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49
Just as in the case of the overcrowding question, sc in this.
The Sanitary Authority seems to be expected by some undefined
process to apply an immediate and effectual remedy for all the
admitted evils of this out-workers question. Some of our friends
appear almost inclined to make it a matter of personal indictment
that no effectual steps have been taken to ameliorate the
conditions under which so many of these workers exist. Unfortunately,
it is simply a weary tale of repetition. Sanitary
Authorities, as such, have no legal power and no means of
touching the remotest fringe of the many evils arising out of our
present system of homeworking or sweating, as it is usually called.
It is, indeed, most probable, that on balance the sweated
outworker is in the end not much better off in spite of all our
efforts intended for his benefit.
Whilst on the one hand it is quite true that we improve the
actual sanitary condition of his house, it is on the other equally
true that the improvement is in many instances carried out at his
own personal cost. In many cases under our notice the outworker
has had to pay for the repairs himself, either directly or
by means of an increased rental.
In other words the already sweated outworker is further
sweated by his landlord, and made to pay for the improved
sanitary surroundings required by law out of his miserable
earnings.
In some other cases the outworkers have been given notice
to quit, and turned out of their houses in consequence of the
attention of the Sanitary Inspector, who visits after receipt of the
outworker's lists, twice in each year. Others, again, have been
refused houses or rooms.
Apparently in one way or another, the lowest paid and most
helpless section of the workers are still at the mercy of sweating
employers or hard grinding landlords, and that in spite of all our
talk and all our alleged improvement.