EIGHT-HOUR MOVEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 5966, 26 April 1882, Page 4

EIGHT-HOUR MOVEMENT.

The public meeting called by the Trades and Labor Council to consider the question of legalising the eight-hour system was held in the Princess's Theatre last evening. The building was filled in all parts, a number of ladies occupying seats in the circle. The Mayor presided, and as an employer of labor said that the movement had his entire sympathy. He mentioned that apologies Jiad been received from Mr Bath gate, M.H.R., and the Rev. Dr Roseby. Mr Thorne said that in moving the first resolution he felt assured that those present would not disagree from him that it was in keeping with the objects of this meeting. It was as follows:—"That in the opinion of this meeting the eight-hour system should be encouraged in every possible way by the people of this Colony." Those enjoying the privilege of an eight-hour system thought that their co-workers should enjoy the same privilege.—(Hear.) It was one thing to approve of the resolution, and another thing to go outside and say that they would do all in their power to further the movement by their entire support. With regard to the early closing movement, there was a feeling amongst people that they would not deny themselves the right of a Saturday night shopping. The objects of the Trades and Labor Council were many. They desired to alter the state of things as they existed. The object of the Council was to define what was a legal day. (A Voice : Eight hour?.) He trusted that the resolution he had proposed would be adopted. To carry it out, they must have the co operation of all working men. They had the support of the employers of labor and of the mercantile community. Mr W. M. Bolt did not not think it required much argument to convince the people of Dunedin that the eight-hours system was desirable. It had been trumpeted abroad that this would be the sweet morsel to induce British laborers to come to these shores. New Zealand had prospered under the eighthours system, and this furnished an argument for its continuance. With leisure amongst our working classes there would be i

powerful and intelligent people; without leisure we would have poverty, pauperism, and crime. There was no doubt that if the working man was given leisure his spare moments would be devoted to inventive efforts. America afforded an illustration of this. He seconded the resolution just proposed. Mr Bracken, M.H.R., said that it had been acknowledged that those employed in manual labor could accomplish more work in eight hours than in any other time. The reason of this was obvious. A man so employed gave his attention to his work, knowing that he had spare time for his mental enjoyment. It might be urged that as the eight-hour system was in vogue there was no necessity for this agitation. He differed with those taking that view, and said that the agitation should be kept before the people. He submitted that on economic, social, and moral grounds the system deserved the Bupport of every right-thinking man in the community, and he had much pleasure in supporting the resolution. (Loud applause.) Mr K Wilson said that the resolution placed in his hands was as follows :—"That the time has now arrived when the hours of labor Bhould be defined and legalised, in order that the value of every man's labor may be measured by the same standard. That a Bill should be introduced into Parliament during the ensuing session to carry the same into law." Hero the laborer is worked eight hours on sufferance, and a Bill should be passed legalising the hours of labor. Telegraph operators worked more than eight hours, and engine-drivers and locomotive hands worked ten hours. If the Government employed were made to work more than eight hours private employers could not be blamed for making their hands work the same time.—(Applause.) The speaker detailed his experience in the coal mines at Home in order to shorten the hours of labor, and said that when he visited the coal-pits twice daily he was as welcome as he now was when he went to see the railway hands in Dunedin. In England the hours of labor for the trades were now nine, but protection was required in the shape of legalising the system. Mr Peter Cairns, in seconding, said that the fact of their meeting to-night to ask Parliament to legalise the eight hours system showed that a proper understanding did not exist between employers and employed. His experience as an employer showed that long hours did not tend to make a man do his work willingly. Mr M. W. Green, M.H.R., supported the resolution. He said that he went with it thoroughly, and was of opinion that to do as the resolution suggested was practicable. So far as trades generally were concerned eight hours were looked upon as a fair day's work, and most of the trades had obtained that right. Others had not this privilege. Not long ago he had heard that the postmen were overworked, and as those men were the servants of the Government it was perfectly fair to call on the Government to rectify the wrong. For instance, .when the San Francisco mails arrived the postmen were called upon to do extra work, and for this they received no extra pay. He believed that New Zealand was an exception in this respect. In Victoria, when a mail arrived, extra men were employed, and overtime was also allowed. Again, he had information in regard to our tram-drivers and conductors. — (Applause.) He had information obtained from high authority—not from the employer certainly (laughter), but from one of the workers —whose information lie had no reason to doubt. The average time that these men worked was eleven hours and twenty minutes for the whole seven days. No man could properly discharge his duties with such long hours for work. Medical testimony went to show that eight hours'labor a-day was all that man could undertake. Having given a measure of thought to this matter, and having been associated with the working men for upwards of thirty years, he felt it imperative that there should be legislative enactment making eight hours a legal day's work for all classes, whether employed in physical or mental work. He (the speaker) wished to press on those present that in legalising the system the liberty of the subject should not be interfered with. If an employe" chose he could work more than eight hours, but where there was no agreement there should bean equitable paymentJpr overtime. In conclusion, Mr Green mentioned that with respect to the defects in the Bradshaw Act he had prepared amendments to the measure. It was nece«sary to take away from children the right to contract with employers to work more than eight hours ; and as for females on no consideration ought they to be allowed to work more than eight hours a-day.— (Cheers.) According to all medical testimony eight hours was as long as females should be allowed to work at any time, but at times it was necessary to phorten their hours. Although the idea might be Utopian he ventured to suggest that all females between fourteen and eighteen should, in addition to the ordinary hours of labor, be granted three consecutive days' holiday in each month without loss of wages.—(Loud cheers.) This was done in America in one house. In this direction he intended to move in Parliament unless some other member took the question up. He had spoken to Mr Bradshaw, who was quite in accord with him in his views. In conclusion, Mr Green said that he had very great pleasure in supporting the resolution, and hoped that it would be given effect to so that it would be known throughout the world that New Zealand was the first place that had legalised the eighthours system.—(Loud applause.) With the power now given to the working men in the selection of representatives there was nothing that could prevent that which the meeting was assembled to-night for the purpose of legalising.—(Renewed applause.)

