33 YEARS AGO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5478, 23 September 1929, Page 4

33 YEARS AGO.

(From the “Ohinemuri Gazette” of September 23 and 26, 1896.

In the “Ohinemuri Gazette” of September 26, 1896, an account is given of the wedding of Mr M. Crimmins and Miss B. Toomey. The “Gazette” of that date says : “If the old saying holds good, ‘Blessed be the bride the sun shines on,’ then the new-named Mrs Crimmins has in store for her a very blessed existence indeed, for the day was a perfect one. . . . After

the happy event was brought to a close the newly married couple took a drive in one of Campbell’s new buggies drawn by the two best chestnuts in the stable. All the way up and down the main street Maurice had to continually lift his hat in response to congratulations shouted, signalled, and waved to him from all directions.

. . . Good luck, long life, and continued prosperity be theirs.” Thus wrote the Waihi paper : “The ever-popular Maurice Crimmins gave over the reins for life on Wednesday last to Miss B. Toomey. Father Hackett tied up the traces so tightly that neither can ever kick over the pole.” PARLIAMENT. The Eight Hours Bill. The Eight Hours Bill was committed. In clause 2 “interpretation,” Mr G. W. Russell moved an amendment that the clause should include the Government printing office, the Government railway workshops, and each department of Government offices. He failed to see why the Government, which was the largest employer of labour, should not apply the principle of eight hours per day to its own employees. The Hon. R. Seddon opposed the amendment, and said it meant killing the Bill. It would be absolutely unworkable, and the law could not be complied with.

It was decided to take Mr Russell’s amendment seriatim, and eventually, after nearly three hours’ discussion, the proposal to include the Government printing office in the provisions of the Bill was carried by 34 to 27. The motion to include railway workers was carried by 39 to 20.

Mr Russell said he did not intend to press the remaining portion of his motion.

A motion by Mr Flatman to exclude local bodies from the clause was carried by 27 votes to 24.