LABOUR IN NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5457, 8 January 1896, Page 4

LABOUR IN NEW ZEALAND.

The Daily News says says : — A writer on "Adult Male /Labour" in the December number of The Westminster Review labours, and not unsuccessfully, to show that New Zealand is the paradise of the workman. In this respect it is to be distinguished from some of the Australian Colonies, and this is one reason why the New Zealander is not particularly enthusiastic for a scheme of Australasian federation' that might deprive him of his peculiar institutions. The working man in New Zealand is king, through the operation of the ballot bpx, ( and the whole trend of legislation in the colony is towards the , prevention lot. poverty and the . improvement of the condition of the mass. The formation |of large estates wholly beyond legislative control is sternly discouraged, monopolies find no favour, . the , eight hours' day • is established by law, the very duration of dinner-time in shops is fixed in the same way.. There is no other measure of -national ip-rps^rity: /than; •; the. %elfaie^ ;sihd content^ •ment-.o^th'e mass. ;•; T^e '^omjan have .thjeir; :sh^^ they /have, helped, to .win them iby* their /wise/exercise of /their ziigfht to'/ vote: . T^he servant _itl is not 'excluded:/ the article! concludes with the following quotation : " WTiile I write those words -the fan and long gloves Of our 'general servant' are lying •on the kitchen dresser. She is •an excellent servant; and the dresser is a very clean one. She is going out to-night; in full evening costume to the W. Boating Club ball. This club is composed chiefly of young workingmen. Her invitation comes i through the captain, a well-known barrister, the secretary and treasurer, who will introduce to her plenty of partners — all in .swaUpWrtail . coats ! I anticipate that her programme will be filled up at once. She will meet there, and may dance in the same set with, the daughters of the ' Premie? of New Zealand and other notable , personages." Is there no way of removing these islands and mooring them for a year or two, as an object lesson, alongside certain other islands in the Northern Seas ?