The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1890.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9173, 5 August 1890, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1890.

A few of the manufacturers and employers of labour in Wellington formed themselves into a deputation the other day to wait upon Mr Hislop, the Minister in charge of the Factories and Shops Act. Some rather strong language was used with regard to certain provisions in the Bill. The usual talk about driving capital out of the Oolony was indulged in, and one or two gentlemen even went so far as to give vague hints about people who would “ clear out” of New Zealand if these sorts of burdens were laid upon their backs. The Wellington newspapers, ever ready to sympathise with the complaints of advertisers, have taken up the cudgels against the Act. One leading article violently attacks Mr Hislop and the Government, accusing them of carelessness and insincerity, and of stuffing the Bill full of unnecessary matter of an almost Communistic kind. Objection seems specially taken to the parts of the Bill relating to dining-rooms, the prohibition of overtime and night-work in the case of any boys and girls, and the appointment of the Inspectors by the Trades and Labour Councils. The last objection we may at once say is levelled at a totally imaginary provision. The Colonial Secretary will appoint the Inspectors. No one else will have even a voice in the appointment. There is a proposal before the House that the Minister, before appointing Inspectors, shall give the nearest Trades and Labour Council an opportunity to forward all reasons they may have against the person about to be appointed. The Minister will then give what weight he thinks fit to those objections. Is that proposal either terrible or tyrannical? To us it seems the mildest and most harmless thing in the world. As for the prohibition and restrictions upon the hours of labour for young persona,someof them are law already; the rest are law in Victoria and England. They have not killed manufactures or driven capital away from those two countries yet. Moreover, the Bill now before Parliament contains provisions under which Inspectors may grant permits to allow needful work to be done. That system is in force in England, and works well, we believe, especially since means have been devised for checking fraud by dishonest employees. As for the frightful diningroom clause, which we are assured is going to cripple and ruin half the industries in the Oolony, we have reason to believe that there is every prospect of a reasonable compromise being come to over that. Probably open factories will be exempted from its operation, and also some small factories. In no case, however, should large factories where women are employed be allowed to keep employees in their workroom during the meal hour. Here and there other compromises may perhaps be come to, but, on the whole, the Act is by no means harsh or sweeping. We trust that not only the Unions, but also fair - minded persons who are honestly anxious to raise and improve the condition of the mass of labour in our towns, will rally round the Bill and give the Government every assistance in carrying it through Parliament. To those employers and capitalists who have allowed themselves to be alarmed by it, wo recommend a calm and deliberate perusal of its sections.

They will not find it light or amusing reading, but they will not find it at all terrifying. On the other side, we should advise labour associations not to hope for absolute perfection. The present House of Representatives is unusually conservative, and is also dominated by the country members, most of whom look with suspicion on Acts like this. They think them introduced solely in the interest of the artisans, and for the artisans they have very little love. The friends of labour in Parliament have need, therefore, of some courage and tact. We do not, however, agree with the charges of insincerity made against Mr Hislop, in the Wellington papers, in connection with the Bill under notice. Most of his colleagues, no doubt, care less than nothing for the Bill. Most of his party would bo heartily glad to see it killed. But Mr Hislop, who is a Radical in the Tory army, really believes in bis Bill, and will, we fancy, do his honest best to get it carried.