23
THE SWEATING SYSTEM.
DEPUTATION TO THE HOME SECRETARY.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 16th, a deputation, composed of representatives from the Amalgamated Society of Tailors and the National Tailors' Associations of Scotland, waited upon Mr. Cross, at the Home Office, for the purpose of urging upon the Government the urgent necessity for legislation in regard to what is known as the "sweating system," i.e., the giving out of work by all tailoring establishments, including even the large ones, for execution at the homes of the journeymen tailors.
Mr. Macdonald, M.P., and Mr. Blake, M.P., introduced the deputation. With Mr. Cross was Mr. Redgrave, Inspector of Factories. The vice-president, treasurer, and secretary of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, accompanied the deputation, which included Mr. A. W. Bailey, President of the Amalgamated Society; Mr. P. Shorrocks, General Secretary; Mr. H. Wright, Mr. H. Harry, Mr. D. Stainsby, Mr. L. Drohan, Mr. J. Mc.Whinnie, Donald Mc.Allan, John Skimmings, George M. Benbow, William Blake, Thomas Wells, Patrick Hooban, Michael O'Loughlan, and A. J. Holian.
Mr. Macdonald, M.P., introducing the deputation, said: Sir, I have the honour of introducing to you a body of gentlemen from the Amalgamated Tailors of the United Kingdom. They represent 335 branches and over 300 towns in England, Ireland, and Wales. There are also here representatives from the tailors of Scotland—the appointed deputies of associations representing nearly every town in Scotland. The object that they have in view is to lay before you some facts connected with what is called the "sweating system," and they do so in the hope that you will be able to take into consideration that matter in your proposed bill on the Consolidation of the Factory and Workshop Act. It is not for me to know what the provisions of that bill are, or whether this subject lies within the four corners or lines of that bill, but I would say this, that it is a subject that for many years to my knowledge has engaged the especial and earnest attention of the Tailors of the United Kingdom. It has not only engaged their attention, but it has engaged the attention of a number of other earnest thinkers and workers in the cause of sanitary reform, and whether or not you will be able to deal with the subject in your Consolidated Act, I trust, sir, that you will be able to consider it, and not only consider, but deal with it in the manner in which you have dealt with quite a number of subjects in connection with social and sanitary reform since you came into office, and with which your name will long be associated. It would be imprudent as well as impolitic to detain you with any remarks of mine. Gentlemen are here who are enabled and entitled to speak on the subject with far greater force than I can lay claim to. Without further preface, therefore, I will call upon Mr. Bailey to state his views.
