THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 30

THE LABOUR WORLD.

From Our Special Correspondent. London, November 23. An influential deputation from the British Medical Association waited on Mr Asquith, Home Secretary, the other day, in order to lay before him a statement of facts in connection with the excessive mortality of infants due to the occupation of women in factories, and to suggest amendments in the law relating to these matters. It was shewn that many women resume work in the factories too soon after their confinement, and that no proper certificates are given in the case of infants dying from neglect. Mr Asquith admitted that the figures as to infant mortality revealed a melancholy state of things in many parts of England, but inquiries showed that strong reasons existed against women being employed in factories after childbirth, or at least for a long interval. At the same time he deprecated the idea of children being regarded as obstacles to employment. He was sorry to say that the creches had not succeeded, but until some better system was introduced he thought employers of female labour should be encouraged to establish creches in connection with the factories. EMPLOYMENT OP WOMEN. This was the subject of a speech by Mr Geoffrey Drage, of the Labour Commission at Oxford, on Saturday last. He said the Labour Commission has been the first to employ women in skilled office work, and official documents has attested the remarkable success of the experiment. It appears, however, that this is in a large measure due to the excellent preparatory training received by the women at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Mr Drage said that the extraordinaiy creature known as the "new woman" was nob produced there, eccentricity of dress or conduct being regarded rather as a proof of unfitness for work. He also dwelt strongly on the necessity of combinations among women' to improve their rates of remuneration and conditions of employment. But whilst pointing out the increasing number of avenues open to female workers, he spoke earnestly of the importance of domestic work in the home. WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. Hitherto New Zealand has been regarded as in the van of the advanced State Socialistic movement, but there are indications that the Mother Country is likely ere long to go much further in the field of experiment. At a conference of Poor Law Guardians at Poplar the other day, a resolution was passed urging the Government to establish farms for the unemployed near London, and workshops for the manufacture of goods, and that the Local Government Board be authorised to raise a loan for the purpose of carrying out the scheme. It was suggested that 'each parish should make a start with a farm of 50 acres. In spito of strong opposition, and the allegation that similar experiments in Germany have totally failed, the resolution was carried. PAYMENT TO RAILWAY EMPLOYEES FOR SUNDAY WORK. The very numerous employees on the South-Eastern Eailway have been petitioning the directors of the Company to allow additional payment to the guards for Sunday duty. The directors, in their reply, express regret that they cannot accede to the request, owing to the increasing charges for rates and taxes, the demands of the travelling public for improved accommodation and other burdens. They promise, however, to consider the question again at some future date —say about the time of the Greek Kalends —if the conditions now existing should change. In contrast to this the London and North-Western Railway Company has started a Savings Bank for the convenience of its employees. EARLY CLOSING. In spite of the dead wall of opposition to any form of innovation, the early closing movement in London is still alive and vigorous. While a strong section are in favour of compulsory legislation on the subject, there is also in existence an association which believes in the voluntary closing system, and it has succeeded in establishing early closing in fit'tythreo> large metropolitan districts. Experience in the colonies, however, has shown that the voluntary system has always been a failure, owing to the keenness of competition and the jealousy between rival firms. LABOUR REFORMS IN BELGIUM. It would almost seem that Belgium is following in the footsteps of Australia and New Zealand in rogard to ameliorating the condition of tho labouring classes. The Premier, in his Ministerial statement to the Chambor tho other day, said Bills would be introduced to give a civil status to labour unions, to reform tho law in regard to labour contracts, workmen's insurance against accidents, and industrial and labour councils. The Premier also spoke in sanguine terms of tho beneficial prospects of tho new Labour Department. CONSERVATIVE WOSIKING MEN. This is a new association recently formed under the wing of the emxdoyors. It is designed as another diversion against, 1-hu Labour Unions ; but, so far, its nurubers are too meagre to enable it to exorcise much influence. A working men's associa : tion which gives itself Tory airs, anc adopts tho ancient Tory platitudes as it£ watchword, is a sort of social curiosity oi vara avis that i 3 rarely, if ever, found ir the colonies, except perhaps in the servants hall among the Jeameses. But here we have i body, calling itself " The National Movemon of Conservative Working Men/' denouncing the Liberal Government for attempting t< " wreck every stable institution," &c, &c i This, of course, is a hit at the proposec • reforms in the House of Lords. At i ' recent conference of these Tory working men, a resolution was passed as follows : ' "That those members of the Labour Part; | who have socured a position of notoriet; l by arrogating to themselves the solo righ ' oi' voicing the cause of the working classc

by attempting to drag the workers of the country into becoming slaves of the Radical Socialist Party, instead of urging the true interests of labour apart from politics, destroy the best interests of labour, foment undue agitation, and are the chief cause of the large majority of the workers of the country holding aloof from joining and availing themselves of the many benefits of trades and labour organisation s."