Page:How contagion and infection are spread, through the sweating system in the tailoring trade.djvu/17

11 reverse, on the rates. Mr. Cross has promised to consider the matter, and, as far as may be, to try and introduce a remedy for this very just grievance into the Factory and Workshop Bill which he will introduce in the course of the Session. We can imagine no question on which the influence of the Trade Unions could be better brought to bear, nor one in which they would receive the more unanimous support of the outside public."

The Amalgamated Society of Tailors has been sneered at by journals circulating in the cutting-rooms of those interested in continuing this system, and our efforts termed extraordinary philanthropy; but to show that it is a subject in which the funds of the Society are used to alleviate the evils complained of, I may state that the last conference of the trade instructed the Executive Council to grant support to any member in whose family contagion was found, in order that he might leave work until his home was disinfected, and a clean bill of health was given by a medical gentleman. We state this to show that whilst our object is to elevate the condition of the operatives connected with our trade, our funds are used to prevent the spread of contagion by our members. We doubt whether the proprietors of these journals do likewise in the interest of the public.

It will be readily seen that the obstacles thrown in the way of a full investigation into such a system as sweating or out-working by workmen, without legal authority to prosecute their labours, are many, and in some cases insurmountable; and that though we may be able to fully substantiate the following, yet to give numbers of the houses and names of occupiers would render the committee liable to both civil and criminal proceedings; and from the same cause we are compelled to withhold many facts that came to our knowledge, which, if recorded, would shock the better feelings of our nature, and leave the uninitiated to wonder could such things exist in this enlightened age. It must be clearly understood that we had not the means of ascertaining how many women and children were employed, for though blank we are fully persuaded that by far the greater majority employed both.

The committee was composed of six, appointed by a general meeting, and their labours commenced on February 19th, and closed on the 24th; it will therefore be seen that they could not visit all the places and homes engaged in this class of work, but can vouch for the truth of the following statements, and are prepared to prove their correctness. The number of children could not be ascertained.