THE RODNEY & OTAMATEA TIMES AND WAITEMATA & KAIPARA GAZETTE. Friday, September 6, 1901.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, Volume 1, Issue 24, 6 September 1901, Page 2

THE RODNEY & OTAMATEA TIMES AND WAITEMATA & KAIPARA GAZETTE. Friday, September 6, 1901.

THE LABOUR LAWS. The following is from the New Zealand Times, the Liberal organ at the seat of Govenir ment:-^-So far, we have notj read or heard any valid or satisfactory reason for the changes in the labour laws contemplated! under the Factories Act Amendment Bill now before the Legislature. Consolidation of the law is of course desirable ; but the people's representatives must be careful that under cover of sonsilidation, they do not allow dew and harassing restrictions to be imposed upon the country's manufacturing interests. The measure now before Parliament is therefore very properly receiving the most careful consideration from a Select Committee ; and it is to be hoped that there "will be no relaxation of vigilance when it comes before the Legislature ,as a whole. Whatever the committee may recommend, members of thej House and Council must bring j their individual experience as well as their collective wisdom to bear upon the various proposals, lest the unintended and deplorable result of fresh legislation should be the crippling or destroying of some of our nascent industries. The opinions of various employers of labour, as garnered by a representative ef this journal, arc distinctly adverse to new proposals of the Bill. They are more; they betray a most undesirable feeling of uneasiness at the apparent absence of all finality in labour legislation, and an apprehensiveness of evil results which is based as.muph on actual experience of the past as' on vague fears for the future. Absolute

finality is not, of course, to be expected in any matter of human device,;- for new conditions are continually arising and new abuses may creep in requiring the application of a ,legislative remedy. Unless, however, some such new condition or evil is proved to exist, the Legislature would be wise to refrain from making alterations in the laws affecting industry— changes which, unimportant though they may be in themselves, have an .unsettling and disjointing tendency. In. this category must be

placed the new clauses introduced intd'the Factories Act, dealing widi the question of overtime. Has any evil or abuse arisen through men being occasionally asked, in times of emergency, to work more than three hours' overtime in one day? If there has, we have yet to learn of it. Have "workmen complained of being overtaxed in the matter of extra hours worked in the course of the year? So fal* as we know the workers, they are only too glad to employ part of their spare energies in earning the higher rate of wages given for overtime. Employers do not as a rule, like to pay an advance of fifty per cent, on the price of labour which they employ, as the products of that labour have to compete in the open market with those who have been paid for at the^aormal rate of wages. "Who, then, has asked for the imposition of absurd restrictions upon the working of overtime? Evidently some academic "reformer," desirous of trying an economic experiment at the expense of New Zealand iudiusttie? 5 or some

deluded pliilanthvopliist, who imagines that men and women in this country are in a condition of serfdom qtncl require to

be protected against' hard and driving taskmasters who are taxing them beyond their powv

ers, y Certainly t^-e^topof al is based upon no necessity. As certainly

no reason has-been advanced

that would justify such inter-

ference with industrial operat-

ions as would result from the

enactment of the new clauses

referred to. Similarly, it is impossible to discern the necessity or desireableness of adding to

the number of cs&ipulsory holidays in the j^ear and of stipulat-

ing that men and women should be paid for holiday-making. ISTo objection can be taken to ■every reasonable movement for reducing the hours of labour, becaiise we have by no means reached ithe irreducable "minimum, of

j working hours designed to get! the best results from the workers and- to spread employment) more widely, but it is a totallyi different matter to impose Harassing restrictions in the matter lof overtime ancl^to make unjust demands for unearned wages,

The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is a powerful enough engine, for obtaining equitable labour conditions without making an attempt to impose hard and fast restrictions as to holidays and hours of labour. It would be grossly unjust to a number of industries if these new causes were enacted, In many industries, agreein outs have been arrived at, with a currenoy of two or three years, fixing the hours and remuneration, of labour ; and on the basis of these agreements contracts have been entered into and other arrangements made. Any new provision adding to the price of labour during the currency of these industrial agreements must^jpset all calculations entail Kss upon :«»m - plo3rers and result *i ths.curtailment of^peratio&sT In fairn£fcs, therefore, it should be stipullatetl that these new provisions, if adopted should not apply to such industries as are working under awards of the Arbitration Court or under voluntary industrial agreements. The right thing, however, is for Parliament to "let well alone" in the matter of labour legislation at present. If statute consolidation is to be made the pretext for introducing changes in the law, th*-. friends of labour should remember that these changes might as well take, the shape of relaxing some conditions which are lound irksome by employers of labour. Wo> trust the Legislature will pass the measure, in so far as it consolidates the law, and that labour matters will be allowed a chance to " consolidate "in a period of industrial cafm and prosperity such as can never be attained ' while distubing legislation is proposed every year.

