C 10
The most serious dispute of the year was that of the Scaffold Workers' Guild, which involved some 800 men. It was due to the attempt of the masters to reintroduce the old complicated system of payment which so intensified competition within the shop that the standard of living was seriously lowered. It was peculiarly difficult to effect a settlement but the workers having enlisted the sympathies of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and of certain prominent Chinese in the Colony, eventually won the day on all points in dispute. It is noteworthy that, despite the large numbers involved and the importation of strike-breakers from up country, this office was able to influence the guild to such effect that no violence or intimidation occurred. A strike affecting about 300 workers in the Commercial Press factory was settled by a small concession to the workers. There is some indication that this strike was engineered from outside the Colony. Another strike, in the Nanyang Tobacco Co.'s factory, was demonstrated to be the work of communists from without, who spread false rumours and distributed inflammatory leaflets; the strike lasted only a few hours.
At the end of the year a dispute was still going on between the masters of certain wholesale tailoring shops and the workers, who have recently organised a labour guild. It concerns recent reduction in the piece-work rates to which the masters were driven by competition among themselves. There are good prospects of an amicable settlement, the masters being sympathetic with the workers' case.
In connection with the above disputes interesting and important data were gathered regarding wages, hours, and conditions of work and employment generally in the several trades.
III. Cost of living of poorer classes:
38. Since October 1927 this office has made monthly inquiries into the retail costs of a number of commodities essential to the life of the poorer classes, including articles of food and clothing and firewood. The average percentage increase between 1929 and December 1930 was found to be 6.33%, or, excluding firewood, 8.08%.
FACTORIES.
(Table XXIX).
Trade continued dull throughout the year and most of the factories in the Colony worked at much below their full capacity. The knitting factories—making hosiery and cotton underwear—are the largest employers of women and girls and the number of these factories is increasing. Perfumery, confectionery and cigarette factories also afford light and congenial employment to large numbers of women. The number of children employed shows no tendency to increase. With trade in an almost
C 10
The most serious dispute of the year was that of the Scaffold Workers' Guild, which involved some 800 men. It was due to the attempt of the masters to reintroduce the old complicated system of payment which so intensified competition within the shop that the standard of living was seriously lowered. It was peculiarly difficult to effect a settlement but the workers having onlisted the sympathies of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and of certain prominent Chinese in the Colony, eventually won the day on all points in dispute. It is noteworthy that, despite the large numbers involved and the importation of strike-breakers from up country, this office was able to influence the guild to such effect that no violence or intimidation occurred. A strike affecting about 300 workers in the Commercial Press factory was settled by a small concession to the workers. There is some indication that this strike was engineered from outside the Colony. Another strike, in the Nanyang Tobacco Co.'s factory, was demonstrated to be the work of communists from without, who spread false runours and distributed in- flammatory leaflets; the strike lasted only a few hours.
At the end of the year a dispute was still going on between the masters of certain wholesale tailoring shops and the workers. who have recently organised a labour guild. It concerns recent reduction in the piece-work rates to which the masters were driven by competition among themselves. There good prospects of an amicable settlement, the masters being sympathetic with the workers' case.
wore
In connection with the above disputes interesting and important data were gathered regarding wages, hours, and conditions of work and employment generally in the several trades.
III. Cost of living of poorer classes:
38. Since October 1927 this office has made monthly inquiries into the retail costs of a number of commodities essential to the life of the poorer classes, including articles of food and clothing and firewood. The average
average percentage increase between 1929 and December 1930 was found to be 6.33%, or, excluding firewood, 8.08%.
FACTORIES.
(Table XXIX).
Trade continued dull throughout the year and most of the factories in the Colony worked at much below their full capacity. The knitting factories-making hosiery and cotton underwear- are the largest employers of women and girls and the number of these factories is increasing. Ferfumery, confectionery and cigarette factories also afford light and congenial employment to large numbers of women. The number of children employed shows no tendency to increase. With trade in
With trade in an almost
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