Second Shetland Truck System ReportGuthrie, William
History
Second Shetland Truck System Report
Guthrie, William
Labor law -- Truck system -- History -- England; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
2150. Does it depend upon the state of their account, whether they
would get the whole value in goods or not?-No. Most of them
have been long known to us, and even if they were in debt (which
sometimes happens) to a small amount, it would not matter much,
if they wanted anything. I may mention, as an instance illustrating
that, that last night a girl called and asked me for some money to
pay the police assessment which had been charged upon her father.
She said her father was not able to pay it, and they had no money
in the house, and she asked for money to pay it with. Money is
often wanted in that way, and of course I gave it to her.
2151. Had she a pass-book with her?-No; she just came in with a
small article of fancy knitting which she wanted to sell, and she
sold it and got the cash for it.
2152. Did she get the full price in cash?-Yes. She told me what
she wanted the money for. Of course I did not ask her or insist to
know what the money was for, but she mentioned it incidentally.
2153. How much was the price of that article?-It was a small
thing, 8s.-a pair of lace sleeves for ladies' under-dresses.
2154. Would you say that that was a transaction of a very usual
kind?-No; I should not say it was very usual.
2155. But if that had been asked at any time during the last three
or four years, would the same result have followed? Would she
have got the money?-I think so, with me, if the request had come
from the same person, or from a person who had been long
employed by us.
2156. That case you have mentioned was one of sale?-Yes.
2157. It was an article made with her own material?-Yes; it was
her own material and her own article altogether. I have just
mentioned it, as the latest thing of the kind that has occurred.
2158. Do you know a Mrs. Williamson who lives at the
Asylum?-I think there are two Mrs. Williamsons in the Asylum:
there is a Mrs. Williamson who has been there since the Asylum
was opened, and there is another who has come there quite lately,
within the last twelve months. If the question you are to put has
anything to do with knitting, it will probably refer the last one.
The first Mrs, Williamson is in very good circumstances, and I
don't think she would be employing herself in that way.
2159. I speak of one who knits with her own wool, and knits fine
articles.-I am sure to know her if she is an inmate of the Asylum,
though I could not just identify her at present.
2160. Then you don't know whether she knits to you?-She does
not knit to me.
2161. Or sells goods to you?-She may come into the shop to sell
goods as any other woman does, but I have no recollection of
anything of the kind.
2162. Is there another Mr. Laurenson in Lerwick?-There is a firm
of R.B. Laurence & Co.
2163. Do they sell provisions?-I don't know.
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