Social Legislation

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 184, 3 August 1901, Page 3

Social Legislation

EIGHT HOURS BILL.

FAIR BENT BILL,

! Proj>osed Measures. In order to give our readers some idea of the various measures sought to be passed by the Ne*r Zealand Government, we subjoin a few notes on some of the most important. A careful reading will enable anyone to form a fair idea of the general trend of politics.

From and after the passing of ■' this Act eight hours shall be a legal day's work, subject to the exceptions hereinafter mentioned:, provided that it may be mutually agreed between employers and employees that the hoars of daily labour shall be so arranged as to' exceedor be less than eiyhc'hours, but the total number of working hours per week shall not exceed forty-eight. All .person* in domestic service, or as servants in hotels, bor.rdinghouses, or in any similar form of service or occupation, shall bo exempted from the provisions of preceding sections, but sucTi persons shall.

be, under the provisions of this Act, entitled to a holiday froin ; [ twelve noon on one week-day in «ach week, and from two p.m. on. each alternate Sunday. No such persons shall bo required to work longer than twelve hours in any one day, and shall be entitled to reasonable rests for meals, being not less than one half-hoar for breakfast and tea, and one whole hour for dinner. Any person whose employment on any farm or in any other occupation neces- ' sitates the tending of horses or Working-cattle may be required to tend to such horses or cattle in addition to the legal day's work, but s-uch persons-shall be entitled to the same holidays as are pro-

Tided for domestic servants in the LAST PRECEDING section. This Act shall include in its operation all persons employed by the 3tate, local authority, and in any public employment. Any person em- j ployed for any longer period ■ than forty-eight hours in anyone week, except as provided in this Act, may demand from his employer and recover in any Court of competent .jurisdiction full additional wag.-s or salary PRO RATA for the overtime so worked, and in addition thereto a further B'irn of twenty five per centum ■on such amount. Any employer who refuses or neglects to allow to any employee the holidays provided for in 'this Act shall be ■liable to a-fine not exceeding FIVE pounds. No person shall be allowed to contract himself out of the provisions of this Act.

Fair Rent is defined as such rent as a tenant, cultivating in a husbandlike manner, can fairly be expected to produce from the land, over and above (a) the nenecessary cost of cultivation and production, and also (b) reasonable interest on necessary capital invested in stock and working plant, and (c) the reasonable maintenance of himself and such of his family as are being maintained on the land. (2) In the case of town or suburban properties, such rent as a tenant can fairly be'expected to pay, having regard to its site, buildings and business or residential ad vantages. For each district a Fair Rent Board of three members would be appointed by th« Governor-in-Oonncil to hold office DURING HIS PLEASURE. A stipendiary magistrate shall be a member and chairman of the Board. All expenses and salaries to be appropriated by Parliament. AH applicants for adjustment must have a written instrument of lease, whereof at least two years have expired and two remain unexpired, and only then if an application to the owner for fair rent has failed. When fixed, -the tenant shall have power to deduct whatever sum he may already have paid in excess. The Board may fix: costs and enforce their payment, having the powers of the Magistrate's Court. A scale of fees will be fixed, to go into the Consolidated Fund.

WORKE RS' COMPENSATION FUR ACCIDENTS ACT. This we have already sketched, but it may be of interest to farmers to note that in the House the other night, Mr Massey.asked if there would be m amendment to exclude farmers from the Workmens' Compensation for Accidents Act, as had evidently been the intention of, the Legislature. The Premier said it was a matter for the Courts, and he hoped they would decide as the Government intended, bat, to Mr Massey's further question he said he did not think an amendment necessary. -

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS , TO CONCILIATION ACT. , These amendments are framed by the labour unions to " prevent, the employer from accumulating inprementfor his sole use and benefit that shall not, at the same time, benefit the people create it." If he is found accumulating wealth, which he may privately bank tor his own disposal, he may have his books brought into Court, fcnd if the discovery is made that he is •benefiting in excess of the other partners of the concern—his is trouble. He is not to be allowed, to use business jprofitß <fl6r &9tfs»tifceiat in