The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1897. EMPLOYERS AND LABOUR LAWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11227, 26 March 1897, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1897. EMPLOYERS AND LABOUR LAWS.

Ip the reported attitude of the Melbourne employers were typical of the view taken by capitalists of the relations that ought to exist between employers and employed, we should almost despair of the progress of humanity. The report presented to the annual meeting of the Melbourne Employers’ Union deplores the abandonment of industrial strife, objects to any improvement of the conditions of labour, and strongly condemns a proposal to introduce a system of compulsory arbitration in labour disputes. It is well-nigh incredible that a body of intelligent men should be found at this time of day taking up a stand so utterly indefensible and so completely opposed to modern thought. We can only account for the position assumed by the Melbourne employers on the supposition that they have been grievously misled as to the bearing and effect of labour legislation in this and other progressive countries. The political opponents of the Seddon Government are adepts in the art of misrepresentation, and they have contrived, by spreading false reports of the effect of our labour laws, to impose upon visitors and people not intimately acquainted with JNew Zealand affairs.

Mr Cooper, of the Scotsman, has lately been talking some diluted nonsense on the subject of our labour laws to a Melbourne interviewer, as though they constituted an “ interference with the liberty of the subject,” different in kind from that which every Grovernment exercises for the general good. He apparently thinks that the wicked Liberals have passed a compulsory eight hours law applicable to adults, whereas the fact is that the eight hours day in this country is based solely upon trade custom, except as regards women and children employed in factories. 0 ur Factories Acts are in some respects more advanced than those of England, but in the matter of regulating the hours of labour they do not interfere with adults, and the law regarding women and children has been in.existence for

sixteen years past. In every way the labour laws of this country have conduced to the general happiness and prosperity. Even thffc' compulsory half-holiday for shopkeepers has been accepted as a beneficent measure, since certain defects in the law were remedied. And as regards tbe Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, that measure is admitted by politicians on both sides, by employers and employed, and by the Supreme Court Judges, to be a most useful law which has been tbe means of settling several ' serious disputes. ; ■ Were these facts known, tbe employers of Victoria would surely hot “ make strenuous efforts to prevent Ibe Labour Party having its own ' way,” so far as a law of this kind is concerned. Eight will, fortunately, prevail, despite opposition based upon ignorance and prejudice. Everyone remembers how strongly a section of New Zealand employers resisted legislative proposals which they now recognise to be wise and rhoderate measures, conducive to prosperity and good feeling, and in no way injurious to their interests as a class. Every employer here, we make bold to agrees that conciliation and arbitra--tion are, in particular, preferable ai methods of settling labour disputes . to the barbarous expedient of strike and lock-out, of which the Melbourne employers appear to be enamoured. “ It is the unknown that terrifies.” Only let Victorian capitalists and employers know the true tendency and result of such laws, and they will, we feel certain, reverse their attitude and adopt the common-sense view that anything which tends to A the continuity of industrial development, and which lessens the friction between employer add employed, is a boon to those immediately concerned aa well as tp the community at large.