The Labour Bills.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 209, 3 September 1891, Page 3

The Labour Bills.

The two labour bills, to whioh interest is principally attaohed, were before the Legislative Oounoil to-day. The Factories Bill was rewcommitted, and Mr Downie Stewart made a final effort to get the number of hands necessary to constitute a "factory" reduoed to three or more, but the Counoil, by 19 votes to 8, agreed to retain the word " six."' The proviso to olause 51 waß struck out, and permission was given, nnder authority of an inspector, for employees to work three hours overtime or not more than twenty days during the year, "at a rate to be agreed on." This provision was inserted in the interests of employers who find it difficult to oarry out their orders in cases of a rush suoh as takes plaoe on New Year's eve or Christmas eve. Factories and workrooms- under the control of the Railway Commissioners were exempted from the provisions of the bill. The third reading of the hill has been made an order for to morrow. Notwithstanding that the Shop Hours Bill has been shorn of its most drastic features, and that as re introduced by the Colonial Secretary in its amended form it merely provides for a weekly half holiday and seat ing accommodation for females, the Counoil will have none of it, It holds that it is an unnecessary interference with the liberties of the subject, and that even to put the name of the measure on the statute book would be a mistake. On the committal of the bill being moved by the Colonial Secretary this afternoon, Mr Shrimski moved as an amendment that it be committed tbis day six months, and this will probably be agreed to. Mr Shrimski .ays that the measure is a oruel 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 V_o/>rt-m__i -n _ Vi-il-to't o