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213
[1912
days a week to earn a mere subsistence, the performance of any additional
duties on her part becomes an act of heroism." She also writes, "In my
previous report I drew attention to the pathetic circumstances under which
many women are struggling to maintain their independence, with the result that
certain newspapers have commented on the need of more drastic legislative
measures designed to stop this evil of sweating."
Anyone who has studied this question, and who has visited the homes of some
of these poor outworkers, cannot fail to come to the conclusion that something
should be done to stop what is nothing less than a national scandal. We hear
from time to time of strikes which tend to paralyse the work of the nation
being undertaken on behalf of a single individual, but unfortunately for these
poor women they have no union or organisation which can step in and interfere
to obtain a living wage for them. The writer of this report is certainly no
socialist, but he cannot close his eyes to what is taking place, and, indeed, no man
in his position, who studies this question, can avoid coming to the conclusion
that it is time for the State to interfere to prevent the sweating of these poor
unfortunate women. Just think of it ! "Elaborately trimmed blouses, 1s. 6d•
per doz.; Camisoles more than half-composed of fine insertion and lace trimming,
Is. (id. per doz.; heavy cloth mantles, full length, with smart finish, including
buttons and button holes, 7d. each; bathing costumes, with braided jackets and
knickers, 1 \d. each, and so on, in a painful repetition.'' 1 hese are the facts that
Mrs. Young, the Inspector of the homes of these people, reported last year.
They are almost incredible. The days of "The Song of the Shirt" are evidently
not dead yet. In her report for this year she tells us—and this may be one of
the reasons for such sweating prices—that "the years between 60 and 70 are
the most difficult; women are then willing to take any work, at any price; and
they become the prey of every unscrupulous employer who cares to exploit
them."
Restaurants and kitchens where food is prepared.—There are
at present on the register the addresses of 730 restaurant kitchens and places
where food is prepared, containing 1,013 rooms, and to these 342 visits were
paid. The work of their inspection was performed by Mrs. Young, and in
reporting on it she says that " there is a marked improvement in the conditions
found in places where food is prepared, and it is now generally understood by
the occupier, that, in Islington, such places are kept under regular inspection,
and that due cleanliness must be observed in them." And then she goes on to
state that " in many instances these inspections are welcomed as affording a
guarantee of cleanliness to the public and also that certificates as to their
cleanliness have been requested."