EIGHT HOURS MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 161, 8 July 1895, Page 3

EIGHT HOURS MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.

The London corresponded of the Melbourne " Age" writes :—" The attendance of workers from all parts of London at the meeting held on Sunday last in favour of the legal eighb hours day was as large as on any previous occasion; and the proceedings were characterised by an amount of moderation and good sense which was in marked contrast to the turgid bombasb of the speeches and resolutions at the meeting of the Social Democratic Federation on May Day." The speakers were able to point out thab substantial progress had been made during the year. Thousands of workers employed by the Government have gained an eighb hours day, the railway men have gob a special Act to protecb them against excessive hours, the House of Commons has passed the second reading of the Miners' Eight Hours Day. The only persons who seem likely to have no relief are the women and children who have to work for the old fashioned week of 60 hours. The following resolution was carried at the platforms :— " Thab this mass meeting of workers in all trades and industries, believing in the necessity for a reduction of the hours of labour as helping to solve the unemployed question, and for the advancement of the welfare of labour, hereby register their demand for the legislative enactment of an eight hours working day, or, alternatively, a maximum working week of 48 hours." The following resolution was carried ab the platforms of the London Trades Council:—

" Thab in view of the fact that modern indußtrialism necessarily implies the existence of a large and increasing number of unemployed workers, this meeting is.of opinion that time has arrived when the Government and local bod ios generally should deal with the unemployed problem in a serious and practical manner." The following resolution was carried.at the platforms of the Legal.Eight. Hours League:—Considering thab the working classes caWonly bring aboub economic and social emancipation by their taking over the the politicalmacbinerynow in the bands of the capitalist classes, which is the cause of over 1,000,000 of workers in the United Kingdom being unable to find the means of employment to-day, and considering thab in England hundreds of thousands of men and all women are ab present unable to use the vote and take part in political action, this mass meeting of workers'declares for and.pledges itself to use every means to obtain universal adulb suffrage."