_Machine Ruling._--The firm only had little girls for feeding. The foreman remarked that at R.'s, "over the water," they had women to do most of their ruling, but did not seem to think that it would be worth while to train a woman for it. At first he said that the Men's Union would object, then said that he thought they would not; only he would have to give the woman the same pay as a man, "and fancy giving a woman 32_s._ a week!" This was uttered in a tone of supreme contempt. The manager remarked that he supposed it would not matter paying the woman the same if she did as much work, but the foreman smiled superior to the idea. WOMEN AND MACHINERY.--The manager thought that the output of printed matter had increased so enormously since the introduction of machinery that more hands than ever were employed. The forewoman of the folding and sewing department said that it seemed as if there must be fewer employed, and yet she had never turned any off. HOME WORK.--No home work is given out by the firm. Since so much was done by machinery it was not worth while to send work out. INFLUENCE ON FAMILY INCOME.--The manager and forewoman and foreman said that none of the girls were working for pocket-money. Most lived at home and helped their parents; some who had no parents lived with relatives. GENERAL.--The premises were rather nice and the people looked superior and friendly. There was a great gulf fixed between the litho girls and the others. The latter look down tremendously on these former and would not think of speaking to them. They are a much lower set to look at and their language is reported not to be choice. Many of them were arrayed in curlers, whilst none of the girls in other departments wore these decorations. The vellum sewers were said by their forewoman to be "a nice family party." 9. _Lithographic Firm. General Information._ GENERAL.--I saw the manager; he was "very much on the spot," friendly and communicative, and took me all over the works and was quite interested in showing different processes. He said he had to look sharp after his workers, and so they often thought him a bully. WORK.--Chief work done is lithography, but there is also a certain amount of letter-press work. Engraving and stationery orders are given out in sub-contract. TRAINING.--In the binding room, _i.e._, where folding is done, there are no learners now, but they need to have one or two. These apprentices were taken on from fourteen years of age without premiums, and were kept two or three years according to ability. They were paid a few shillings to begin with, and, if good at their work, they rose gradually. If slow and stupid, they got nothing. The forewoman said she did not care to take learners now; "they are more trouble than they are worth." In the litho room the firm never had apprentices. The new hands come in and begin "taking-off" for about 8_s._ By-and-by, according to their nimbleness, they are elevated to "layers-on."