up for it. 105. Mr. Bradshaw.] —Do you know of any married women being employed in these places?— Tes, a great many. 106. What becomes of their children ?—ln some cases they are left to take care of themselves ; others are left in charge of their sisters. I know of one case in which the mother works at a factory, her husband in a brewery, the eldest son also out at work, while two or three young ones, the youngest five or six years, are left to take care of themselves. The husband is a most inveterate drunkard, and I have known him to turn his wife out into the street, after she has been working hard all day for the support of the family. There are a great many married women working in factories, whose children are left uncared for.