4 AUGUST 1917, Page 16

The Homeworker and the Outlook. By V. de Vessolitaky. (G.

Bell and Sons. Is, net.)—This instructive study of tailoresses and boxmakers who work at house has been written by a lady member of the Ratcliff Settlement in the East End, under the auspices' of the Ratan Tate Foundation in the University of London. It shows that the Trade Boards Act, under which a minimum wage has been fixed for these trades, has done some good, although it has been enforced only in part. The author thinks that more might be done if the Trade Board-s displayed great sr activity, although she sees that homeworkers might be displaced to a still greater extent than now by the factory workers if the trade were over- regulated. Her inquiries suggest that the sub-contractor, who actually employs the tailoresses, is himself sweated by the contractor, whoao profits, for example, in the case of military uniforms, seem to be altogether disproportionate to his risk and trouble.