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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9238, 28 June 1893, Page 4

The cases of the Factory Inspector against Mr. J. Van Breda, have attracted some attention. The first case, that with reference to the issue of a certificate, calls for no remark, except that it tends to show the annoying and irritating nature of the Act. In the second case Mr. Van Breda wai summoned for not paying his workers for the statutory holidays which the Act says lie shall pay for. The conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court because the clause contains no penalty, but this omission will probably be rectified this session. The Act lays down that there shall be live holidays during the year, and that the employer shall

not make any. deduction for thews.- Th holidays are: Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good, Friday. Easter Mon day, and the Queen's Birthday. Mr i Van Breda has an arrangement wit] his employes that they should be paic for the Queen's Birthday, but thai instead of being paid for the other holi days, they should get away at} 1?.3< e\.-ry Saturday, instead or at on o'clock. This makes three anda-lial days during the year, and the othe half-day is compensated for by othe privileges. We publish jin anothe column a letter from Mr. Van Breda which gives his version of tin cases which have been brought againsl him. We have visited Mr. Van Breda's factory, which is spacious,! airy, and scrupulously clean, quite a] pattern in its way to many workrooms which we have seen in Auckland. Mr. Van Breda holds a document from his employees that the arrangement they have hitherto worked on is more satisfactory to "them'than that laid down in the Act. There is, however, no help for it. There is the law, and no liberty is given under it to employer or "inployed to make any arrangement, as to details, even although such might be to their mutual advantage. Mr. Van Breda and others in the same line pay weekly wages, but: if Acts and Inspectors become too troublesome then they will have to change to piece work, although that is not the most suitable for them. This will not be more beneficial for the worker, for -piece work, with its constant competition, offers more facility for sweating than any other system. This labour legislation will goon increasing year by year in stringency. The liberty of the employer is curtailed, and the liberty of the employee; all are bound by the cast-iron clauses of an Act of Parliament, worked by a costly department. If the thing is carried too far the strain will become too Great, and there will he a break- down. This labour legislation may very easily be overdone. Our manufactures rest upon a narrow foundation, and a little extra pressure may extinguish not a few of them. There is not an illimitable field for legislation in the interest of the worker, because the law-making may have the effect of putting, him out of work altogether.