The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, JULY 22, 1901. THE SHOPS AMD OFFICES BILL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10397, 22 July 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, JULY 22, 1901. THE SHOPS AMD OFFICES BILL.

On several occasions' during the last' few 'years we have drawn attention to the long hours worked at certain soaions of the, year by banking and commercial clerks without receiving extra payment for the same. We, drew the attention of several legislators, including' the' members of the Government, who profess to have the interests of the workers at heart, to the matter, and urged on them the necessity for making legislative provision for these over-worked and under-paid clerks being placed 'on the same footing as the unskilled labourer or handicraftsman, as regards overtime, and were pleased to see that the Premier had introduced a Bill this session to effect this object. We were not surprised to find that, the measure was being bitterly opposed by the large joint stock, financial, and commercial concerns doing business in New Zealand, as woll as by the large private wholeBale firms, who have in- the past frequently worked their clerks as much as sixteen hours a ' day without extra payment. The clerks themselves have held meetings and condemned the measure as being inimical to their interests, declaring that they would lose more than they would gain if it became law. In the past we have heard bitter complaints from this same quarter , of the tyranny of these powerful joint stock and private firms in compelling their clerks to work overtime without remuneration, arid cannot understand how the victims of poworful employers can pretend to think that the Bill in question is likely, if carried, to affect their interests injuriously. There are two parties to consider in connec'ion with its working; viz., the employers and the employed. The first condemn it vigorously, and are so set on its rejection, or at least that part of it affecting their relationship with their employes, that they have met in all parts of the colony and passed strong resolutions condemning the measure,

and praying the Government to withdraw it. Strange to say, the employes are equally hostile to the Bill, ,which they declare will deprive them of more than it will return in the shape of payment for overtime ! If this latter assertion were true, their employers would be only too pleased to see the Bill pass safely and quickly through all its stages; as they are not, all we can conclude is that) the employes are being forced into opposing the measure by their employers. There is no compulsion, of course, but* it does not require much thought to arrive at the conclusion that the opposition of the employes to the Bill is the outcome of a pretty strong hint from the employers that such a step is expected from those in their pay, without delay; or that failure to comply with such a hint would be followed by 'dismissal; not, of course, for such refusal, but for some entirely different reason, or probably for none at all, as nothing- is, easier than to dismiss an employe without disclosing the actual reason for "such action.

The. clerical labour ] market being over-stocked, salaries are so low .as, in the majority of cases to foil to reach tho level of a "living wage," with the result that many hundred* of young fellows gladly got off their office-stools and joined one or other ojfithe seven contingents which have left^New Zealand during the last eighteen months for South Africa. The result was a demand for cheap boy labour in financial and mercantile offices, which soon exhausted the supply. The action of the clerical employes of the colony in petitioning Parliament against the passage of the Bill in question is not a genuine ! opposition to its contents in their interests, but the outcome of pressure on' the., part of > their employers, who have banded themselves together all over the colony to ensure the rejection of the Bill. They have threatened tho employes that if it passes they will insist on them working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m v with the usual allowance of an. hour in the middle of the day for dinner, that only the statutory holidays will be paid for, and that absence on account of sickness or other causes will be deducted. A few employers might attempt to punish their staffs in this way, but they would soon find that it did not pay to do so, as services rendered under a strong feeling of righteous indignation at unjust treatment are never as valuable as^ those cheerfully performed by contented and grateful employes. Tho Bill may not he a perfect measure, but it is on attempt to ameliorate the condition of a very large number of defenceless employes, .who are at present being sweated, by .powerful joint stock and private firms, whose whole aim seems to be to make large profits and -to extort the .largest amount of work"' from their clerical staffs at the lowest rate of remuneration. The clerks have, no union and ca°.nnot defend them-

selves in the same way as- skilled and unskilled workers, do, and are therefore shamelessly sweated and made to cry o*ut against any attempt being made to ameliorate their hard fate. Surely2this is about as bad a form 'of white slavery as could 'well be devised?

