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Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 160, 26 August 1892, Page 6

MURDER OF THE EIGHT HOURS BILL. Mr W. Hutchinson’s Eight Hours J3ill which successfully passed through all stages in the House of the Bepresentatives of the people has been thrown out and prevented becoming law by the Legislative Council which represents neither brain nor anything else. Messrs Baillie, Buckley, Stewart, and Wahawaha were the only tour Councillors who voted in its favour, whilst sixteen voted against. Mr Pharazyn did not think the Bill was required because workmen could and did look after their own interests. He agreed that working men should possess reasonable time for recreation, mental culture, and social and civil duties but considered the question of hours one of supply and demand. He was glad to say that the labouring classes here were enjoying almost universally the eight hours’ labour limit, and personally he would be one of the last to express the desire that working hours here should be increased. Mr Oliver was not opposed to the working man having an eight hours’ day for labour. He rejoiced that the relations between capital and labour and the fertility of virgin soil permitted the eight hours’ movement to be the unwritten law of the land. That the eight hours’ day was recognised throughout the colony, and had been achieved by the workmen without any bitterness of feeling against their employers was a sufficient argument in his opinion why the Legislature should not interfere. Dr. Pollen regarded the Bill as totally unnecessary. The custom that eight hours should be a day’s labour was established throughout the colony, and thus tfce custom was stronger than the law. Mr Stevens did not consider the Bill worthy the serious consideration of any body of sane persons. Sir G. Whitmore objected to the Bill being introduced by a private member and moved that it be read a second time that day six months.