LABOR LEGISLATION.

Evening Star, Issue 8611, 3 September 1891, Page 4

LABOR LEGISLATION.

THE BILLS BEFORE THE COUNCIL. (From Oub Pabliamentaby Reporter,] WELLINGTON, September 2. The two labor measures in which most interest attaches occupied nearly the whole of yesterday’s afternoon sitting of the Legislative Council. The Factories Bill was again recommitted, when further alterations were made, and on its being reported as amended its third reading was made an Order for to-day. The Bill has been terribly emasculated, and is a mere skeleton of the measure as sent down from the House of Representatives. The Shop Hours Bill, even as reintroduced by the Colonial Secretary, and shorn of its most objectionable features, was also freely condemned, and it is exceedingly doubtful whether the motion for its committal will be accepted, THE FACTORIES DHL, The Hon. M r Bowen, who was one of the most determined opponents of the Factories Bill, informed the Council that he objected to the flooding of private houses with inspectors and spies. The proviso to clause 51 was struck out, and on the Hon. Mr Swanson’s motion permission was given under the authority of the inspector for employs in factories or work rooms to work three hours overtime on not more than twenty days during the year “at a rate to be agreed on.” This provision was made to meet the cases of rush, such as take place when goods are hurriedly wanted on the eve of a holiday.

Oa the Hon. MpMantell’s motion a new clause was inserted in the Bill exempting factories or work rooms under the control or management of the Railway Commissioners from the provisions of the Bill. This proviso was opposed by tho Colonial Secretary, but agreed to by 13 to 8, A final effort to get the definition of a factory to apply to anyplace where “three” or more persons are employed was made by the Hon. Downie Stewart, but failed. Nineteen councillors voted for the retention of six persons, and only eight, including the Colonial Secretary, for tho amendment. The third reading of the Factory Bill was made an order for this afternoon. THE SHOP HOUBS BILL. Speaking against the motion for the committal of the Shop Hours Bill, The Hon, Dr Pollen contended that tho measure was an unnecessary interference with the natural right and lawful authority of individuals The Bill was the emanation of the young men employed in drapery establishments, who naturally desired more time for the improvement of their minds and the enjoyment of those pleasures natural to their age and sex than the hours at present fixed for their employment afforded them.

The Hon, Mr, Shrimski, in a vigorous speech, moved that the Bill bo committed that day six months. As one of tho Special Committee to whom the original Bill was referred, he said that the evidence, telegrams, and petitions both in favor of and counter to the measure had been fully considered. Two residents of Wellington had given strong testimony, which appealed to every member of the Committee, against the passage of the Bill, while the three persons who gave evidence in favor of the Bill spoke from directly interested motives, These were Mr D. P, Fiaher (of the Wellington Trades Union, who was a paid agitator), and Messrs Johnston (of To Aro House, Wellington) and Clark (representing Strange and Co,, Christchurch), who supported the early closing and halfholiday movements on the ground that long hours wore injurious to health and led to unfair competition. The Bill was a cruel and tyrannical interference with the liberty of the subject, and might have been expected to emanate from a country like Russia, where it would have caused the people to become Nihilists. Even there it would have emanated from the Emperor and bis nobles, and not from the people themselves. The hon, gentleman concluded by expressing his surprise that in a country endowed with free liberty of thought and action the people should seek to curtail their own privileges—a thing unheard of in a British community, The Hon. J. N. Wilson would like to see the Bill committed, but he hoped if t reached the committee stage, to exempt shops kept by one single proprietor or attended to only by the members of his family. The Hon. W. D. Stewart was also in favor of going into committee, but ho was opposed to the compulsory closing of small traders* shops at six o’clock.

Sir George Whitmore said that the shop assistants in the towns of this colony were already treated in a most considerate manner. The Shop Hours Bill was another proof that the country was absolutely dominated by the evil influences of town life. In the country the settlers worked unceasingly from six in the morning till six at night in hot weather and in cold weather. The Bill, as originally introduced, was an attempt to assist the large commercial institutions such as the D.1.C., and to crush out the struggling shopkeepers; but as it was now amended, dealing merely with half-holidays and providing seating accommodation for females, it was unobjectionable, The Hon. G. M'Leak agreed with the last speaker. So radically wrong was the Bill in principle that, in his opinion, the Council should have no hesitation in wiping it off the face of the earth. It was an attempt on the part of a certain class of people to tyrannise over their weaker brethren, Tobacco and grog shops were to be kept open—(hear) yet a man was not to be permitted to get his loaf of bread or leg of mutton. He had no hesitation in saying that the Council ought to throw out the Bill, so that its name, at all events, should not appear on the Statute Book. The Hon. R. Pharazyn spoke in a similar strain. He agreed with the last speaker that the Bill should not appear on the Statute Book. It was a long step in the direction of State Socialism, and a step which he trusted the Council was not prepared to take. If the Bill

were to pass, its effect would only be to lower wages; and before long there would be an agitation from the domestic servants to have their hoars of employment curtailed. There was a temptation to pass the Bill in order to let the people see its effect; but be did not think that the Council would be justified in making an experiment of this kind, which would be ruinous to a large number of struggling traders. The Hon. Mr Babnicoat supported the committal of the Bill, which was opposed by the Hon. Mr Reynolds and the Hon, Mr AOlanD. The last-named gentleman said he had that day invited the opinion of a Wellington shopkeeper with regard to the measure, and his opinion, frankly given, was: " Individually, I like it; but it is not a just Act, as its effect is to close the small shops. * At 5 p.m. the debate was, on the motion of the Hon. L. Walker, adjourned until this afternoon.