SWEATED INDUSTRIES.—A REMEDY.
[To THZ EDITOR Or Till "EPECTLTOZ.".1 SIR,—We cannot but regret the state of things which induces employers to offer, and compels workers to accept, the miserable pittance, totally inadequate to provide decent sustenance, which many persons, women and girls chiefly, at present receive for their work in certain industries. We may, none the less, agree with your article in last week's issue in deprecating legislation on the line of the Bill now before Parliament. Its proposals do not touch the real causes of the trouble, and therefore will not provide an effectual remedy. One of the most potent of these causes is the over-abundant supply of this class of labour, especially in London ; and one of the best remedies is to reduce the over-supply. Now, fortunately, the means of doing this exists. In Lancashire and Yorkshire there has been for some time past a strong demand for women and girl workers in the cotton, woollen, and silk mills. There is a lull in the demand for workers at the moment, but probably this is only temporary. The Society with which I am associated takes advantage of a demand of this kind to transfer suitable persons, preferably widows with children, of whom two or three must be over thirteen years of age, so as to work full time. In the last thirty years we have thus taken about two thousand five hundred persons from a state of penury, frequently from dependence on parochial aid, and placed them in a position where in the course of a few months they attained self-support and comfort. The employers give the necessary training and provide for any deficiency in their earnings in the meantime. Many more might have been sent had suitable families been forthcoming. but there is usually improved work in Liverpool when there is good trade in the factory towns; and the natural in- disposition to leave old associations also stands in the way. Of those we have sent within the last two years I give three examples :—
Liverpool. s. 1.
J. L. 15 0 M. P. 8 6 F. B. 10 0 Most of these are working people of the most respectable class.
Now there is no reason why advantage should not be taken of such a demand to send families, or single individuals, from London. Every person sent away makes more room for those who are left, and by reducing the supply increases the relative demand for their services, and therefore puts them into a better position to command a living wage, in whatever trade they are employed. After we had been carrying out this work for some years it was found that the wages of Liverpool charwomen bad risen from a similar cause. There is little hope of persons of this class being able to take the necessary steps themselves, and I shall be glad to put any charitable agency which chooses to take the matter up into communica- tion with manufacturers or spinners (who we know have been recently in want of workers), and let them know what experi- ence has shown to be the conditions essential to success.—
Earnings in No. of Full-Time Present Workers.
Earnings.
£ s. d.
4 2 18 6 per week.
3 1 18 0„ „ 3 1 9 6„
I am, Sir, &c., W. GR/SEWOOD, Secretary. Liverpool Central Relief and Charity Organisation Society, Imperial Buildings, 2 Exchange Street East, Liverpool.
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