THE EIGHT HOURS BILL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3263, 21 October 1897, Page 2

THE EIGHT HOURS BILL.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. A deputation of freezing works employees from Petone and Ngahauranga was Introduced to.the Premier by Mr C. Wilson last night, and presented a petition signed by 300 persons, on behalf of about 1000 interested, asking that wnen he introduced his Eight Hours Bill bo should exemptthose employed in the freezing works from its operations. Mr Wilson pointed out on behalf of the do . putation that if some such exemption were not made the result would bo very serious for them, because, thtre wore four m mtha of the y ear when operations were alack, if not suspended altogether, and if the men were not allowed to make overtime when the meat harvest was brisk they could not all the year round earn a living wage. At present the wages In the different departments only averaged fron «£1 ISs Cd to £2 a week. If the Bight Honrs Bill wore brought into operation with them it would mean that there would bo a greater number of hands to share this small amount of wages, and instead of encouraging men to stiok to the works and make their homes round about, it would' encourage persons to come to aud fro who as a class were not so desirable. It was pointed out that the circumstances in the North Island differed from those of the South, inasmuch as where in the South there was a regular supply of sheep, owing to the system of cropping, Ac., all the sheep in this locality and in the Wangauui and Waitara districts too (Mr Wilson ascertained during his recent trip North) are grass fed,, and only arrive in quantities in certain seasons. The Premier asked*if the men who were not employed at the works during the four months wore in the habit of getting work elsewhere?

A member of the deputation said “ No,” because the off-time wvs the winter season when other work was not available.’ The Premier said it was evident that it would be required that during certain periods of the year those particular factories should'be exempted. He would refer the matter to the Labour Bills Committee.' His object was to get a Bill which would injure nobody and yet affirm the eight hour principle, so that the workers of this country could never drift b&ok into the condition of those in other countries. .