Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1903-04-17 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

DRIVING IN LANCASHIRE MILLS. THE ATTITUDE OF THE MANUFACTURERS.  An inquiry has been held at the offices of the Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers Association at Blackburn. into a complaint made by the Northern Counties Wearers' Amalgamation that driving was alleged to have taken place in the Fountain Shed, Accrington. and that in eon•equence of t. a young girl bad attempted to commit suicide. It will be remembered that when the girl was before the Church magistrates some rather strong remarks about driving were made by Mr. .J. E. Riley, the chairman of the Church justices. The Accrington Wearers' Association reported the case to the amalgamation, who at once sought a meeting of the Joint Committee of Operatives and Employers. This was readily conceded. At the inquiry a number of witnesses were called, and examined by the representatives of both manufacturers and weavers, each side being left to report to its own organisation. The manufacturers' r&presi'ntativea expresses! themselves as being as much averse to striving as thm weavers, and statsd, that It was a practice not countenanced by them. The "Cotton Factory Times" speaks. very strongly on the question of driving. Commenting on the observations of a Church Justice on the subject, they say : think the magisterial strictures will speak for themselves, and we have previously expressed our opinion of the detestable system of driving, or, as the Americans would say, 'hustling.' When the matter was before the Joint. Committee of employers and operatives' representatives, after the unfortunate Damen affair, the operatives asked that the slate system and pasting of weavers' wages should be abolished; that over. hooker. should be paid a fixed wage instead of poundage on the weavers' earnings; and ;that the power of eapiging and dismissing should, be taken from the overlooker and . placed in the hands of the employer or his manager. We believe the employers condemned the slate and posting of wages, and also expressed themselves favourable to the employers or managers alone being responsible for the engaging and discharging of weavers. They did not, however, concede the whole of the points in the operatives' charter, but expressed themselves ready to deal with any authenticated case of 'driving' might be brought before them by the operatives' officials. It seems to us there is now an opportunity of further pressing the claims upon the notice of the employers. Wages are still being posted in certain weaving sheds, and in some cases dist met ire marks are being put. opposite certain wearers' numbers, although we are infertilel that some of the firms implicated are nat member, of the Employers' Association. The bulk of the orerlookers are still paid on the weavers' earnings, and' many of them en'gage and dismiss weavers at their own discretion, without the knowledge of the firm.. We are aware that if all was granted that the operatives ask for it would not entirely eliminate driving, as it is just as easy, for a manager or an employer to drive a: an overlooker. It would, however, reduce the evil to a minimum.- The "Factory Times" urges the overtookers to work side by side with the weavers in trying to bring about. a' better state of things, and observes: "We are expect ing some interesting develepments in the agitation in the course of the next few weak& We believe the overlookers will be glad to get rid of the responsibility which Ls placed upon them in a large number of mills, especially in view of what has taken place recently, and we hope to see them take a leading part in bringing about an improvemem of affairs."