WOMEN'S WORKING HOURS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 149, 30 July 1914, Page 8

WOMEN'S WORKING HOURS

WOOLLEN MILL HANDS. MR WILFORD'S BILL. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 29. The whole of this afternoon was spent in discussing a return tabled by the Hon. Jas. Allen, giving particulars of amounts derived from land sales and paid into the Consolidated Fund, thus swelling the surpluses. The period of the return extended over the past 19 years. H In the evening Mr Wilford's Bill for the betterment of the conditions of female workers in woollen mills was discussed at considerable .length, and passed its second reading. It was then proposed by Mr Okey, on behalf of Mr ,J. Bollard, that the Bill be referred' to the Labour Bills Committee instead of being committed to a Committee of the Whole, as is the usual course. The motion was defeated by two votes. The Ministry voted solid for the proposal, which would practically have meant the death of the Bill. Several Government members, however, supported its committal to the Committee of the Whole. When the result was declared, Sir J. G. Ward asked, in a bantering tone: "Does the Government intend to resign?" The remark was greeted with loud laughter. The Legislative Council has practically disposed of the Reform Bill without material alteration. A strong desire was evinced on the part of several members to have the three Maori representatives elected instead of nominated by the Government. The Hon. 11. D. Bell that there were difficulties of having a poll amongst but if a practical scheme could be formulated, lie would have the Bill recommitted to consider that particular matter. Mr T.' M. Wilford (Hutt) moved the second reading of his Factories Amendment Bill, which provides for the reduction of the hours for women workers in woollen mills from 48 to 45- per week. In doing so, Mr Wilford dwelt at length on the conditions -existing in the factories. He had often asked women who worked at looms why they did not *go in for some other work. The answer was that they had been at it since they were children, and were afraid they would not get other work. The chief employment at which the women worked was carding, weaving, worsted work, and finishing. Mr Wilford went on to show the conditions under which the work was carried out, as instanced by the _ workers in' the Petone mills. The wages of girls varied because most of the work was done on piece work; but where a woman worked two looms she was paid for only three cuts, the fourth cut, although it was saleable, being done for nothing. The average wage for weavers was particularly small for the hard work they had to do. A girl, for instance, was paid 2/7 for weaving 120 yards of flannel, and if she went to buy it at a concession rate from the mills She would lave to pay 1/- a yard for it. Mr H. J. Okey (Taranaki), on behalf of Mr J. Bollard (Eden), suggested that the Bill be referred to the Labour Bills Committee for the purpose of taking evidence. He asked Mr Wilford if he would consent to this course being taken. Mr Wilford: Certainly not. I shall explain why when the proper time comes. The suggestion aims at killing the Bill, not helping it. Mr Speaker: The proper time to move that the Bill be referred to the Labour Bills Committee will be after it has been read a second time. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) vharacterised the Bill as a humaue measure, and commended it to the favourable consideration of the House. Sir J. G. Ward said that he would support the second reading of the Bill, which he thought was a very valuable one. He hoped it would be placed on the Statute Book. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) opposed the Bill. Mr P. C. Webb (Grey) said that everyone knew that if the Bill went to the Labour Bills Committee it would be killed. The only hope was for the Bill to be passed that night. Rather than sacrifice the womanhood of the nation, it would be better for the State to close down all the woollen factories in the Dominion. Mr ,T. S. Dickson (Parnell) said that the previous speaker did not know what lie was talking about. Mr Webb: I know a good deal about the working of women in the Dominion. Mr Dickson: You don't know enough about women to get married. (Loud .laughter.). He went on to say that the Bill should go to the Labour Bills Committee. The woollen industry was one which had to be carefully guarded. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) said there were few industries which took so much out of the workers as the manufacture of woollens. They should not kill the Bill by kindness and send it on a long journey around the LabouT Bill* Committee for the taking of evidence from all parts of the Dominion. Practically every member of the House knew all about the circumstances of the workers already. If the Bill were referred to the committee the Prime Minister should give it every facility for passing. Mr J. H. Bradney (Auckland West) said that he would support the Bill and hoped that it would go through ' this session. Considering the amount that was spent by the Dominion on Education, he thought that women should rise to some condition higher than that of factory slaves. He hoped that Mr Wilford would not assent to his Bill being referred to the committee unless the Government would undertake to restore it to its present place on the Order Paper, otherwise it would have no chance of being passed this year. Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) also supported the Bill. He expressed his regret that a certain amount of venom had been imported into the discussion. A Government Member: Who did itf Mr Webb: I did, for a purpose. Mr Brown said that it was a mistake to bring in such a matter, as it was liable to offend certain members and endanger the Bill. He hoped that the Bill would be proceeded with at once. Surely a House of eighty men could deal with a one-clause Bill at once. The Hon. R. McKenzie held that Mr Webb had been absolutely justified in speaking as he had done. He hoped the Bill would go right through. Mr D. Buick (Palmerston) said that he would support the second reading of

the Bill, and then he would like to see it go to the Labour Bills Committee.

