"'At this time you were hired for wages; how much had you?' 'Half-a-crown a week.'
"'And your maintenance?' 'No, I maintained myself.'
"'Is not that much lower than the wages now given to people of sixteen years of age?' 'I have a boy about sixteen that has 4s. 6d. a week, but he is in a high situation; he is oiler of the machinery.'
"'Besides, you have been injured in your hand by the accident to which you have alluded, and that probably might have interfered with the amount of your wages?' 'Yes.'
"'What duty had you in the mill at this time, for the performance of which you received 2s. 6d. a week, when you were at Duff, Taylor & Co.'s?' 'I was a card-feeder.'
"'Did your hand prevent you working at that time as well as other boys of the same age, in feeding the cards?' 'Yes, on the old system; I was not able to feed with a stick at that time; it is done away with now.'
"'How long did you stay there?' 'About fifteen months.'
"'How many hours did you work there?' 'Fourteen.'
"'Do you mean that you worked fourteen hours actual labour?' 'Yes.'