The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-02 00:00:00

DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S

SOCIETY.

On Thursday, at half-past two o'clock, the third an-
nual meeting of the Distressed Needlewomen's Society
was held in Willis's rooms, King-street, St. James's,
when the chair was taken by Mr. Alderman Farebro-
ther, president of the society. On the platform, right
and left of the- president, were—Lord Dudley Stuart,
Mr. L. J. Hansard, Mr. E. Brewster, Mr. R. L. Swift,
Mr. More, Mr. Gladwell, Mr. Roper, the Secretary of
the society, &c. The body of the meeting, which was
highly respectable, was chiefly composed of ladies.
The proceedings commenced by the Secretary (Mr.
Roper) reading the report of the directors, from which
the following are extracts :
" The friends of the institution are aware that the cir-
cumstance which first led to the formation of this society
was the truly distressed state of the poor needlewomen,
ho were toiling for fourteen or fifteen hours daily ;
and even then, from the small wages paid to them,
earning only about 4d. or 6d. per day, not sufficient
to pay more than the rent of their miserable dwelling
rooms, and many of them with large families almost
in a state of starvation ; which frequently led them to
the pawning of the goods intrusted to them, to obtain
bread for their children. Since the establishment of
this society, and by great exertion and meetings with
many of the guardians of the workhouses and unions,
they have ceased to allow in some instances any needle-
work to be taken in ; but it is believed (in every case
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try to support their own families.
" The Ladies' Committee have in very few instances
afforded relief by giving money, and then only under
circumstances of deep distress arising from sickness ;
but the greatest benefits have been known to arise from
the supporters of the cha! ity giving to the poor (in the
winter season especially) articles of clothing furnished
by the society ; and the Ladies' Committee have com-
pletely clothed some young women, so as to enable them
to go into respectable service, and thus save them from
the temptation which poverty frequently compels these
poor girls to fall into."
The report further contained an account of the receipts
and expenditure for the past year, from which it ap-
peared that by donations and subscriptions a sum of
5201. 19s. Bd. had been raised, which, added to a balance
from the previous year's accounts of 391. 6s. Bd., made a
total of 5601. 6a. ld. There is at present a balance is
the banker's hands of 441. 19s. Bd., from which it appears
that the sum expended during the year has amounted to
5151 63. sd.

After reading the report,
The SECRETARY stated, that in addition to this so•
ciety there existed one for giving assistance to dress-
makers and milliners, but it ought to be known that the
two societies were wholly distinct, though they had kin-
dred objects in view, and were mutual in their good
wishes towards each other. He might state, in addition,
that the distress of the needlewomen was formerly very
much caused by the mistake committed by the unions
and workhouses employing poor women in needlework,
and that at a miserable rate of payment. He had, last
year, seen from 50 to 60 women at this kind of work in
one small room of a workhouse ; and one of them (a
widow) told him that her husband had once been in a
respectable business in the parish, while she, by order
of his former associates. was now making shirts at a far-
thing each. The amount paid in that workhouse for
net dlework was 2001. for one year, whereas by paying
only ls. a day it should have been 1,0001.
The CHAIRMAN, before any resolution with reference
to the report was laid before the meeting, begged to ex-
press his regret at the loss which the institution had
sustained from the retirement of Lord Ashley from its
management; but at the same time he believed the noble
lord continued to have the best wishes for its success,
seeing it was only within these two or three days that
Lady Ashley had sent a donation to its funds; and he
believed the reason of his Lordship's retirement was,
that he did not wish to be chairman of two societies of a
similar kind at the same time.

The CHAIRMAN then pointed out the advantages
which such a society conferred, by enabling mothers
to work at home, and thus superintend the training
and comforts of their children ; but it also was
the means of giving effectual assistance to many
who might otherwise sink beneath misfortune.
Numerous cases of this kind could be referred
to, though it would evidently be improper to give publi-
city to the names of the parties most deeply interested.
One case which bad come to his knowledge he would
simply state :—A gentleman had informed him of two
ladies who lived in a cold back room, without fire, with-
out candle, and almost without food. Now, these ladies
he had himself seen in the county of Kent entering the
carriage of their father. Their father and mother and
friends were now dead. The last remnant of their pro-
perty, about 8001., they had given to a brother, whom
they loved; the brother, unfortunately, had trusted the
money into the hands of another, and all was lost. He died
a death of misery, embittered by the thought that he had
been, though innocently, the cause of his sisters' wretched-
ness. These ladies were introduced to the society, and they
were now earning from Bs. to 9s. a week, and felt happier
than they ever had been in their lives before. They
had written a letter full of gratitude and expressions of
regard towards the supporters of the society. He would
not give their names, but was willing to give privately
such information to those who desired it as would prove
they were now living in comfort, while formerly they
were in misery.—(Hear.) He trusted, therefore, that s
society which could accomplish such excellent objects as
these would continue to be supported,
Lord D. STUART then moved " that the report be
adopted and circulated," and spoke of the great
benefits which such an institution as the pre-
sent was calculated to confer. It was, at the same
time, lamentable that their greatest efforts should
be able to give the objects of their care so
small a measure of the comforts of life. It was
indeed melancholy to think that in this metropolis,
where there was so much wealth, and splendour, and
luxury, there should also exist such a mass of misery
and destitution. He rejoiced therefore at the existence
of an institution which afforded assistance to the poor in
a way which of all others was most desirable, that of
procuring for them employment.—(Hear.) That was a
mode of giving aid ten times better for moral character,
and for preventing feelings of humiliation, than any
other mode that could be adopted. The Noble Lord
concluded by moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. E. BREWSTER seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted.
Mr. L. J. HANSARD moved the following resolution:—
" That this meeting views with much satisfaction the
happy progress the society has already made in rooting
out the evils that caused so much misery to the indus-
trious sempstresses, and pledge themselves to continue
their exertions in support of so praiseworthy an under-
taking."

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Mont, and
unanimously agreed to.
Mr. GLADWELL moved the next resolution, which was
as follows :

" That the objects of the society are not only beneficial
to the sempstresses, but will also protect the interests of
the fair-dealing tradesman, and consequently will secure
their support." _ _ _

As a tradesman be had been requested to offer his
opinion, and had much pleasure in expressing his entire
concurrence with the objects of the society, and his be-
lief that much advantage was likely to flow from its
operations.

- This resolution was also unanimously agreed to.
Mr. R. L. SWIFT moved a vote of thanks to Alderman
Farebrother for his conduct in the chair, and spoke of
his great liberality in contributing to the charitable in-
stitutions of the country. He had seen a list of institu-
tions to the number of upwards of 40, to all of which the
worthy alderman was a liberal contributor.—(Hear.)
The motion having been unanimously carried,
The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment,
and the meeting separated.