The Cotton Factory Times. — 1909-05-14 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

FIRE" IDEA.  PARSON'S PATHETIC PLEA.  By Con Corrigan.  [I have come across painful inetances of the evaa of doing away with all fince in the mills here----Rev. J. H. Gamow.]  I have seen some fine ideas in the "Factory Times," but undoubtedly the "firr.t" are those expressed in the correspondence COIEMn Ot last week's I,,sne by the Ike. J. It. Gibbon, of St. Lake's Vicarage, Bolton. It is not se very often that ministers of religion show a live interest in the working conditions of the industrial classes; and when they do one feris like encouraging and applauding them. But in this case Mr. Gibbon has so evidently got the "wrong end of the stick" that his argumentative blows are of the most feeble kind.  The figures and instances of the rev. gentleman -ate pathetic in their way, but I can imagine the smile of indulgent pity that would spread over the features of many operatives last week after reading them. "Working men are the greatest tyrants to each other as ever was." I suppose we may take that as a general charge against trades union methods, endorsed by Mr. Gibbon. Where trades unions have power they use it generally in reason; they enforce payments, and they enforce rules. The boon that organised effort has been to the workers is no evident and generally admitted, that they have a moral—if not a legal—right to compel backsliders into discipline, just as the State and the municipality have a right to enforce laws, taxes, and rates.  A minder is alleged to have been "sacked" for refusing, by order of his union, to pay a fine of 2s. f3d. for sending for a gill of ale to be brought into the mill! That is the way it is put; but am we to assume that any union insists that a man must have the right to take ale into the mill, or send for it? It is cunn thing for a curium to say "no funeu shall be recognised," and quite another to say that this, that, and the other licsmse shall be, claimed by their members. Then we ham the harrowing details of Ilas ex-minder who was fined 2s. 6d. for being a "few minutes late," and refused to pay, and got sacked, and was mill-labouring for 321. an hour! I don't notice any comment from Gibbon as to the "3d. per hoar for a mill labourer!" But he workiLout a scan to ahoy that this man, by to pay "a Se. half-crown fines," would lose £35000 in. 311 P, yews. _  The rev. gentleman °twit:dudes with a mbarenoe to broken hearts and suicides_ One nan only assume that Mr. Gibbon's idea is that tile operativce who bane the misfortune to work for fanatics or faddists—or people with an eye to "extras '—should "keep their shape' at all hazard, comply with any conditiona,.. pay any penalties—but avoid the "sack." Such would undoubtedly he the position forced upon them ozdy for the "tyranny of trades unions." Under the system outlined by our critic one could imagine a fine BOW VA of income for some emplitynts tinder the following headings  d. -. 26  Coining late at 5.50 a-rn Stopping mules at 530 p.m. Taking 30 minute, for breakfast ---- 2 6 Telling the inspector the truth —.... 2 6 Wearing overalls a fortnight I faring isawrney ........ 2 6 Complaining of came (libel) --..-- 2 6 Not oiling-up Using oil Cleaning in meaLtimes Not cleaning Sending for Ale Endwdown whilegiccerwentleradrink ofwater ..____...._._ Carrying out Factory Aola Not carrying out Factory As. -- 2 6 Hot water for week For going-out to-meals---. 2 6 Sick Club -. 2 6 For being sick 2 6 For " fotchin' th' o'crlooker" 2 6 For having a loran stopped ---. 2 6 For a float (any ...... 2 6 For each "black mark" ....... For 'tipping" to the oserlooker ......... 2- 6 For not haming.a good wage (after deductions) But one could go ow for ever with a list el this kind.  No, no, Mr. Gibbon. A plausible story at bus from one or two alleged victims of trade. union rules does not justify you in det.niding the abominable system of fines attempted by a few firms in the cotton industry. Why, the Army and Navy, with their extreme ideas at discipline, don't go in for such absurd measures as those the rev gentleman attempts te justify; and certainly they are practically unknown in trades outside the textile.  If a man rwants ale in the mill, and hie-e. ployers object, he takes his own risk of dia. missal. If an operative is late for work, i• may be his fault, or it may be his misfortime, but if an employer deducts the time lost he has no further claim, only to discharge the man. Surely Mr. Gibbon doesn't contend that a man who at any time may have to lose • day or a week to suit his employer, must pay 2s. 6d. for "a few minutes" longer in bed le suit himself?  Just imagine e clergyman who w.s "a few minutes late" for a wedding or a funeral being fined 2s. 6d. for each person inconvenienced! Let Mr. Gibbon emulate the example of hie illustrious namesake, and marshal hie face and work out his deductions carefully ere he again intervenes in the intricate queslion of mill workers' conditions.