LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2372, 21 June 1892, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, June 10. Mr Gladstone received a deputation on the Eight Hours question to-day. He did not show much sympathy with the proposal, and said that he was astonished at the desire to restrict the personal freedom of workers. He declined to give any expression of his own opinion as to what should be considered the hours of limitation. He said the one great object of the remaining years of his life was to secure Home Rule for Ireland, The trades unions are incensed with Mr Gladstone’s refusal to recognise the the eight hours movement, and threaten to run a hundred candidates against the Liberals in retaliation.

Replying to Mr Shipton, Mr Gladstone earnestly deprecates the idea of asking for promises which he is unable to perform.

The Hon A. J. Balfour, addressing the members of the the London Union and Conservative Association said that the Unionist programme favored a division of rates between the owner and occupier of houses and the taxation of ground rents ; the right of the London County Council to acquire gas works and water supply in England; the modification of the poor laws by separating for relief honest and sober from drunken and thiftless; it also favored payment by the State of municipal labor at a similar rate to that paid by private employers and supported one-man-one-vote, when the votes made were of equal value; the extension of peasant ownership of laud, and the adjustment of employ*-’ Viability He also that ‘ in the pro^ amme 1 WaS agreed to refer to Ireland the promised Irish Local Government Bill. Juno 17. Mr Gladstone’s interview with the Eight Hours deputation was an animated one, and in the discusssion ho combated every statement advanced by the delegates. Mr Gladstone declaimed that he would be disgraced and sink to the lowest point possible for the most unprincipled to fall, were he to forsake Home Rule in favor of other matters. The Times applauds Mr Gladstone for refusing to commit himself to the demands of the Trades Council. The Standard considers that the unhappy champions were led from point to point until they were reduced to floundering in a morass. The report of the Select Committee on the Shop Hours’ Bill opposes any interference with the hours worked by adult women.

Singapore, June 17. It is probable that the Raub mines will be closed down unless order is restored.

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

London, June 17. In the House of Commons the Irish Free Education Bill has been read. A Select Committee recommends the Government to purchase the trunk lines of the telephone companies. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour announced on behalf of the Government that it was impossible that the dissolution could take place before the 29th or 30th instant. The Scotch Home Rule manifesto expresses distrust of Mr Gladstone. THE UGANDA TROUBLE. London, June 16. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour said that the withdrawal of the East African Company from Uganda did not imply the abandonment of the country by England, within whose sphere it was. On the contrary, the survey of a railway from Mombasa inland was rapidly progressing. Cairo, June 16. Gordon’s officers, who have arrived here, state that Selim Bey has joined Captiain Lugard with 10,000 followers and established a fort on the banks of the Albert Nyanza. They assert that Captain Lugard showed great kindness to the Catholics and shelter to the missionaries. OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX. Sydney, June 10'. Arrived—Oroya from London. She has been quarantined. She has a full passenger list for various ports, and cases of smallpox were discovered on the vessel after all the passengers, with the exception of six booked for New Zealand, had dispersed. It is believed that another case occurred on the voyage, but the patient was convalescent before arrival in Australian waters. Efforts are being made to got hold of such passengers who landed before the vessel was quarantined.