The Commonweal/Volume 1/Number 2/quotation from Pall Mall Gazette

“In the opinion of Mr. George Richardson, the chairman of the North Metropolitan Tramways Company, about sixteen hours a day, with no day of rest in the week, is fair service to exact from a tramway conductor, and about fourpence an hour is a very good wage to pay him. But according to one of two more humane shareholders such hours are intolerable slavery and a reproach to the company. One shareholder, indeed, ventured, in the interests of humanity, to hint that men could not last long, at that rate, and that the hours really worked were eighteen per day, which would give a man about four hours rest per night. No wonder the North Metropolitan Tramways Company pays 91/2 per cent.; no wonder Mr. George Richardson thought the discussion of such matters should be avoided at their public meetings.”—Pall Mall Gazette.