Second Shetland Truck System ReportGuthrie, William
History
Second Shetland Truck System Report
Guthrie, William
Labor law -- Truck system -- History -- England; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
2056. But your son sends you money for the goods you send to
him?-Yes; he always sends me money, and his shipmates buy
what I make.
2057. Do many women knit that sort of goods that you deal in-
stockings and gloves?-A great many.
2058. Is it mostly that kind of knitting that is carried on in your
part of the country at Girlsta?-Yes.
2059. They don't knit fine work there?-No.
2060. Who buys the sort of work they make?-Most of the
merchants do so.
2061. Do the people in your part of the country generally get
payment in goods?-Yes.
2062. Or in money?-No; they never ask for money.
2063. Why?-Because the country people are not needing it.
2064. Do they not need money?-Yes they need money; but when
they get the goods the same they always ask the goods.
2065. You think there would no use getting money for your
knitting, and just handing it back across the counter the next
minute for goods?-I suppose that is what they think; but they
would be better if they could get the money.
2066. Can they not get it?-Not very well.
2067. Why?-Because the merchants are not willing to give it.
2068. I thought you said the country people did not get money
because they did not want it?-Well, sometimes there is no use of
them getting it, and giving it back again to the merchant they are
dealing with; they might just as well have the goods, because they
have plenty of meal and other things to serve their ends, and they
are not like us, who have to buy everything. We would be glad of
the money sometimes to buy things that the merchant does not
have, or to pay our rent with; but the country people have plenty of
these things, and it is only goods they are wanting, and that is the
reason why they take them.
2069. Then you have no reason to complain of this system of
paying in goods?-We have to complain of it many a time.
2070. Why do you complain?-Because if we had money it could
answer for other things, and in other ways than when we get
goods; but we cannot get it.
2071. Is it a common subject of complaint in the country, that you
cannot get money?-It is every one's complaint; and when we
get articles, we are sorry to have to part with them for perhaps
half-price.
2072. Do you sometimes sell the articles which you get at the
shops?-Yes. I am in the habit of making very good things, and I
am very sorry sometimes that I have to give them away at so low a
price.
2073. But suppose you come into town and get goods in return for
your knitting, have you sometimes to sell these goods again?-No;
I have not done that.
2074. Is there anything more you wish to say?-No.
Lerwick, January 3, 1872, MARY ANN SINCLAIR, examined.
2075. You knit for Mr. Sinclair?-Yes.
2076. Do you knit with his wool?-Yes.
2077. Do you keep a pass-book?-No.
2078. You just settle for the work as you take it back each time?-
Yes.
2079. Are you generally paid in money or in goods?-Part in both.
2080. Do you knit shawls or veils?-Mostly veils.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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