LONGER HOURS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10106, 3 August 1893, Page 2

LONGER HOURS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik, —The letters which have appaarad in your papor from time to time on shorter hours have no doubt been written by a few disaffected people who are never satisfied with anything. The majority of workmen like to work Jocg hours, and to make as much overtime aa possible. Talking the other day to one o£ the unemployed, he remarked, " One blessing, we Bhstl soon have a change of Government." " And do 70ii think a Tory Government will do better for us than the present Ministry haa done ?" I asked. "No fear, he remarked, they will doleEs; but I want to see thing 3 get wusßer and wusser, and when they get bad enough then will ba the time." " The time for what ?" I asked. " The time for dynamite/' he remarked, and he added, " lb is the only thing that will bring about a better state of things." I asked hiia whether he did not think that a reduction in the houro of labour would about a better state of thiags? "Why, of course, it would," ha replied, " but you will never get shorter hours vyhilsfc the blokea who are in a billot are willing to work such long hours just to keep others out. You juso walk by come of the big warehouses," ho continued, " and watch the hours they work eoaie nights. But it will soon come home to them. The Union Shipping Company have already given notice that they intend to dock ail their hands five bob a week, and lam glad of it. When the coves in work find the shoe pinch they will begin to pay a little attention to them who are out of graft." lam afraid to make this letter too long, but thia son of toil made it quite clear to me that it is the selfishness of these already in employment who are keeping so many out of work, and making thinga worse for themselves. I am quite couvinced that unless the workers themselves agitate for their more unfortunate fellow-men, they will gat their hours lengthened and their wages shortened.—l am, &c, WAKE UP.