The Work of Shop-girls . It is not often that
big employers of labour are to be found dwelling upon the -" trials and tribulations " of employees in • their industry, as Lord Trent did the other day ; but Lord Trent, who in his factories has arranged a shorter week for more pay, and for his shop-assistants holidays with wages, has shown that his sympathy is not confined to words. In - his graphic account of the' life of shop-girls he spoke about the long hours of " standing at their work." Some years ago there was a movement for providing shop- assistants with scats, so that they should not be obliged to stand all the time when they were not serving. There are certain shops which still provide this small amenity for their assistants ; • but even there the practice of sitting at slack periods is generally discouraged. There are many trades in which the' fatigue element is un- necessarily increased through lack of opportunities for sitting. In England and in France during the War women 'bus and tram-conductors were provided with swing-seats. Why not 'bus-conductors today'?
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