Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DECEMBEII 10, 1890. The Eight Hours' Bill.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 16 December 1890, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, DECEMBEII 10, 1890. The Eight Hours' Bill.

who bail not paid their subscriptions had oeen debarred tVoin voJng. This may seem a small matter, but it shows the little interest in their own affairs the non-paving delegates held. However. 175 votes were given for relying ir>")n the power of trades unions to obtain this advantage for the workers, and 181 votes in favour of the appealing to Parlia- i ment. This shows that the question is still vtry undetermined in the Old Country, and the majority was only obtained by the new Union men, " hot and eager to do something to show their strength." It is said that many of the miners who had got the eight hours by their own exertions, thought other trades should follow their example. The representatives of the cotton trade objected to a castiron rule, as they knew full well that \vitli competition abroad, any such action on their part would ruin the industry. Mr Birtwistle, the Secretary of the United Textile Factory Workers Association, who has sat tor fifteen years on the Parliamentary Committee, resigned his seat rather than consent to promote the eight hours legal day. He declared that not a single Textile representative was in favor of the eight hours legal day. Mr Birtwistle is ready to reconsider his position when an international eight hours day is possible. He resolutely sets his face " against ! a majority of one half, plus one, of the voting population of tinkers, tailors, soldiers, sailors, kc, being permitted to thrust the legal eight hours day down the throats of trades of which they know nothing, and in opposition to the protests of the workers concerned. ' ' Thus we see that the question has as many sides in the old country as it has in this, and the agitation that has worked up upon it, has only been used for other purposes, outside of the benefit it is supposed to be to the labourer. Any thinking man must see how easily he can protect himself by arrangement before engagement, and also see how many different occupations there are, where such an enactment would be most inconvenient. It appears that where it is possable for work to be done in eight hours, that is the present custom ; and that where the eight hours could not be enforced, it would still be left, by exemption in the bill, as it now is.

If the Opposition assume power we may expect a bill will lie introduced making the eight hours a legal days work. We have already produced Mr Bradlaugh's opinion, and we have now before us the opinions of other practical men. The Trades Union Congress met at Liverpool a month or two ago and carried a resolution in favour of the legal eight hours day. At first sight this would appear to be a very decided slap in the face to those who urge it being unnecessary to make a law on the subject, and that the question should be one left between employer and employee. But when the voting is analysed we are oi the opinion that the objectors are strengthened by the discussion. Ft is plainly stated that the Vote would lutvt' lici-ii lost if tiling