Major and Mrs. Bennet of the Salvation Army, on Saturday and Sunday last, brought a strong- eontingt nt of tlieir forces from Auckland and laid siege to "Warkworth. They somewhat reversed the order of military tactics by first invading- and then bombarding the town, besides, we understand, they commandeered sundry amounts of negotiable specie. It was somewhat novel to "Warkworth folk to see a procession of Salvationists about 30 strong, including a brass b&nd of eight instruments parading its streets, and delighting their ears with (in this case) really good music. We did not hear for ourselves, but we were told, that they gave the Devil a rough tinie of it during their visit, and trekked south again, showering blessings on our heads for treating 450 well. 11. M. Warsh'p Kapanui carried the soldiers each way free of cost, for which they were deeply grateful. They say that they will pay us another visit soon, in the meantime Captain McKay "holds the fort" •

A little boy, two years old, foil into a creek at "Woodville. The mother), jumped into the water to try and rescue him, and when the neighbours reached tlie spot she was Tinder the water insensible. Some difficulty was experienced in getting her out, and' she was Unconscious fer twelve hours-. ■All attempts to resuscitate the baby failed-.

It is time tire Tennis Club Yras "bestirring itself, gQlticg its courts in ci^ der for the coming season-.

On looking over w copy of the published Balance Sheet!-of tho Hobson County Council Fund, we were1 struck with the amount received by that county for licenses, Gum-diggers paid no less than £(593 • gum-buyors, £15; owners of'dog-s, £76; owners of vehicles £17; and publicans, £155. sundries £24,t0ta1, £.980.

Mr. Or. E. Thompson, butcher of Port Albert has a new advertisement in this issue.

Mr, W. H. Cox of Dome Hill is advertising ft >r sajo, one hundred "Wether Hoggets at 9s. (id, also one hundred Ewes and Lambs at 11s.

A meeting of settlers around "Warks worth, is convened for Saturday September 28. for the purpose pf forming a branch of the Farmers' Union at AVarkworth.

We rogret to announce the death at Auckland on Monday last, of Mr. A. J. Whittington. Mr" Whittington, who had carried on business for a number of years in Auckland was a sou-in-law of Captain Southgate of the s.s. Kapanui, He leaves a wife land five young children, for whom j there is much sympathy expressed throughout this district, in their sad bereavement.

Oui "Waipu correspondent writes that Mr, X, McLennan, bootmaker, died about midnight on Saturday after a couple, of hours' illness. The cause is believed to be apoplexy. Dr. | |Mounuine was telephoned for to Maungafcuroto, but arrived too late. An inquest will be held. Constable Abrams was absent at the thne, having been called to Afaungakamea late in the evening.

A fjufet wedding' took place onj Wednesday at the residence of the bride's father, the contracting- parties being Mr, J. E. Price and Miss Ann Claycle-n, both of WarkAvorth. We wish the happy couple every joy in the world, - -:~ .

Boots and shoes of all descriptions |and sizes from gumdiggers' boots to (babies' dainty slippers, at J. Harrison's Wark worth.

Ww are pleased to note that the; Mangawai settlers are in earnest about having a bridge cv- r the river there, and hope they wil{ not let matters drop until this end has been achieved as the bridge is of vital importance to the progress of their district.

It is said that a Cleric of the Established* Church set his flock an object lesson illustrative of the axiom tlr.t Cleanliness is next to Godliness by assisting in cleaning out the church j and beating the matting, All! honour to his principles if he did so, but was it creditable to the members, whore-' side not a hundred miles from Christ 'Church "Warkworth.

Mr. Pirani intends to move a n'-w clause ti> his Sahool Attendance Bill,

so as to provide that no child shall attend a piiblic school m any district other than that in which his parents] or guardians reside, unless the chairman of the committee or the head teacher in his own district consents.

Marriage lias been*defined as ' The fatul termination of the disease called.

love.'

The Journal of Department of l\bour for August is to hand. The repor-ti as regards the labour market in Auck: land as follows:—The building 'nules in Auckland are rather quieter than of late months, owing to tho winter weather, and to existing co -.-

sard,

tracts running out., The engineering trades are steady, and fairly good. The * oot trade is still .improving. The clothing trade reports som^ firms busy, others rattier quiet. Retail trade (general), fair; drapers' winter cleal--anco sales appear to be doing good bu-iness. As to unskilled labour, a number of applicants have come to town owing to jthe winter, and in expectation of getting work on electric tramways or "ity contracts. As to Gisborne, the building trades are still brisk, though work still has been hindered by the weather to a Considerable extent. In the retail trade (general) good business has been done. Thei c has been a demand for hands for maize-picking, which however, has been sirpplied. The dairy industry is increasing in importance in this district, with every prospect of still further expansion. As to unskilled labour bush-felling is the principal work now offering at remunerative rates. Local labour is equal to the demand at present. There have been few applications for work during the month.-. New road works have been suspended during the winter months. The following is a list of the artisans and other workmen employed on the co-operat ive works under Government Departments:—Department of Roads, 2290 labourers. Public Works Department; Kawakawa southwards,- 56 labourers^ Helensville northwards, 5 artisans and 141 labourers; Paeroa-Waihi, 7 artisans and 122 labourers: Gisborne-

Ivaraka, 17 artisans and 63 'labourers;

Nortii Island Main Trunk, 81 artisans and 1062 labourers; StratforcVWhanglamomona, 56 labourers. Koacls, defeuce works, etc.: Defence works, i Auckland, 3 artisans and 15 labourei-s, I Total, 5527-.

