facts from them to lay before the Government. That <lb/>

I was to be held personally responsible for the truth <lb/>
of the statements I should make; that the facts <lb/> 

would be investigated to test them, on behalf of <lb/> the Government. </p>

<date>18.<hi rend="superscript">th </hi>January</date> <hi rend="underline">Miss Galway</hi> informed me that in <hi rend="underline">June 1915</hi>, a <lb/> Joint Deputation of Flax Roughers (men), dressers <lb/> & textile operatives waited on the Flax Spinners <lb/> Association at the Chamber of Commerce, — <lb/> Chairman W. Garrett Campbell, Secretary, W. Wilson — <lb/> <note>Joint Deputation to Employers</note> to ask for an increase of wages to meet the increased <lb/> cost of living.

This demand was refused on the ground of the lack <lb/> of raw material. If the Dardanelles were forced <lb/> fresh supplies of flax might arrive which would alter <lb/> the situation, but, in the absence of this relief, in addition <lb/> to the short time that had been worked for sixteen months, <lb/> they might have to close down some of the machinery <lb/> now working

In June no linen workers were working more than <lb/> 40 hours per week, i.e. 15 hours short, amounting to <lb/> a reduction of 20 per cent in output.

<note>About 28,000 men, women & children were employed in 1906. 95 per cent are women or girls</note>

In answer to a question as to the hours being worked <lb/> & the number of women employed at present, Miss <lb/> Galway advised one to see Secretary of the <unclear>Tenter's</unclear><pb/>