EIGHT HOURS A DAY, &c.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7747, 30 December 1890, Page 3

EIGHT HOURS A DAY, &c.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. but,—l had intended addressing you tonight, bat had not this morning decided on my subject. Tour article in this morning's paper had, however, given mc my theme. I had meant to take the eight hoars Question in its turn, but your article, though not written on that subject, seems to mc so apt and to the point on that, as well as on its own subject matter, that I have decided to take it now. In the following extract from your article—" In the discussion which followed the reading of Mr Price's paper, different opinions were expressed regarding the practical success of the various schemes. It appears to have been the general opinion that serious objections attach to industrial arbitration with a legal sanction. An Act givmg compulsory powers to fix wages could not be enforced without the voluntary consent of both parties. The men could not be forced to work unless they desire to work, and it woul.l be equally impossible to make an employer pay any fixed sum for wages beyond the time the workmen were engaged to serve. Neither was it contended that any general system could be adopted for all trades" —the words which I have marked for italics in the reference to compulsory powers to fix wages, seem to mc co apply with equal force to the arbitrary fixing of certain hours per day. * The concluding sentence of my extract, in which I have italicised the lasc word, trades, which points out that no general system could be adopted for all trades, though it is meant to apply to rate of pay, fits I think equally well, the hours of I work. ■

I greatly doubt if our workmen do themselves care much about the hoars of work, or particularly desire an Act .of Parliament to fix them. I fancy myself the cry is led by those who wish to flatter our horny-handed brethren, and gain their votes thereby. > Bight hours per day is, and has long been, the custom of the country—and a very good custom it is. Why not be content and let it remain a custom, which in the main, fairly fits both man and master. I go willingly with Factory Acts and Acts to prevent sweating, or .any such evils, for the protection of children and women, or those who from any cause have hot the power of independent action ; but why the railway laborer should have his daily hours of work fixed for him by a compulsory Act I cannot see. Laborers in this country are not the down-trodden caste that some of their would-be flatterers—high flattery indeed— would make them out to be. They are in the main independent men, who can take good care of themselves. If they take a place they can ascertain the labor hours expected of them, And if too much be demanded they can, as a rule, move on. I do not wish to deny that there are times when employment is hard to find, - and we come face to face with the difficult and unfortunate question of the unemployed. Bat wnen the men are in work I maintain that they are often in better case than their employers. I do not mean here to go into the causes of the want of work and the periodical appearance of the "unemployed," but 1 will point out one. I mean the decadence—and almost disappearance —of the squatters." ' "Winter is the season when most frequently men find it hard to obtain work. In che old day there was much winter work done on runs. The squatters! were busy most of the year with their sheep shearing, See., and winter was tfte time when they went in for improvement— fencing, and such like; cutting firewood too. Bow many men have I not known who would take a firewood contract in order to put by the winter months ? But where are the squatters now ? And what aspect do the runs and stations now-exhibit? The squatters gone; the nine in the hands of companies: the stations occupied by a head-shepherd, and perhaps his wife, instead of the owner or -fits manager And what work is done? No more than will barely suffice to keep the place a going concern. ' And another cause may be that the men will not take lower wages than they choose to think their due, without regard to whether or no the work so paid for prove profitable to the employer. I have heard many a man nay he would never work for less than, say, a pound per week and found, and if he cannot get it he will tramp the country and five upon the settlers. There be some attain who have: no desire for work unless it be at the high times of shearing and of harvest, will prefer the rest of the year to " hump their swats, aa "sundqwners ,, and at at times 5 upon the pavement to swell the ranks of the unemployed. Would they but accept ac certain seasons a somewhat- lower rate of pay," there are many jobs, that might be obtained. Many an" occupier of land would go in for work—planting ; and so forth—to improve -and beautify his place. But at the rate of wages asked he most let "the pretties* go, and confine himself to the stern matters of necessity—work (hat must be done; or his place deteriorate and go back. Let it not be supposed that I have any H'down." , . upon the working-men. Far from it; I have employed a good many in my time. Nor have I any object in writing down wages, as I am no longer an employer—and, with few exceptions, I have had nought but pleasant and kindly relations with ■■~-, my ■ men—were they shearers, shepherds, or odd hands. I have lived with my men in the same hat for bed and board, worked with them, sported with them, and I have found many of Nature's gentlemen among them, &c ■ ■■--. Bystander.