LABOUR MEMBERS AND IHE HONOR RIUM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2989, 10 September 1891, Page 4

LABOUR MEMBERS AND IHE HONOR RIUM.

J i . a all have heard, On '■(>rii; - iolk . rather rough, i■» 11 "MOIS ,j re stj r< ♦ to nang thf-mscives l! ih'-v ropr enough !" I ij if. vwrkmrn now have lots of rope < .H nor be well denied, And mtu h, I f<Mr. tin; end will be A rase of Sllici'lr. Oir v.citkru 'ii one* were sorr oj»prc:»oed~ I hey wore too mild and meek ; i hev dictate to the masters now With most .irn -mug cheek. Like I 'r.tn e, when labour held the power, ihe revolution ive it. The men li.ivi* ijot '.lie masters down And me.in to hi tit>'tn hnv :i ! 1 rue libeity gives over, man A freedom in transactions. And, wl'il»* he within the law, None t.in rontrol his actions. Whv should all men be paid alike When, skill or labour shows it, < )ne may do the work of two — And everybody knows it, (>ur workmen now have got a down ( )n r apifal, no doubt. Vet 'tis a thin:: most certainly They cannot do without. \!l capital was labour once — I'his f.ict i; not denied, And surplus labour':? capital. Or work, solidified. < »ur patriotic working-men Who're no?; in Parliament, Assuredly don't toe the line To do which they were .sent, l hi-y promised groat retrenchment, And they kept their word : 'tis shown Ky halving others' salaries. And by—doubling their own. 1 welve pounds a week for three months' talk Is surely not so bad; I n get it working at their trades Tbey would have all been glad. i»ut that is not enough, they say; And, though it may sound queer, They now insist, for three months' work, On payment for a year. Another thing our members want, Who once were working-men-Good gracious! what a difference Jletween to-day and then! They'd have the honorarium Which every member gets Kvempt from every law and claim h'or paying lawful debts. So sheriff's officer must dare To place his dirty hand I ; pon the sacred person Of an M.l\ in this land. I fe's far above all laws, and may If he thinks proper, break 'em , His duty as an M.U.K. Is simply this; —To make \:ui. Lhe tailor may present his billThat's all that he can do; I'lie member needn't pay it Though it may be overdue. One debt alone he'll have to meet, And cannot well refuse it. lhat's when Old Time, with sharpened scythc .Makes up bis mind to use it. V'*s I there's the proverb quoted when Thi i ; rhyme I first began : I he length of rope will ruin yet And hang the workiug-mat). When capital and labour join We'll have no iu-jrc disaster;.. Of strike:;, lock-out:*-—the real batie Of woiking-iueu and Nemo.