On our first page will be 'found interesting reading 'matter under the fol. lowing* headings: — "The Political Situ- > ation' at Home," "Gold Dredging Returns," "Prohibitionists and Workers," and football and sporting. The Museum trustees are reminded I of the' meeting this evening. It appears that the license of the Taihape Hotel was endorsed when the licensee was convicted on Friday last for Sunday trading. The Palmerston amateurs' last wock produced "The Gondoliers," and made a profit of £10. The total takings were .£lls, and the expenses .£lO5. Mr W. J. Hislop, formerly in the railway eervise, at Moagiel and lately attached to Sir J. G. Ward's secretarial staff, becomes private secretary to the ' Minister of Custom!* in Mr W. Crow's place. The Rev Mr Dewsbury announced yestorday from his ' pulpit that the young ladies of the congregation interested in the formation of a gymnasium, class were invited to meet at the T.Y.M.I. 'room on Thursday afternoon next at 3 o'clock. ' The members of the Wanganni Garrison Band did a very graceful act on Saturday night towards one of - their most valued fellow-musicians (Mr J. Tnißsell), "by assembling and playing a number of selections in front of the new premises of Messrs J. Trussell and Co. The musio was enjoyed not only by the firm, but a large, number of people who were attracted by the sweet strains of the Band. A Daily Mail representative; who saw Mr Kipling several times during his stay near Capetown, questioned the great novelist as to the truth of the rumours concerning the dramatisation of "The Jungle Book." Mr Kipling scoffed at the idea. "What!" he cried, waving his hand and taking in comprehensively. South- Africa from "Lion's Head to Line," "come out here to write a play, when the greatest of human dramas is being enacted at my front door?" . '

The ship Croft, which left Leith, in> October,. 1898, was never afterwards ht rd of, and tho supposition that she foundered at sea with all ' hands was last month verified by the finding of a bottle containing a ' hastily-scrawled message from one of the ship's company. The bottle was picked up on the 23rd, of .'May in tho Firth of Forth and the message inside road as follows: — ' "Ship, .sinking fast. No hone. All hands going down. -No time. Whoever i gets this note send at once to my wife, Mrs Haggart, Churchill terrace, Edinburgh. ; Fmretreil. Waiting death now." "It ' will kill my poor mothor." 'iiicao 'pathetic words which contain a volume of moaning, were uttered by a 12-year-old boy who was picked up in a dying condition from under a Christchurch tram the other day. The poor little fellow, despite his fearful injuries, ,nevor breathed a word of complaint about the terrible pain he was enduring, but his whole thoughts were appareently for his mother and the agony she would suffer when sho learned of his frightful death. This is the sort of material that. our hero is made out of (remarks the Manawatu Standard), and it seems very sad to contemplate that a boy who showed .so much pluck and forethought for his parent should have been cut off in the spring of life. In these days when so much has boon said and written about the' depravity of tho colonial youth and the want of respect Sot their parents, even the short sentence uttered oy a dying boy shows that young New Zealand at all events is not devoid of the fine feelings Which have. done so much to build up our Empire.

A prominent Chicago woman speaks. — Prof. Roxa Tyler, of' Chicago, ViceProsident Illinois Woman's Alliance, in speaking of Chamberlain's Cough Bel medy, says: "I suffered with a, severe cold this winter which threatened to tun into pneumonia. I tried different remedies but I seemed to grow worse and the medicine upset my stomach. A friend advised 'me to try Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and I found it was ' pleasant to take and it relieved me at once. I am now entirely recovered, saved a doctor's bill, and I will never -be without this splendid modicino again." Por sale by the United, Farmer's Co-op. Association.

The New Zealand bowlers defeated Bounds Green' by 48 to 28.

Abel, the English cricketer, made 2000 runs during the season. The price of flour was raised £1 per ton last week. ( , Members of the Economic Building Society are reminded that to-night is the Society's pay-night. A younginan has been sent to gaol for a week* at Dunedin for using 1 indecent language at a football match. The death is announced from London of Miss Eleanor Ormerod, a well-known authority oi, agricultural entomology. to' haflvy weather, the Ophir and tho Royal Arthur, which sailed from Adelaide on Saturday for fremantle had .to return. It is stated that an effort is being made to ' secure ' the transfer of the license of one of the Foxton hotels to Levin - t , Captain Edwin forecasts to-day: — North-east to" north and west gale after 12 hours from, now (1.5 p.m.); tides high; sea heavy; indications for rain. It is authoritatively stated that there are twenty-five kinematograph companies touring New Zealand at the present time presenting pictures of the late Queen's funeral. Petitions are now in circulation, and open for signature in Napier, urging on the Government ithe., necessity of constructing a railway from Napier to Gisborne, by way of Wairoa. A London .cable states that the Commi3sioners of the 1891 Exhibition, have awarded the science research scholarship of JJISO a year to Dr' James Me-_ Laren, of New Zealand. The Waimate Times hears that Mr Edwin Reilly, of Willowbank Poultry Farm; haa received an order for 2000 birds per month for export to South Africa. This should be a good thing for the poultry raisers in this district. The T.Y.M.I. Draught* Club has is-, sued a .challenge to the. local Volunteers to play a 'draughts match m the T.Y.M.I. rooms on August 7th. Mr J. Anderson will he pleased to have the names of volunteers who are able to play. . ■ , • The North Island Main Trunk Railway League ' and the North Auckland Railway -League have united in order to act as one body in forwarding the interests of the Auckland provincial district in the matter of railway connection. . - The Government haa decided to, effect considerable' improvements at the Morero Hot Springs, Poverty Bay. TMfeproposed works . will include the enlargement of the present baths, and the construction of a swimming pool, anew bathing-house, and a large reservoir. Patrick was a true son of Erin, always happy, and always ready for his ioke. • One day .a farmer, in passing, him shouted, good-humouredly, "Bad luck to you, Patrick!" "Good luck to 1 you, sir," was Pat's answer, "and may nayther of us be right!" At the Eisley Rifle Meeting, Corporal ' Ommundsen, of the Queen's Edinburgh, and* Sergeairt-Major Burr, of the Ist Battalion Hampshire Regiment, tied for thj? King's prize and divided the money: ' Ommundsen won the : medal, .with" -a' score of 320 points, by one point. / * , " j A Birmingham editor received the following 1 note, 'from a subscriber, asking that a false notice of his death might be. corrected : — "Sir,— l notis a few errors in your "paper of last wensday. I -was born at Walsall, not Work- ' sop, and my> retirement from bisness in 1899 was notvowine to il helth but to a litle truble.l had in connection with a horse, and %hh cois of my death was not small-pox, .pleas make corections, for which I enclose half-a-crown."

