The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1887. OVERWORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1713, 16 November 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1887. OVERWORK.

The philanthropic exertions of the iate Earl of Shaftesbury m reducing the hours of toil of the overworked members of the community m the Old Country have exerted an influence which could not be confined within the linv'ts ot the United Kingdom. We have m our own Statute Book proof conclusive that the great pioneer m the work of ameliorating the condition of the wageearning portion of the population has had worthy imitators even at the Antipodes and that very good results have followed from their labors. What is generally known as "Bradshaw's Act," has had the effect of reducing the hours of labor to something within reason. In cities and large towns its provisions are rigidly enforced and we see no reason why m less pretentions centres of population there should be any relaxation of that stringency. A correspondent writing over the signature " Liberator " whose letter appears m another column craws attention to the fact that m Ashburton the Act m question js altogether ignored. The writer champions a cause which we are sure has many sympathisers m cur community. He tells us that some of the young woman employed as milliners and sempstresses, who have very long hours are frequently compelled to work three or four hours' overtime for days— or rather nights altogether, that they dare not complain, for very obvious reasons, and that many of them live at considerable distances from tfye scene 0/ work, go tfett when they reach home

at nine or ten o'clock at night they are physically disqualified for other duties. Then health becomes impaired and thus the greatest blessing, and the chief enjoyment of life is taken away just at the very time when it is most appreciated. This is a very undesirable , state of affairs as far as the employees are concerned. It is no better with respect to the employers, though the consequences may not prove so serious. Through systematic breaking or evading the law their moral sense becomes blunted, they become, m fact, demoralised, Thus as the result of the ignoring of the law we have the moral faculties of the employers and the physical health of the employees impaired. It is alleged that it is the ladies— the i customers, m fact, who are the cause of the evil. They are stated to be so exacting. Whatever the consequence their orders must be delivered without fail by a certain time. The only remedy for the evil that we can see, short of enforcing the '"Bradshaw Act," is to pay the employees double rates and charge the customers, who neglect to give their orders m time, the additional cost. The only alternative is the rigid enforcement of the " Bradshaw Act " which at limes might prove inconvenient.