2 JULY 1904, Page 23

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]

SIR,—Is there not danger that indemnities given to dismissed factory girls might act in a double way, sometimes bringing forth the truth, sometimes what is not the truth ? For instance, suppose a girl had been fined for breaking the rules or spoiling some materials (harshly and unjustly fined, as she thinks), is she not under a temptation to say what is not the truth when questioned by the inspector, so as to get her harsh, unjust employer punished ? This temptation would probably be resisted if she knew that yielding to it would lead to her own dismissal ; but if benevolent persons were ready to give her an indemnity, might she not be more disposed to yield to the temptation ? How should we like it if, whenever we parted with a servant for what we considered misconduct, a benevolent society were to give the servant an indemnity for the loss of the situation ? We should find it very difficult in such circumstances to manage our households. I fear; and

why should we do to manufacturers what we should not like to have done to ourselves ?—I am, Sir, &c.,

E. JESSIE BOUCHERETT.