The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-04
SCOTLAND OFFERS
 KNOTTY PROBLEM Measures of Stopping Emi-
 grafton Discussed STRIKE OF TAILORS Develops Fact That Nearly All Cor onation Duds Are Being Made in Dirtiest of Sweat
 Shops
STRIKE OF TAILoRs
By PAUL LAMBETH

the house of lords question the draining of Scotlands population is causing more discussion than any other subject.
 l Whether the emigration can be stopped. and if so how, is too big question to discuss here. But we may take it that the thing will only be done by giving
 scotchman as much inducement to remain
 In his own country as he now receives
 to transfer his home to Canada, and the only way in which I should expect this to be done is by alternations in the land system. It Is worthy of note in this con nection that the house of lords has been blocking land legislation in Scotland for five years.
 The Landsdowne bill for the reform of the house of lords sets up a second cham Der, smaller by half than the present house, and representative of the nation. Of the 343 members, of which the new house Is to be composed, 1t is suggested that 220 shall be present as refiecting the political opinion of the day. that is to say, 100 will be nominated by the crown on the advice of the ministry and 12o will be elected for districts by those members
  uencies are within the area. The third group consists of 100 to be elected by the existing house of lords from such of their own number as have duly qualified by distinguished service to the state The 1 form of election Is to be such that the minority shall be fully represented. In this way it will be possible to retain in l thu hpt1Sa af tprde avparia,aa1 aa...t-.- trators. retired cabinet ministers, coloniaf governors. heads of government depart ments and former members of the house of commons. Except for this group, mem- bership of the house of lords Is open to everyone. The present anomaly of polt- ical representation Is corrected, and there Is an equal chance for both parties in the new house. At present there has been no attempt at detailed criticism, and the opinion is general that Lord Landsdowne has devised solution of the reformed sec ond house problem. But the radicals do not want a reformed second chamber in any practical sense of the word; those who do not frankly declare themselves one chamber men aim at practically the same object by a parliament bill which. if passed as it stands, deprives the upper house of all legislative powers.
 A strike of tailors here has developed the fact that nearly all the clothes for the kings coronation are being made In sweat shops
 Unless employers and workmen come to terms the whole of the high-class cloth ing trade will be disorganized and the necessary preparations which are being made for the coronation delayed The Society of Tailors and Tailoresses are asking the employers to provide work shops for the whole of the employees be- fore the expiry of two years, and that In the meantime the employers shall pay workmen at the rate of Is in the pound on the earnings but not less than 3s per week, as compensation for the non-pro- vision of accommodation. The masters are not inclined to fall in with the de- mand.
 Some startling sidelights on the condi- tions under which the garments of the aristocracy are produced were revealed by James Blyth, secretary of the Society | of Taiors and Tailoresses At the pres ent time clothing for the great majority of the West End shops is made in the homes of the workers or in rooms rented | by them in Soho, and so disgusting Is the environment in many cases that the sys- tenn Is constant source of danger to those whose garments are made in such surroundings
 | MT. Blyth, a single West End tailor. provides workshop accommodation for all employees. few keep number of men, women and boys on their premises but the bulk of the work is given out to small contractors who have their own work rooms and their own men.
 Most of the clothing for the West End said Blyth, "is produced in Soho, and at the moment coronation robes and uniforms are being made in the hlthiest dens. I know of one place where a tail or's workroom is at the back of an offai shop. The woodwork and the stairs are covered with dirt. The atmosphere is laden with the germs of purifying meat. but at this moment garments of the very best class are being made there. | On one occasion clothing for the present King-then Prince of Wales-was found | In the process of making in fever den l Ill Soho. case came to my notice where uniforms were being made in a house where all the children were stricken with measles. In another house case of scarlet fever was notified. Inspectors were sent to disinfect the premises, but before their arrival garments for high-class | firm which were In course of manufacture were smuggled into the next house and brought back after the officers had gone | l am confident that many cases of in- l lfectionus disease could be traced to the l fact that the clothing of the wealthy classes is made by men working where there Is no decent sanitary accommoda- ltion and no attention paid to the prim- ary rules of health. Why, the moleskins of the navy are made in airy and we'll lighted factories, but the clothing of the highest classes, the coronation robes of peers, and the uniforms of officers and cadets are made In the germ-infected areas of district noted for filth and mis- | cry
 | The sum of $925,0O0 has been set down in the civil service estimates to cover the cost of the coronation. The costliest cor onation on record in English history is that of King George ", $120.0O0 went on the coronation robes and about s270OO0 on the crown. The public grumbled, especial Fly as they were excluded from the abbey. George III has been crowned at half the cost and William W, detesting pomp, had everything connected with his corona tion reduced to the lowest limits, and succeeded in getting through theYbusiness for s150000. Probably the most expensive Ioor to