About two years ago a great deal was heard of a supposed kumi, sighted by a native' in the bush at the back of Gis- ] borne. Many 'inquiries were made by scientists from far and near.. A report by a correspondent of the Gisborne Times may throw light on an hitherto unexplained mystery. For weeics the men in a bush camp had been disturbed by -what, to them, were uncanny noises. A shot in the .dark lulled what two Tas-' manians in the -camp declare to be the fineat opossum they ever saw. The Napier ' Telegraph says that few persons have any idea of the extent to which' the destruction of property by fire takes place in the colony. It will probably be surprising to many, for example, "to learn that during- the first six months of this year there were 187 fires in New Zealand, the insurance losses paid in respect to them totalling ho less than .£241.000. There were 125 fires in the North Island. 1 with losses paid amounting to £160,000, while in the South Island there were 62 fires with losses totalling .£BI,OOO. As a forecast of the Teachers' Salaries Commission, .the Parliamentary correspondent of the Lyttelton Times . has telegraphed 'to his paper: — I understand that the Teachers' Commission is likely to report in favour of placing teachers in small schools on an equality as regards pay up to £135 per annum, and will -recommend an increase of the capitation- grant up to £4 25. 6 d. The staffing throughout the colony is to be generally increased, and the disparity between- the .salaries of men and women teachers is. to be greatly reduced. The advance of cremation in England recalls the interesting history of Japan in the* matter. Cremation followed Buddhism into Japan about 1200, years ago, but it only partially superseded the Shinto custom of disposing of the dead by interment. In 1823 cremation was totally prohibited by the Japanese Government. Having discovered that,' far from being un-Eurp-pean, cremation was the goal of European reformers in such matters, they rescinded .their prohibition before two years had passed. Cremation in Japan is carried out in a somewhat rough-and-ready manner. The cheapest process only costs 4s 6d. This is scarcely adapted to European requirements, and is sufficiently, described by tho title whibh the foreign residents of a certain settlement in Japan gari to the native cremation ground among tho hills — '■Roast' Moat Valley." An important decision has been come to by the Victorian Premier, and we would fain hope that Mr Seddon will not be slow to act on the good example thus set him. At thd last tw? annual meetings of the A iistntUan Natives' Association motions w*re enrriau affirming the desirability ■! the organisation using «its influence to' bring about the passing of legislation by the State Parliament to prevent smoking by children under the age of 16, and also to put a stop to the sale of. cigarettes to children. The Board of Directors in due' course brought the matter under the notice of the Government. At first Premier Peacock had doubts whether, he had legal power to insert, ns he had been, asked, among the- conditions printed on the licenses issued to tobacconists a clause forbidding the sale of tobacco or cigarettes to children of .the ace "specified, but after talcing legal advice he was satisfied that he would 'be 'acting well within his authority in bringing- such a clause' into operation. Accordingly a, clause will be printed at the back of future licenses to vondow of tobacco and cigarettes, intimating' that -they will make themselves liable to a fine not exceeding i! 100 if they serve boys under .16 years of apo. The new licenses ' will be issued as from the Ist of July. Mr Peacock states that he has consulted representative." tobacconists in Melbourne, and finds that thoy recognise the reasonableness of making such a provision. , , ,

The Mother's Favorite. — Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is the, mother's favourite. It is pleasant and safe for children to tal;e,, and always cures. It is intended especially , for coughs, colds,' croup, and whooping cough, and is the best medicine 'made for these diseases. There is 'not the least danger in giving it to children, for it contains no opium or other injurious drug and may be given as confidently to a babe as to an adult. For sale by the United ' Farmers' Co-op. Association.

