1 Local Government Board, Dublin. 11th March, 1916. Private. Dear Miss Slocock, I hope you will forgive me for asking you to give me
the benefit of your special information as to the conditions
and prospects of spinning and weaving mills in the city
of Belfast. I hear that in addition to the 'short time' which the
Belfast Mills have been compelled to adopt owing to shortage
of raw material that there is danger of a further reduction
in working hours owing to the difficulty of obtaining coal
supplies. If this is so it may involve something in the
nature of serious distress among the mill workers which it
may be necessary for my Board to anticipate. I also gather that there is a good deal of discontent
chiefly among the women on 'short time' in the mills upon
the question of munition employment. Is it true that a
number of manufacturers engaged upon munition work are
employing amateur ladies upon their work to the exclusion
of girls who are more or less in distress owing to the 'short
time' in the mills? Any advice or help that you can give me in advising
my Board on the matter will of course be regarded as quite
confidential. With kind regards,
Yours truly, Miss Slocock, H. H. Inspector of Factories, Belfast.