H.—2,

19

tection which the Act affords us. I was working in the same establishmeut before the Act was passed. Six in the evening was the usual hour for leaving off, but sometimes we were kept till 9 o'clock. We were paid extra for overtime. There are several apprentices, all above the age of fourteen, I believe. There is no difference in the wages now, although we get the half-holiday. I have no suggestion to make with regard to any alteration of the Act. I am quite salisficd with it, and wish it to remain as it is. Miss (f), examined, stated:— 176. Ido not wish to make any suggestion to amend the Act in any way. lam quite satisfied with it, and do not want it repealed, or the half-holiday done away with. lam employed at . There are about twenty workwomen in the room I am working in. I should think there are fifty females in the establishment altogether. The youngest are about or over fourteen years of age. We have the usual time —an hour—allowed for dinner. About half remain and half go home during the dinner hour. Those who stay, if they like can have a fire to warm anything. They do not complain of having no comforts in that respect. We are mostly machinists. Several get 30s. a week. I get 355. lam a machinist. Ido not consider the work injurious to health; mine is a very heavy machine — Whitemore's wax-thread machine. If I did not like to work it I could leave it. I could not work it any more than eight hours. They would not get any more work out of me, nor I any more pay, if the hours were longer. lam quite satisfied with the protection afforded by the Act, and every girl I know says how thankful she is for it, especially for the half-holiday. That is the greatest boon we have had. It is faithfully carried out, and there has been no attempt to interfere as far as we are concerned. There is no notice posted up in conformity with the Act, but we all know its provisions. Miss (g), examined, stated : — 177. lam employed at the establishment of , All in our room are quite satisfied with the working of the Act. We do not want any alteration of it. That is what we are afraid of. I have been nine years in the same establishment. We get paid for some of the holidays—those mentioned in the Act. We do not do piecework. lam a cutter. Ido not work with the machine. Under the old system we used to work till 9 o'clock at night sometimes, but we got paid for it. We prefer the present hours with less pay. The Act protects us with regard to hours. We are allowed an hour for dinner. A good many of the young persons stay on the premises during the hour. We do not get hot water for making tea; the proprietor has an objection to it. Mr. Clement White, examined, stated:----178. lam connected with a newspaper. I have taken an interest in the working of the Act. Before it came into operation I used to see the workshops open till 12 o'clock and after at night, and have called attention to it by letters in the papers. lam related to some of those who are employed, and frequently I have had to go down to the workshops at 12 and 1 o'clock at night in the olden time to bring them home. They were injuriously affected in health though overwork. The Act is working very well, I think. It has been a great boon for the workwomen, especially the half-holiday, which is a great relief to them. I have known Miss to come home at 12 o'clock on Saturday night so fatigued as to be quite unable to get up on Sunday morning. It is quite different now, and the difference is ascribed entirely to the restricted hours. The females could never do anything by themselves for protection without the Act. Nearly all of these persons support, or help to support, their parents, who belong to the working classes. 1 have never known of any case of young girls going home at 12 o'clock at night being insulted, as their friends or relatives have come down for them generally. If the working hours were made so many a week, instead of so many each day, the employers would he apt to take the advantage—they would manipulate them ; they would be the gainers. It would be prejudicial.

Wednesday, 15th Mat, 1878. At the Establishment of Messrs. Hallenstein Bros. Catherine Kirk examined, stated : — 179. lam about twelve years of age. I have been over six months here, and am learning to make vests. I am an apprentice. I get ss. a week at present. I work from half-past Bto half-past 5. From Ito2 is the dinner hour. I do not know when I shall get higher wages. There is no arrangement, but I expect to get 7s. 6d. soon. I leave off work at 2 o'clock on Saturday. I do not go home to dinner; I bring it with me, and get the use of the boiler for making tea. I have two sisters at school, and one brother working at Findlay's sawmill. Father works at Otepopo. Marianne Jane Wilson examined, stated: — 180. I was fourteen years of age last November. lam working at vests. My wages are 2s. 6d. a week. I have been here about six weeks. I am an apprentice. Ido not know when I shall get an increase ; I have not asked. lam not bound, and there is no arrangement. I commence work at halfpast 8, and leave off at half-past 5; on Saturdays from half-past 8 till 2. I have four brothers and one sister at home younger than myself. My father is a carpenter. My mother is at home. I like this work, and am very comfortable here. Sarah Palmer examined, stated: — 181. I came here in July last. lam employed at coat-making—hand needlework. The hours are from half-past Bto half-past 5, with meal hour from Ito 2 o'clock. I remain during the dinner hour. The amount of wages depends upon how long here, and what sort of hands. lam over eighteen years of age. The highest wages of the hands in my room are 10s. to 12s. 6d., I think; I cannot say what