The total increases in salaries proposed by the Estimates, amount, in !round figures, to £45,000-

• About 25,000 claims hare Wen received in Sydney for old age pensions, and upwards of 14000 have 1 already been granted. ~ H

Very shortly (says a -Southern, contemporary) the New Zealander who cannot show a hie'dal for sotaieor other will be regarded us in thing

curi< s-ity-

; Tlie Opunake Times says.. "It is 'stated that there are-nftjr-six.prohibiti-ion. orders, in. force in- Eieldiug\": Ji this, is true,, we should- think that th.er.e-is something something.- seriously- wrong; with the morals, of this bibulous, community; We however,trust for the sak- or tile " trade-" the police for ; oe and the temperance -parts*;;, in fact till concerned, that there- is some mistake in. the'ng-ur.es.. At the Auckland Supremu: Comtj. recently, Patrick I^mgliroji, vd'w j pleaded guilty to=attempting to. break iuto >hops at Newton-, and to having skeleton keys in liis possession,. Avas sentenced t • iiv.e years' imprisonment with hard labour. IMsoner- had-, only, been out of gaol a month after, ser.ving three ye-'^rs,. He bad.been, in; prU son for nearlj Bcvcnteen years- with scarcely a break,. When Mr. Roberts^ the billiard champion, Avas at Whakarewarowa^ a feAv days ago lie ''de'ig-h./ed the local Maoris with-a display of. his marvellous skill, and in return- they dane <] a hakq, in \he finest style. There- was much mutual satisfae ion.

Most of the'men-in. the north. Wairarapa absolu" ely refuse to^'have their herds examined as 'o whether or not they are suffering from, disease. A dairyman of long experience 'affirms that such refusal indicates narrowness of mind, the advantagesto-he gained by possessing- a, tested hestlvbei-g pract cally inestimable.. As regards valua'ionfor ta.xa'ion Aye never yet come to tike up.aiv estate,

bnt we find that th* own rs want £ 1

or £2 i er acre more than they have

b.een paying land ta^es upon. That is

what is the matter, so far.as valuation

for taxing1 purposes is concerned. Then we come to this question oi: freehold.

Freeh Id. indeed! Tsar that in main

cases, unfortunately, these people are

only nominally the owners of the land. These large estates that figure in the

return they are nominally the owners of, hut-£3n,000,000 is the amount of

tKe mortgages upon them. And yet these men fancy themselves the own-

ers, when they are mortgaged ivp to'

the eyes. AYhy, their souls were not

their own till we brought down the

oheap«-money scheme, They were previously the mere slaves of the money-lender, Now money can be got from the State at 4 per cent, and the

State has security; but the mortgagee

got the farm, ani .the farmer ' got the road,' — Mr. Seidon in Han-

In our.local advertising pages .will be seen,full particulars of Mr. Snook's sales. We would draw particular attention to the Spring Fairs which; will be.held at Warkworth on Tuesday jSept. 24. Puhoi, Wednesday 25. Wade, Thursday 26. Large entries are coining from all. quarters and as there is every indication of tjie demand bering sh'c&ngv prices shouldrrule liigh. [The Warlcworth Eair promises to be a. large., affair."

There \*as a disgraceful fracas at the Warkwouth wharfs on Monday last between the opposition steamship companies. It is to be hoped that those concerned will be careful to avoid such scenes in future as public opinion is, when aroused, inilined to fair play and justice.

We regret to hear that M. Underwood, wh<> succeeds Mr. Kerr as proprietor of the Warkworth Hotel, has since his arrival here, contracted a i serious atta k of bronchitis.

'Wesleyan Church service*, Sundaynext. Warkworfch, 11 a.m. Rev. Gr. Frost, Subject: "Heavenly Citizenship", 6.30 p.m. Eev. Gr. Frost, Subject: "Eternal Life."Mat akana 3 p.m. Eev. Gf. Frost. Wharehine 2.30 p.m. Mr. John Legge. Port Albert 2.30 p.m. Mr. Alfred Neal. Whangaripo 2.30 p.m. Mr. H. B. French.

Last" Tuesday the .schooner Atlanta arrived here with a full cargo of coal for the McGregor S.s. Co.

McLean who was sentenced to death, for the Eyrcton murder, was hanged in the Lyttleton gaol on Saturday. He made a .full' confession and expressed a desire to vindicate the murdered g-irl's chastity.

"Wharehine." 'You say "We c^o not kiiow you and are therefore sevei c vith. you" [If the several- letters ytu have been good enough to favour us with, are any guide, we must say that you have a most unfortunate way of expressing yourself. Anyone with an atom of sense wo""ld expect scant courtesy were he to attempt to bounce, by | threats, a newspaper which had refused to take up a cause which, its editor believed to be actuated by personal spleen. Your letter has been dropped jinto the W.P.B. and as far us we are I concerned you may consider the matter jat an end. Ed.]