EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4974, 13 March 1895, Page 2

EIGHT HOURS A DAY.

(Received March 13,0,30 a,m.) Sydney, March 12, Mr Schey, in moving the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill,proposed that, as a mattor of urgency, the debate be continued without terruption by Government business^ The motion was carried against the opposition of the Government by -16 to 22. Tho Premier said he regretted the action taken by Mr Schey. He had no personal feeling in the matter, and hoped it would not occur often. Tho Bill is now being considered in committee. (Received March 13.11 a.m.) Sydney, March 13. Mr Schey, after upsetting the order of Government business, carried his victory further by securing the suspension of tho standing orders, to permit tho Bill to be passed through all its stages. The Bill provided for a uniform eight hours with certain exceptions, and imposes tines and imprisonment on employers and employees exceeding eight hours work, It also applies to tho railways, water supply, and Marine Board. From# the indolent manner in which mem- "' hers of the Legislative Assembly viewed the measure, favours the opinion that its fate in the ConmA is certain. In Committee membe" merely contented themselves by pruning % penal clauses, The third reading is fixed for to-night. The Daily Telegraph referring to the matter, says the proceedings are humiliating to the Government, and that not the slightest pretence can be urged to justify the serious interruption of the work the Government have in hand. The Herald says that so high handed an interference with Minis- ; terial responsibility was hardly ever . attempted beforo, and certainly was never acquiesced in by a Ministry. The Government, it says, appeared insensible to its humiliation,and that they have irrevocably lost their status of power, by their inability to mako their will respected, and the meekness with which they accepted their defeat. The Bill, says the Herald, has not tho slightest chance of becoming law.