THE EIGHT HOURS BILL.

Thames Star, Volume XIX, Issue 5815, 19 September 1887, Page 3

THE EIGHT HOURS BILL.

do the Editor of the Evening Stab.) Sib, —Daring the past four weeks the Beveral questions bearing on the welfare of the Colony in general, and this district in particular, have been discussed and thrashed out to such an extent that people are almost sick Of it. However, Sir, I trnst that you will allow me space to have my say on a subject that my fellow working-men will do well not only not to lose sight of, but make it one of the stoutest planks in their platform. I refer to the keeping intact the Eight Hour system of labor. I have no doubt that many of your readers recollect that a Bill, was introduced in the House ofßepresentatives in the session of 1884, having for its object the fixing of eight hours as a legal day's work, but although this question was one of vital importance to working-men, I grieve to say that a large number of them do not know what became of the Bill, or what was said for or against it, neither do they recollect that our late member, Mr Fraser, voted against this measure, which was to make as the law of the land that eight hours shonld constitute a fair, day's work, but such is the case, although Mr Fraser says it is a "base calumny." However, to show that my statement is true, I tender as evidence No. 11. Hansard, 188 V pages from 21 to 33. In these pagea your readers will find the arguments on both sides of the question. The members against it used the following arguments :~That the Bill was unnecessary. That it would be a fruitful sonrce of qnarrelbe-

fcween capital and labor. That it would put working-men in a better position than they occupied at present, and therefore should be deprecated. And one of the principal opponents of the Bill (Mr Lance) said that it was not the working-men, but the loafers, that wanted the eight hour system, and that he had men in his employ who worked from 7 in the morning until 6 at night, and they didn't seem oppressed, and further, that he denied that eight hours' labour wfts the recognised system in the Colony. The members favorable to the Bill argued that it was a necessary measure, and was meant to protectworkmen from being compelled to work longer than was just—that it would lead to no trouble except with those who wished to oppress their fellow men—and Mr Bradshaw, the gentleman who introduced the Bill, said he was more convinced than ever that the Bill was absolutely necessary. As to the statement made by Mr Lance, " That 'he had men in his employ who he compelled to work from 7 in the morning until six in the even-

ing," it was to prevent this sort of thing

that made the Bill necessary. He (Mr Brad- . Shaw) farther stated that it was useless to argne with men who believed in working men 10 or 12 hours a day, and quoted two Tery high authorities on the matter, viz., Dr Richardson and Prof. Huxley, who both agreed that "The body of man was not constituted to ran its complete cycle under a heavier burden that 8 hoars labor per day." '■■ Nowj Sir, I wiJl ask the working men of the Thames, that had this debate taken place before them in the Academy of Music, and they had been asked to give their verdict, on what side they would have voted. I unhesitatingly Bay that they would have voted to a man in favor of the Bill becoming law, and would have made short work of any man who. voted in the opposite direction. Well, Sir/they have the chance now offered them of making short work of one of the candidates who voted against the measure, and if they prove true to themselves they will never again give Mr Fraser the chance of Bitting in Parliament, and not only not raising has voice against, but actually'voting on the side with men who stigmatised them. loafer* because they would not work more than 8 hourß a day Inrcase that any person may doubt the genuineness of the matter contained in this letter, I will ask yon, Sir, to allow me to leave on your table for the benefit of all concerned; the copy of Hansard, containing the report of the debate, and the division thereon, which caused the untimely death of the Eight Hours Bill. It will there be seen that the result of the vote was as fol* lows:—Ayes, 30; Noes, 33; and among the latter appears the name of Mr W. Fraser.— lam, &c., Miner.