LABOUR AND HOLIDAYS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 259, 25 July 1908, Page 6

LABOUR AND HOLIDAYS.

9 ■ ''BOOSTING, UP ROYALTY." ' : The much-discussed question of holidays came before the',Trades and 'Labour Council's Coiiferenco yesterday morning, fwhen Mr. ,R. Br6on (Otago) moved that Empire Day (May 24).b0 substituted for tho Prince of Wales's Birthday (June 3). He explained the difficulty had'arisen : at Dunedin, where both days were partially observed; This rendered it difficult' to sheet home any breaches of awards, which generally gave the employer the rigbt"to observe either day. Tho Trades and Labour Council had decided, in .favour.'.of- Empire Day,, and instructed him to refer, the matter to the Conference. . The' motion was seconded by Mr. Hart, who was not' in favour of holidays. -~ Mr.-Rusbridge: I am in favour of holidays —tjie"' more the better. (Hear, hear.) Let us as'we can in the interest ■of reducing the hours: of-labour. The-chairman'(Mr.'" Thorn) : That's it. ;Mr. B.' Howard (Canterbury) said there was *a possibility of the Prince lof Wales's Birthday: being dropped, and he was in favour of making Empire Day a national holiday /for ;, all : time.': Mr. G. A. Parke (Otago) remarked the worker- paid "ten bob" for his "holiday." "We-don't'.want, either day," ho added.

Voice: Yes; wo'do.' Mn D. M'Laren (Wellington) was opposed to' occasional holidays as ' 'boosting up" royalty and ■ empire. ; ' : • /Voice: Rot.; " • ■ ' Mr. M'Laron: The/word isn't refined, but it- strikes the right nail on the head. The Voice: It makes me tired. -

' Mr."M!Laren agreed. 1 The'y_ should avoid this "boosting: up" of '. the' spirit •of empire Which assisted the capitalistic forces of the time/ ' Empire, meant crowns, coronets; standing armies '-—-7." / • . A-Delegate: And 1 pom-poms 1 ■ Mr. M'Laren: Yes, and pom-poms. ; A Voice: Yellow/slavery. ; , ' Mr./M'Laren : It' takes the.' same old drum to-day to rouse us as;if'we were not rational beings'.' . , Voice :' ; Are/wo? : The Chairman: Time, Mr. M'Laren. Mr. Long (Auckland) was glad to see that Mr. M'Laren's speech %as free from jingoism. . . / 'After, a few further'more,or_less interesting remarks the motion was' carried.