A SIX-HOURS' DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13050, 15 December 1905, Page 6

A SIX-HOURS' DAY.

THE PROPOSAL BEFORE THE TRADES COUNCILS. VIEWS "ON BOTH SIDES. At the meeting of the Trades and Labour Council or» Wednesday evening the subject of the resolution passed at a recent meeting of tho Melbourne Trades Hall Council, with reference to a proposed "six-hours' day" was brought up for discussion, the Melbourne body having remitted the resolutions for .the approval of the New ZcfeJcnd trades and labour councils. The rs&..iuigns were as J'.j'iows;' .-.•■■.-. -..-■-

;•"' That this council, believing in the wisdom of a further reduction of working hours as a sound economic policy to absorb the unemployed and to secure to the workers a fairer share as the results of labour, hereby authorise tho following resolution to be sent to the American Federation of Labour, Washington, U.S.. and to. the National Federation of Trade, London, England, with an explanatory letter setting forth the working conditions obtaining in Australia, and asking tho views of the organisations referred to as to the practicability of concerted action. And, further, -•:--/'// That, whereas the' methods of wealth production have increased during recent years at a. more rapid rate than ever before and whereas there has not been any corresponding reduction in working hours, or increase ill the consuming capacity of the worker', and .hence resulting; in unemployment for increasing numbers of workers, and consequent impoverishment, this council declares in favour of a six-hours' work day, or such an approximation thereto as may be deemed most advantageous by tho workers in countries using the most efficient methods of production, and we respectfully request the inAustria! organisations of the Commonwealth to favour this council with their views upon the subject of the resolution before approaching the organised workers of England and America- .. ,-.'. •■ ,- •