Mr J. Craigie (Timaru) Tead a letter )he had received from woollen mill employees in his district, wliicTi stated "that 'the workers were quite contented with the present hours. The Bill, the letter went on, was merely an electioneering dodge by Mr Wilford. Mr Speaker: The hon. member must not read a letter from an outside source reflecting on another hon. member. Mr Craigie: Very well, I shall omit "that clause.

Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn) said that any man who objected to the reduction »f eight hours of work was "nothing less than a brute." (Cries of "Oh," and laughter.) As a matter of fact the whole social system must be rotten when women had to work at all. If women wanted to work 48 hours a week, it was because the scale of payment was such that they could not earn a living wage in 45 hours. Parliament should see that they were paid a fair remuneration for their work. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Eastern Maori) said that after hearing the views of the Labour members he was no further forward than when he first heard the purposes of the Bill expounded by the mover. He congratulated Mr "Wilford on his Bill and expressed his intention to support its second reading. He thought that it would be a good thing for the Bill to be investigated by a committee, but he feared that if this were done the Bill would lose its place on the Order Paper and be killed for the session. He thought therefore, that -the Leader of the House should give his assurance that an opportunity would be given for the House to discuss the matter further at a later date.

MR MASSEY'S VIEWS. The Prime Minister said the subject of the Bill was not new to him. On one' occasion Mr Lomas, the then head of the Labour Department, thought it his duty to report to him on the matter, and he had said that it would not be possible to reduce the hours of working for women and boys to 45 per week while "idie hours of men were 48, because the men depended on the other workers. He agreed that the Bill should be sent to the Labour Hills Committee, as they must think of the effect on the industry. He •thought that it might do the women workers more 'harm than good. Of course he expected the member foT Hutt "to ask for a promise that the Bill should come back to the House. He could not give a promise that it should take precedence of Government business, but he thought that he eould promise that if it did not come back before Government business was taken on private members' days, then he (Mr Massey) would see that the House had an opportunity of discussing the Hill. He did not think that Government business would be taken on private members' days until the end of next month. He thought the right course would be to refer the Bill to the Labour Bills Committee so that evidence could be taken and the debatable points could be thoroughly enquired into. Mr Yeitch (Wanganui) gave the Bill his whole support, as he thought the hours for women were too long. Mr Isitt (Christchurch North) said that the work of the women was most; exacting, and Mr Wilford's proposal should meet with the sympathy of the House. The employers naturally pointed to difficulties in the way, but they had heard such talk before. Such a proposal as this would not close down the factories. He was against the Bill going to the Labour Bills Committee, unless they hada definite pledge from the Minister that the House should have the Bill before it again. Mr Wilford, in reply, stated that of 1000 women employed in the mills, only twenty signed a petition against the Bill tendered by the employers. If the Bill went to the Labour Bills Committee it would be killed.

Mr Massey: It has been suggested to me that the hon. gentleman wants to drop'the Bill. Mr Wilford: You are as slippery as an eel in a, bucket of soap. (Laughter.) The second reading of the Bill was carried.

Mr H. J. H. Okey (Taranaki) moved that the Bill be referred to the Labour Bills Committee, in lieu of the commital being taken in a fortnight's time. A division was called on this proposal, which was defeated by 34 votes to 32, and the member for Hutt gained his point. The following was the division list: — Ayes (34.) Noes (32.) Atmore Allen Bell ' Anderson Bradney R- F. Bollard Brown Buchanan Buddo' Buick Buxton Campbell Clark Coates Davey Craigie Ell Dickson Forbes Escott Glover Fisher llindmarsh Fraser Isitt Guthrie Lee Herries M 'Callum Herdman M'Combs Hine Macdonald Hunter M 'Kenzie Malcolm Myers Mander Dr Newman Massey Payne Noswortliy Poland Okey Jlangihiroa Pearce Seddon Pomare Sidey R. H. Rhodes R. W. Smith T. W. Rhodes J. C. Thomson Scott Veitch F. H. Smith Ward Statham Webb Sykes Wilford G. M. Thomson Wilson Wilkinson Witty Young IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

The Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill (Mr A. H. Hindmarsh) Avas put through the committee stage without discussion, and the member in charge was warmly applauded by the Opposition as he went back to his seat. The Bill was reported, as amended by the Statutes Revision Committee, and the House adjourned at 11.25 p.m. LIGHT RAILWAYS. In reply to Mr J. B. Hine (Stratford) the Minister of Public Works said he had received a report from Mr Fergus, of the Railway Department, on the light railway systems of other parts of the world, and he would lay it on the table of the House shortly for the information of members. ARBITRATION BILL. In reply to Mr J. Robertson (Otaki), the Minister of Labour (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) stated that he was afraid time would not permit of the introduction of a Consolidating Industrial* Conciliation and Arbitration Bill this session, but an amending Bill would be brought down shortly. * PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. "The Government does not intend to introduce legislation this session for the purpose,'' said the Prime Minister in reply to Mr Veiteh, wko asked whether legislation would be introduced to allow of a plebiscite being taken on the question of proportional representation.