PROTEST AGAINST THE FACTORIES BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 186, 16 August 1901, Page 2

PROTEST AGAINST THE FACTORIES BILL.

PES PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, August 15, A deputation representing tbe meat freezing, wrol-FCOu'iog, and tanning in ' dustries wfti'ed on several country meuibeis r f the House this afte> noon, Mr Mer. dith b ing io the chair, to protest against the provisions of the Factories Bill, so far as they affect tbeße industries, being passed into law. Mr Waymouth, Canterbury, f-aid if the Bill bfcame law, it m<>ant that the increased cost, of currying on tbe meat freezing industry mint f'.ll on the furniei s, who would rereive les- f >r the raw products. The Bill entailed an increasi cost ( f quite 25 per cont. It ups't the judgment r. cently given in Christchurch by tbe Arbitration Court, which laid down that the labour conditions in regard to slaugbtermn and tanners should temain »s they were. He denied a statement attributed to the Premier that Freezing Companies were subsidised by the Government, and said that these companies were tbe most heavily taxed in the country. Mr Sladd n, Wellington, endorsed the opinions expressed by Mr Waymouth. Mr. Clark, Canterbury, representing the wool scouring industry, declared it would be impossible for him under tbe Bill to carry on his wool-sdiuring and fellmongery business. He would bav« 'o shut down, and he believed that 75 per cant of the wool-scouring es'ablishments in the colony would have to do likewise. Mr. Booth, Cbristchurcb, representing implement manufacturers, pointed out that increased cost must fall on the consumer, and that the special provisions contained in the Bill were utterly unnecessary. Mr. Hill, Canterbury, endorsed evarything said by the previous speakers.