THE COMPETITION OF WOMEN IN PHYSICAL WORK.
[TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR...)
Sin,—The evidence I received during my recent inquiry in the United States as to the condition of women and children employed in factory labour fully confirms the balief expressed iu your article on this subject. " The last hours drag," said both over- seers and operatives. In the weaving-room, for example, it is a well-known fact that during the tenth hour there are so many "break-outs" and so much bad work, that time the next morning is wasted in getting the webs in running order. The testimony of the heads of the Labour Bureau at Washington, Boston, &c., was conclusively in favour of a reduction to nine hours ; it would secure a greater quantity and better quality of work, and as long as the Legislature interferes at all, it is certainly bound to provide the best measure it can for this large body of wealth-producers.
When the principles of co-operation shall have ripened into practice, perhaps every individual will be a law unto herself ; at I present, those who best understand the workshops needing Govern- ment regulation know that the element which asserts its right and insists upon it is not to be found there, as far as the female operatives are concerned.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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