J VIEWS OF THE LABOUR SIDE. I In view of the probable discussion of this matter at the forthcoming annual conference ..if New Zf;idand trades and labour councils, .-, Christcnurch, a representative- of the i- ( '_'SALD yesterday interviewed represonfca-i-.-es of th*» lr.-xmr party on the question., Mr. A. Kec.or; secretary of do Auckland Trades and Labour Council, su : d the council had "date/red the matter to allow of tho united opinion of tho oat councils throughout the colony to be asc< •rtainjsd at the an nual coniertsnee at Christchuircb next Easter. In view of the conference.:.- coming on the Wellington council had asked the Auckland council' to defer giving k reply to the Melbourne Trades Hall, and whatever was done by the annual confcreieo would represent tho views of the labour party, in the colony as a whole. As far as his private opinion went, ho was opposed to f ,he reduction to six hours. Ho did not think tho colony was called upon to lower the present eight-hour system, for the country baa had, and was having, a very stood period, and there were not so many out, of work as in Australia, where workers were feeling the position more acutely. » Ho realised that ..hero wore men out of work here, tat not to anything like the exteat in Australia. The reason for tho sixhour proposal wr.s iho need for finding employment for those now out of work, 'but as far as New Zealand was concerned he did not think if ;net(*«.'.ryv' £'•-•* Melbourne Trades Hall had not ecr *-jspi.d«:.'tf bow the proposal would affect .'Ages, .-..J -hen -.here ! was the que.itiois >i ?hn greater Mx on cmI plover.- lie th"« m.' i eight h —'S a fair uivHii" jt labour. ■S •'.:•■" K. F. Vt*v; '*bo represent-, wie Politico' 'our Lftsjjjyo, ■ad wro stood us Labour for Ciiy Ens' at . the election, said he was in favour of the reduction; it would be a pood idea but at the same time, while he thought it p. good idea, he considered this introduction | of a six-hours' day under present condition* would not result: in the 'good to the workers ! tome of them imagined." Taking the. worker in .New Zealand, end basing his. earning at, .1? per hour, and , supposing he was working: i'uli time, the present excessive cost of Jiving took all be could earn ia-'vi fijfbt-.huur' cAy to keep his home and family £«.'.*'? *-■'■•'■' : }'' ordinary necessaries of life on J- ■'•--'•, Ji, in a rev..'. ■, m to a si:, ho!,? d > ■,■'.-: •',•:■ ?>■.;•' i eaiT.iiv: .owei wore to be re r j..»-c' to 6 ; i '-<:'• I] day, titers would be- an shield; e >i •'•ivty i for u:<e Government to tald over 'die .-di-vtri- j |button of food nippUr-, aii to ~l>-'.fei;V.-*rd , ! the workers ag-'u.«t high rears. From v at I ho could understand, the• artisans hi A'ick- | : Snd would ho ■-•x;- i .y 'Loo gbd to get eight ■h>ur.s*a day ■! for, withbroken time, etc.. they only aii'iwge'j four bom He estimated "that tho vsiirk-uij ohlss of Nnv Zealat'rf, basing his «stiauiS> on his experience in Auckland, taken cm sai average throughout the year, were .'.ally putting in only : *■• four -hours' day. If a six-hour da; - :;•(■'- , instituted, it would mean that there would •bo more employed at regular work, in order to produce the same amount as was being produced now. He held that, with industry projwTj regulated, /there wa >;.'■ necessity ; for anyossj to work more, than i ..>ur hours, and statistics proved that. Emr ;era would object that the quantity of work would be curtailed. Even in that matter experience had shown that a reduction from ten hours to eight had not materially al'ered the amount of work tuuied out, but the idea that we would not' be able to produce so iji'irh as a nation -did nf>t hold good, for at [ present a six-Lour lUy was, not being worked on the average. Mr. J. Aggers, who was also a Iaboi)"" candidate at the elections, said he was a socialist and a* a socialist he believed that labour produced all wealth, and as the producers of wealth the workers w«o entitled to soir.e share in t.he wealth. Ho though: that six hours was a fair' day's work. Ho was also pretty well sati?3fd that from an economic point of view the i.-ours must eventually be reduced. From th* working man's point of view Australia was far ahead' of New Zealand, because the workers had been better educated in these matters, and it was within the bounds of possibility that by the next two elections there would be .a Socialist Parliament in Australia. Of course he, based his opinions in regard to reduction of working hours on the principle of national ownership, of which ho had always been a strong advocatethat was, State ownership of tho land and as many industries as possible. He had studied Socialism for 20 years, and was satisfied that when the workers were ripe for it they would not have to work more than four hours per day, and their condition would be such as would make a nation great.

INTERVIEWS WITH EMPLOYEES. PROPOSAL CONSIDERED IMPRACTICABLE. Mr. I). Goldie, president of the Auckland Provincial Employees' Association, on being seen by a Herald reporter, said he did not think the idea had yet been advanced sufficiently for serious discussion. If the suggestions took any definite form be would call a meeting of the council of the association to consider it, but ho did not anticipate that there would be any occasion for the present to do this. The proposal, he said, had been mooted some time ago in Australia by the Labour party, but if; then seemed to bo scouted by the majority of those outside of the Trades Hall party. Mr. Goldic added that if the movement took anything like definite shape it would, no doubt, come up for consideration at the approaching Labour Parliament, which is to sit in Christchurch in February next. He did not think, however, there was any chance of the proposal being carried into effect. Beyond these brief remarks be was not disposed to say anything on the subject at present. Mr. M. A. Clark (a director of the firm of Archibald Clark and .Sons, Ltd.), who was also'interviewed, said that he had not had time to study the queaiion, but it seemed to him that a. six-hour day would .make it impossible to carry on-almost any ofthe industries in the colony. It was just possible, in many cases, to carry on industries under present conditions, and if they reduced the working time by .one-quarter it would, of course, mean adding 25 per cent, to the cost of manufacture. He did not think the Roneral public would stf«nd such an addition to the cost of all articles made in the colony. A number of other employers were also seen, but they declined to make any statement. They preferred, they said, to withhold any expression of opinion for the present until the' matter look practical shape, if it evor did so. ■-'-■■.