HOURS.—At B. they are 48 per week; but at A. they are 53½, distributed as follows:—Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; one hour for dinner and half an hour for tea being allowed each full working day.
GENERAL. The sanitary arrangements are very bad at A., and lavatories open straight out of workrooms, and are in very bad condition. One does not use them unless she wants to get a fever. The company is very mixed. "You can tell that it is rather a low place, because the girls wear curlers and nothing is said. When one works at B. she has to take out curlers before she comes. You can always tell the sort of place when the girls wear curlers."
2. A well-known Printing Firm in London. Forewoman's Information.
WORK.—6 or 7 girls are employed at machine ruling, and a few at vellum sewing and folding.
REGULARITY.—The girls are kept on all the year round.
HOURS.—The hours are from 8 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., with one hour for dinner and half an hour for tea.
PROSPECTS.—Might rise to forewomen, but that not common.
GENERAL.—Work girls have nothing to complain of now; they are always very well looked after.
3. S., Small Printing Firm in London. Employée's Evidence.
WORK.—16 girls and 1 man (who is an engineer) are employed, S. helping himself. Upstairs there are 2 men "blocking," and 2 girls powdering for them. The girls do all the printing, e.g., the informant can set up the type, lock it into the frame, make ready, and then feed the platen machine—which alone is used in this firm. Informant can also clean the machine. She also does "bronzing," i.e., dusting-on bronze with a pad. The girls powdering upstairs do nothing else. A few younger girls fold circulars.