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90. Has there ever been a particular time when that practice was very much in evidence in Christchurch ? —Yes, very frequently. 91. And something in the nature of a mutiny took place amongst the men, and that practice of substituting night-work for ordinary day-time was stopped ? —That is so. 92. With regard to the question of thirty days' overtime in the year : as a matter of principle, may I ask whether you are opposed to overtime or in favour of it ?—We form our ideas from the state of the trade, and I do not think it would be conducive to the welfare of any particular trade that there should be no overtime. 93. You are anxious to meet the employers at every point, and do not oppose overtime altogether ?—That is really why I came up here. 94. Generally you think the regulations laid down here in clause 19—namely, "The prescribed number of working-hours may from time to time be extended, but not more than three hours in any day, or more than two days in any week, or more than thirty days in any year, or on any holiday, or half-holiday. On every such occasion a person shall not be employed more than four hours continuously without having an interval of at least half an hour for rest and refreshment. Every person who is employed during such extended hours under this section shall be paid therefor at half as much again as the ordinary rate : Provided that when the ordinary rate is by time, and not by piecework, the overtime rate shall not be less than sixpence per hour for those persons whose ordinary wages do not exceed 10s. a week, and 9d. per hour for all other persons so employed ; and shall be paid at the first regular pay-day thereafter. The occupier of a factory shall at all times keep a record-book, called the " overtime-book," wherein shall be entered a correct record showing, in the case of each person who is employed during such extended hours under this section, the name of the assistant, and the respective dates and periods of such employment. The overtime-book shall at all times be open to the inspection of the persons employed, and of the Inspector. The Inspector may at any time require the occupier to verify the entries in the overtime-book by statutory declaration in such form as may be prescribed by regulations " — will be applicable to the boot trade when there are seasonable rushes of trade ? —No ; the clause will not be applicable to the boot industry. 95. You think there should be some arrangement where the thirty days should be spread over the year, and worked at times when it is desirable, provided the amount is not exceeded ?—Yes. 96. Of course, you are speaking of men in regard to this clause ? —Yes, and not for females and young persons. 97. It is this consideration for the employers, and the wish to meet them in the utmost spirit of fairness, that has dictated the feeling that the payment for these holidays in the year is unnecessary ?—That is so. 98. Mr. Bollard.] I understood you to say, Mr. Darlow, that this is the first time that the workers have been represented before a Committee of this House ?—As far as my knowledge goes, it is so. 99. Are they not up-to-date, then, in politics ? —Some people say we are too far ahead of you. 100. Do you think, then, that the workers have been negligent in not sending representatives here ?—I do. In my own opinion it would have been better for all parties if we had done so. 101. Is it not a fact that instead of the workers sending men before Committees they have sent them into the House ? —We have done so. 102. Does not that account for negligence in their not addressing Committees ?—I daresay we have helped them a lot. We have certain representatives in the House, and we look to them to say anything for us that is needed. 103. Then, you consider that you have not been negligent ?—At the same time we have been negligent in not sending men to the Committees. It would have been better to ourselves and to the employers had we done so. By putting the both sides before the Arbitration Court, and any one else, a great amount of good comes from it. 104. That indicates that you do not trust your representatives in Parliament ? —lf you could tell me that there was a fair representation in Parliament, and that the balance was equal, it would be right. But when we read that our balance goes down on to the floor, and the other side's balance is right away up, it is time we made a move. 105. Mr. Hardy.] You say again that you have never sent any representatives to this Labour Bills Committee ? —That is, as far as the bootmakers in Canterbury are concerned. 106. Hitherto, then, you have had a fair amount of attention from the employers ?—Yes, we know that the employers have had better opportunities to give evidence in all cases concerning themselves. 107. What is the reason that you are coming now to the Labour Bills Committee?—lf you take this Act as it is now—take the forty-five hours—-we have been agitating for years for an eight-hour a day Bill and we see it here, and have come to try and strengthen the Committee's hands to get it. 108. You say you have taken special opportunities of sending your representatives to Parliament?—We have taken advantage of the law of the land, and we have sent representatives when we have got the majority. 109. You are not satisfied with your representatives and your representation on this Committee ? —Our representation is not equal with the representation of capital. 110. The Chairman.] Has your union considered clause 35. You will see there that there is a penalty of £100 imposed upon the owner of a factory under certain conditions: "If, in consequence of any such default as aforesaid, an accident occurs, causing death or bodily injury to any person, then, in addition to the occupier's liability under the last preceding section, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds, the whole or any part of which may, in such manner as the Minister directs, be applied for the benefit of the person injured, or of his family or