For the past quarter, or a century there has been one continuous flow of letters bearing testimony to the truly wonderful cures effeoted by CLARKE'S WORLD-FAMED BLOOD' MIXTURE. "the finest Blood Purifier that science and medical skill have brought to fight." Sufferers from Scrofula, Sourvey, Eczoma. Bad Legs, Skin and Blood Diseases, Pimples and Sores of any kind are solicited to give it a, 1 rial to test its valne. Sold everywhere at 2s 9d per. bottle. Besvara of worthless imitations and substi-

The proposal to borrow .£IOO,OOO for city improvements has been agreed to by the Auskland City Countil, and will be submitted to a poll of ratepayers. Mr Mesteyer, C.E., of Wellington, has been requested to reduce his watersupply and drainage scheme for Gisborne, so that the cost shall not exceed je65,000. Wairoa is just now on short commons. Owing to the bar at the mouth of the 'river lieing in a bad state, the steamers trading from Napier have been unable to take any cargo up for about a fortnight. Three days ago the local stores were clean out of oatmeal, flour, and Bugar. * — . ' At Inglewood, Colonel Davies got a great reception. The town-, was decorated, and the Colonel and Mrs Davies, after the former hnd been presented with an address, were driven through the streets. The Colonel was presented by Captain" Bartlett, on behalf of the Hawera Mounted Rifles, with the thor1 oughbred charger Royal Guard, and in. the evening was entertained at a smoke concert. "Just a courteous gentleman." That is how the Premier of Queensland describes Lord Kitchener an a -host. Mr Philp lunched with the British general three times. He also met Sir Alfred (now^Lord) Milner. "Sir Alfred is a great man," 'Mr Philp has stated, "and before his departure for England I heard him speak in public. He has a singularly magnetic influence as a speaker, and, case-hardened to public speeches as I am, I listened, and felt the full force of his words." With regard io the statement of a contributor, regarding the survivors at Turu-turu-Mokai, an old veteran says that besides those mentioned, Private George Tuffin, of Wanganui (who was seriously wounded during the engagement), and Sergeant -McLean are still alive, adding that the first-named. was present at the recent gathering of veterans at Wellington. Private Tuffin, who was badly wounded in the head, had a silver plate inserted on his skull, and received a pension. 1 The iollowipe are the names of the successful pupils at the recent examination conducted at the Mosstuwa School:— Standard Vl.— Thomasr Bowler/ Maggie Comrie, Louisa. ' Macneil, Tames Aitken. Standard, V.— Ted Bowler, John Barnes, Rachel Adams, Annie Dyer. Standard IV. — James Oathro, John Copeland, Alec Simpson, B*llii Comrie, Mabel Dyer. Mary Gilligao. Gertrude Parkes, Daisy Palmer.* Standard HL— Walter Barnes, Ernest Botter> Daniel Bowler, Willie Palmer, Ada Adams. Mary Comrie, Kate Grethey, Lulu McFetrish, Cissy Murphy, Adelaide Parked,' Maud Stowers. Standard II. — Willie Gillig-an, ' Percy Palmer/ Little Dewson, ' Elsie Frethey, Nellie Macneil. Standard I. — Ray Dewson, Charlie Palmer, Don Simpson, Edith Frethey, Ada Hodges, Ethel Nixon, Mabel Wilson. A sad tale of poverty cornea from Sydney. Emily Harriet Taylor, aged 62 years, and her sister, Mary Taylor, two years younger, rented a small room at Arnndel Terrace, Glebe. They had formerly held good positions as governesses, but being 1 in necessitous circnmstances hod applied for old age pensions. The sisters retired to rest at their usual hour one night recently, and not making an appearance next morning, and so reply being- made to" the knocking at the room, the door was forced open. The elder Bister was found dead in bed, and had apparently been dead several hours. Mary Taylor was unconscious, but after troatmoat at the hospital 9he was' soon on a fair way towards recovery. The medical man detected the odor of chloral in the room-, but a search failed to discover any trace of if. General Sir William Olpherts, -whose death was recently reported, was one of the early winners of the coveted V.C. Long before the Mutiny he had been cut and slashed about in Burmah, in Gwalior, and the Crimea. He returned to India in time for the Mutiny campaign with a reputation for dare-devil-ry that made it a theme for general prophecy that he would soon lose the number of his mess. At Lucknow he was attached to the old 99th when it captured two of the enemy.'* guns. The guns would be "white elephants" if they were not brought back to our lines; so Olpherts did a sporting gallon through a -hail of the enemy's lead to bring up horses. He was given °up at the time, but twenty minutes afterwards he returned, covered with mud and blood, convoying the necessary horses to 'make the capture of the guns, complete. This act brought him the V.C. When the South African crisis became acute a. couple of years ago, "Hell-fire Jack," with all his years upon him, wanted to go to the front.