LABOUR BILLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 3

LABOUR BILLS.

TO TED EDITOR. Sib, —I observe ia the published reports of the Employers 5 Association meeting that the Employers of the Colony speak of the Government Labour Bills as measures of "repressive legislation detrimental to the interests of capital, bub more so to the into'ests of labour. 5 ’ Now, there are many employers who seem to have bub one idea with regard to legislation, and. only one with regard to the means of the Colouy 5 s prosperity, vie., that legislation should recognise their imagined rights only, and that the prosperity of the Colony can only be attained by the payment of big dividends uuon invested capital, Tney assert that the Labour Bills, if passed, wi;l prevent the investment of capital; cause the withdrawal of large sums of money from the Colony and give a deathblow to local industries. Never was a greater mistake made. Careful perusal of the Government Bills, which are framed for the “equal 55 protection of labour and capital, will convince most people the measures are. intensely practical and equitable, and the Government baa proposed them as tho surest means of securing psosperity for capital. Repress labour, represented by the bulk of our population, and the operations of capital are necessarily restricted. On the other hand, improve the conditions of labour, so as to give the bulk of our population additional spending or purchasing power, and by the additional consumption which would naturally ensue, capital must be equally benefited. Capital invested in the Colony has been frequently protected by excessive Customs duties, tbo burden of such taxation being borne by the working class principally. Has labour ever received any similar concession? , Never! Neither has it sought any, and now labour is seeking simply justice at the hand of the Government of tbe country. Shorter hours, better pay, contented workers, and bappy homes. Yes, these may mean smaller dividends; but they also mean that capital will be turned over quicker, and the balance in favour of capital more , than restored. It is therefore desirable that the general public should interest themselves individually ia favour of the measures to, be presented to tbe House this session, and thus strengthen the hands of those whom they have sent there. I would suggest Chat a public meeting should be called at an early date, at which the Government policy should be reviewed, and the public made better acquainted with the peopled Bills.—l am, &c., PENATES.