7322. There is nobody in your employment merely for spinning?- I cannot say there is. Occasionally we get a woman to spin for us; but they don't like to do that, as it is not profitable.
7323. The way in which you deal with these spinners and knitters is, that you generally sell the wool to them?-Yes.
7324. And they bring it, and sell it back to you when made into articles of hosiery?-Yes.
7325. Is that the invariable practice?-Yes; some of them have offered to take the wool, and make it 'halvers.' The practice among the people themselves is, that a party who has wool gives it to a neighbour who has none; she knits two pieces of goods, one of which belongs to the owner of the wool, and the other is kept by the knitter for her trouble. I objected to that system, because I did not think it encouraged them to make the most of their material, and they did not, perhaps, give fair attention to the improvement the knitting. If they buy 4s. worth of wool, and if girl knits well, she may turn 10s. or 12s. out of that; in some cases more; so that there is more encouragement to them by knitting the wool themselves, than by selling it.
7326. I suppose you sometimes buy articles which have been made by knitters with their own wool, spun by themselves, and which has not originally been purchased from you?-Yes; a great many of the articles of hosiery are purchased by us in that way.
7327. On whose property is your shop?-On the Busta estate.
7328. How long have you held your shop there?-Since 1864,- seven years.
7329. Was there a shop in existence at Lochend before you opened yours?-There had been a shop there for a long time.
7330. In the same premises?-Yes; but it has been considerably enlarged.
7331. Where were you before?-At Ollaberry. I had the business place there now occupied by Mr. Anderson's firm.