THE EIGHT HOURS' MOVEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 639, 29 January 1872, Page 3

THE EIGHT HOURS' MOVEMENT.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab. Sir, —In reading your valuable paper these last four evenings, I felt deeply impressed with your nobleness of manner, and ability in advocating the cause of the working men. You are perfectly right, y'^-uyour statements regarding the eight _-_rs' movement; and I unhesitatingly answer, be it the government, Brogden, or any other contractor, that is conspiring against the rights of the working man, they are infinitely worse than any niggerdriver that ever existed in the days of heathen darkness. But, happily for us, those days and their barbarities are gone with the days beyond the flood, and as time has rolled on, each consecutive change has ushered into existence a better condition of things, tending to the full development of higher and more ennobling principles of mankind; the amelioration and alleviation of the moral and physical condition of our race. With the reminiscence of such high and holy aspirations before us, we will not so easily relinquish our rights, which we have so gloriously achieved, —on which the great God hath deigned to smile. Nor shall we so easily succumb to such a galling tyranny, for by heaven's decree we are free people and not a nation of slaves. Be it known, then, to the powers that be: we make no demand ; ours is a righteous cause ; and in the name of our great constitution, the people,—for the people is virtually the moving machinery of any countrj-*,— and is so in this far-famed embryo Empire. We therefore will suffer no infringement upon our rights. Eight hours per day is the hours we have worked, and do work, and is sufficient]test to the muscular power of any hardy son of toil, and must be, and shall be to perpetuity, the recognised hours of every w rorkiug man.

I would not willingly trespass any longer on your time and space.

I am, &c,

An Aetizan-,