Sir John Gorst, M.P., on the Labour Question.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 7 January 1892, Page 3

Sir John Gorst, M.P., on the Labour Question.

The Right Pon, Sir John Gorst, M.P., speaking recently at Wolverhampton (England), referred to the hours of labour and foreign competition. It seemed to him that they conld not settle the proper hours of labour in every employment by one uniform rule ; each particular occupation would have to consider and settle this question for itself. It was for the interest of the country at large, and especially the interest of those trades which were engaged in competition with foreigners, that the number of hours worked should be, the number at which the work was most effective. A t the Trades Congress at Newcastle several of the leaders of the men in the textile industries objected to a further reduction, the maximum of efficiency having been reached, and a further reduction being likely to render them unable to compete with the textile factories of France, Belgium and Germanp. He did not think this applied to all trades, but it was extremely probable that, in a great number of trades, the hours might be reduced, with advantage to the employers and employed. He contended that the decision of such tjuestions should be left to be settled by the people who were engaged in each branch of industry, and that neither Parliament nor other people In the country should endeavour to ▲interfere with their decision. HowMever, he regarded a hard and fast "rule as premature and unwise. 'ir John Gorst has recently been appointed Financial ecretary to the Treasury in the room of the Right Hon. W. L. Jackson, Sf.P., the new Chief Secretary for Ireland.