TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION P. 553 



The following notes on the trade, which were drawn up for the most part 

 by Miss M. Stettauer, give some picture of the trade and indicate those processes 

 in the different branches in which women were employed (a) before the War, 

 (6) since : 



A. Tanning and Dressing of Leathers. 



Women very little employed. 



Tanners' and curriers' work is much too heavy and entirely unsuitable for 

 women. 



In light leather dressing and finishing some processes are quite suitable, but 

 it has been mainly a question of prejudice, and if only employers get sufficiently 

 pushed for labour they will resort to female labour. This has already become 

 fairly common in the large provincial towns — before the War even — but in 

 London the factor appears to be almost negligible. 



Processes. 



Before the War, women were to a small extent to be found in Dyeing and 

 Blacking. 



Since the War, they have been introduced into 



small skins ^°''*''^g. (^nly just starting) 



I. Measuring. 



Women *vould be suitable also for such processes as washing, oiling, and 

 tacking up. This last process is fairly widely done by women in Nottingham, 

 who are paid l^d. per dozen for tacking up. (Men in London receive about 

 three times this wage for tacking up.) 



Efficiency. 



Women's work said to be satisfactory, slower, but perhaps on the whole more 

 reliable and regular than that of men. In this iDranch of the trade, where it is 

 physically possible to introduce women, there is no reason why the efficiency 

 should not become as great, after a fairly short training. (In sorting a good 

 deal of practice and judgment is required.) 



Extent of Extra Employment. 



In a firm where substitution has taken place to a certain extent : 



In June 1914 4'86 per cent, of the employees were women. 

 In June 1915 10'68 per cent, of the employees were women. 



Or put in a different form : 



June 1915 there were twice as many women in the firm as in June 1914. 

 June 1915 there were 818 per cent, of the men there were in June 1914. 

 Total number of employees in this firm at present, 206. 



N.B. — All the women introduced into this firm since the War are on leather 

 finishing and dressins', before done by men, and no women did this work before, 

 but there appear to be few London firms where substitution has taken place to 

 anything like this extent. 



Wages. 



The introduction of women is not very general, and seems to be confined to 

 comparatively few firms. Where it has happened women as a rule receive a 

 lower rate. The following reasons are given : 



(a) They have their limitations, i.e.. in the employment of male labour men 

 can be selected for more valuable positions and for duties which women could 

 not perform, i.e., men regarded as a more permanent asset to the firm. 



(b) They do less work. (Even the piece rate appears to be lower though.) 



(c) They do not require, expect, or ask for so much money. 