Mr Stout said that no statute which could be passed would be of any avail unless the sentiment of the people was in favor of the eight-hours system. Through the want of sentiment in its favor the local option measure had been a comparative failure. While agreeing with what had been argued in favor of legalising the eight-hours system he pointed out that in addition to the passing of the statute, a strong public feeling should be expressed in favor of the movement. That had to be brought about in this way—by insisting on theGovernmentsayingthatall their employees shall only work eight hours a day. That would be an immense advantage, and would be the fixing of a standard—an ideal day in the community. He would like to know how many working men could not make their purchases before Saturday night ? The working classes themselves were to blame for the Saturday-night trading. For these reasons it was absurd to imagine that the getting of the Bill passed would meet their views. The working classes themselves must discourage the extension of the hours of labor. The people were the creatures of habit, and if we had a general habit of working eight hours a-day, no statute would be necessary. He thought people would contract themselves out of the habit, and he hoped the Colony would set an example to the world on this question of the eight-hours system.—(Cheers). Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R, said he cordially agreed with nearly all that Mr Stout had said in his very practical remarks. He believed in protecting women and children, but he did not think anything could be done controlling the action of men of mature age. The only thing they could do was to get the public sentiment on the question strong and general; without that they might have as many laws as they liked, and people would not conform to them. He would support in Parliament any Bill which said eight hours should be a legal day's work, but he would not support anything further. He would support a Bill protecting women and children, and men to the extent he had said, but no further. As he had said, he cordially endorsed nearly every word Mr Stout had spoken.—(Applause and disapprobation.) The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Gardner moved, and Mr T. H. Rix seconded, the next resolution—" That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to all the Otago members, and their hearty support and co-operation requested." The meeting then ended with votes of thanks to the chairman and to Mr Sibbald for the free use of the theatre.