The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1093, 31 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1877.

It is somewhat strange that in a settlement like Canterbury the forcing of railway employees to agree to work on Sundays, despite their protest, should have been allowed to pass over so long unnoticed. Some time back the Government issued certain printed regulations, which all the employees were expected to sign as accepting. Amongst other things, it was provided that they should work on Sundays whenever called on. To this the men, in a very respectfully worded petition, demurred. They pointed out what was perfectly true, that if this were carried out they could not count upon having a single day to themselves. Whilst willing to work on a Sunday in a case of urgent necessity, they declined to pledge themselves to do so on that day whenever called upon. Supposing the agents of a line of steamers, anxious to get on to the next port, applied to the railway authorities and obtained permission to unload and load the vessel on a Sunday, the men, under their signed agreement, would have no other course than to turn to or dose their employment. la a&se d mail steamers, where the

public interest is largely concerned, there may be an excuse. Even then it should be avoided as much as possible. But we have seen cases where no such necessity existed, and yet Sunday work insisted upon. In view of this the stand taken by the men was, we consider, perfectly justifiable. But the Government bring pressure to bear to compel them to submit. They put it—either sign these regulations or quit the employ. On the one hand they have to put themselves, as regards their oue day of rest, at the mercy of shipping agents, or on the other to seek fresh employment. When such a state of things exists in the management of a public concern, it is matter for considerable surprise that no movement has been made in Christchurch to sympathise with and support the railway employees in their unequal struggle to preserve their day of rest. Wo have heard, ere now, in the Synod and other Church gatherings, lamentations that the Sunday was not observed so strictly as it ought to be. The opposition to the opening of the Museum on Sunday, and the direful consequences predicted therefrom, must be fresh in the memories of our readers. At the public meetings held on the subject, speaker after speaker urged the most strenuous efforts to prevent what they termed the desecration of the Sabbath. But we have heard none of this respecting the compulsion of a number of men to forego their Sunday. In the one case it was proposed to give an opportunity which they could not otherwise enjoy to the working classes to spend the day rationally and profitably. In the other it is proposed, for mere ends of gain or profit, to take from a number of men the one rest day of the week. Which of the two most deserves reprobation ? It seems scarcely necessary to answer the question ; yet, while in the one case meeting after meeting was held, and public opinion sought to be influenced in every conceivable way, in the other not the slightest notice, beyond the record of the fact in the papers, has been taken. If the speakers at these meetings on the Museum question bo sincere, then they are bound to step forward and champion the railway employees in their attempt to preserve their Sunday intact. To use their own argument, which was made so

much of whilst the Museum question was being discussed, this is only the thin end of the wedge. Let the Government employees be compelled to work on Sundays, and private firms may soon follow suit. On all grounds, therefore, the railway employees have a right to look for that sympathy which, up to the present, lias been withheld from them. The Sunday Observance League have —better late than never—taken up the matter and discuss it this evening. But it should not be allowed to rest here. The League, though composed of many worthy citizens, has comparatively little power as an expression of public opinion. A resolution from themselves alone would have but little weight Avitli the Government. But let a public meeting be called, and the voice of the people will then make itself heard with unmistakeablc force. The public are deeply interested in this matter. The course that should be adopted is to have a public meeting, and to request the Government, respectfully but firmly, to withdraw the obnoxious regulation, or to so modify it as to prevent the employees being called upon to work on Sunday, except in cases of actual and urgent necessity.