Ten Victorian Women

The first female inspector of factories

On 24 January 1894 the Chief Inspector of Factories, Harrison Ord, wrote to the Under Secretary regarding the appointment of a female inspector:

Sir,

With reference to our conversation this morning concerning the advisability of appointing a Female Inspector of Factories, I have the honor to inform you that when I gave evidence before the Factories Act Inquiry Board on the 13th June 1893 I stated in reply to a question that, while not objecting, I could not see what good would result from the appointment of Female Inspectors. Since then my experience as Head of this Sub-Department has changed my views on this subject.

On more than one occasion recently circumstances have arisen in connection with the sanitary arrangements in factories when I should have been glad of the assistance a Female Inspector could have rendered. It can readily be imagined that the necessity sometimes arises of asking the female employees in factories questions, which delicacy would forbid a man to put and if put no answer could reasonably be expected. Indeed I regret to say that it is often most difficult to get answers to the most ordinary questions from the females employed in factories.

It is however in connection with the collecting of evidence regarding alleged cases of "Sweating" that I think a Female Inspector could render beneficial services. Owing to the large number of factories, bakehouses, etc. now under the supervision of the small staff of Inspectors of Factories it is almost impossible to take any of them from their ordinary duties for any special enquiry and I am now persuaded that the class of workers who are most subject to the baneful influence of the "Sweater" would more willingly confide their troubles and hardships to a sympathetic woman than to a man of whom they know nothing whatever beyond his assurance that he is an Inspector of Factories.

It has been stated in the Press that the success of the lady factory Inspectors who were appointed in England last year has been so marked that the Home Secretary has announced that he intends to add to the number. I should state in conclusion that the success or otherwise of a Lady Inspector of Factories would depend almost entirely on the fitness of the person appointed for the difficult duties she will be called upon to perform. [1]

Aged 24, Margaret Cuthbertson joined the Public Service on 25 July 1888 as a Telephone Switch Operator in the Department of Postmaster-General. She remained in that position until March 1894, earning a salary of £66 per annum. [2] On 20 March 1894 Cuthbertson was appointed to a three month trial as the first Female Inspector of Factories at £132 per annum. [3] The position advertisement sought a female already in the Public Service who was capable of undertaking the following duties:

To inspect all Factories, Shops, Work-rooms, Dressmaking and Millinery Establishments, where females are employed; to report on the sanitary arrangements, hours of labour, remuneration etc. in connection therewith, and to be the medium of communication between the Chief Inspector of Factories and the female workers generally upon these subjects. To visit the residences of females who take home work, and report on the general conditions and the prices paid for the work. Occasionally to pay visits of inspections to country towns.

The Female Inspector of Factories must reside in Melbourne, and be prepared to receive at her residence during certain evenings at stated hours personal applications from female employees in Factories etc. [4]

The following report by the Chief Inspector of Factories on Cuthbertson's three-month probationary period was accepted and her position confirmed.

I have much pleasure in stating that Miss Cuthbertson quickly adapted herself to her new duties and has shown diligence and tact in the execution of same. Miss Cuthbertson has inspected over four hundred premises and in a number of cases has reported breaches of the Factories and Shops Acts principally with regard to working overtime or unsatisfactory sanitary accommodation. These matters have received attention and the comfort of the female operatives in many places increased in consequence.

I have no hesitation in pronouncing the appointment a success and would respectfully recommend that it should be confirmed. [5]

When she gave evidence at the Royal Commission into Factories and Shops Law in Victoria, 1902-1903, Margaret Cuthbertson had been an inspector for nearly eight years and had a staff of three female assistants. [6] On retirement after 32 years in the Public Service, she had attained the position of Senior Female Inspector at an annual salary of £240, managing a staff of six female inspectors. [7]