Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16

others there was union which handled all
freight at the wharves, called the Maritime
Union. 1t was an old organization, with
plenty of money In fits treasury, resulting
from assessments upon its members through
out a period of years. AS the funds IN
creased, the old members decided that all
new unionists should pay an initiation rec
somewhat proportionate to the share each
would have in the assets of the treasury.
There were but few laboring men who could
do this, and the consequence was that en-
trance to the union was difficult. Neverthe-
less, the union would not permit non-union
men to work, and though they could not
handle all the work themselves, they still
protested against the ship owners employ
ing outsiders. The ship owners could not
stand this. They took on extra men and de-
ned the union. The members of the union
struck. and through their relations with the
other unions brought about general strike
all over New Zealand. Their demands were
unreasonable and the sympathy of the peo-
pie was with the non unioniStS and the ship
owners. Men came from all places to help
the ship owners. The feeling was great
that even the clerks in the stores asked for
vacations, put on overalls and worked for
time on the wharves as common laborers.
Ihe unemployed were given places, and the
result was that the strikers were terribly
beaten. and they knew 1t.
Laboring Men in Parliament,
''They reconsidered the situation. contin-
ued Mr.. Tregear, land decided that their
only chance for a fair show in the future
was In electing wOrkingmen to parliament.
Ihey at once began their campaign, adopt
ing the rule that every candidate Of the
Workingman's party must be a working
man. They then argued the question of
their rights in the shops, on the streets and
on the stump, and as result soon had
enough members in parliament to hold the
oaiance of power. The people outside The
iaboring classes became interested in the
struggle. Public sentiment changed. The
people saw there were two sides to the
question. and We now have a number of
Workingmen members of parliament
But do your wOrkingmen Representatives
SUCK 10 their class after they are elected
| asked.
I'm most cases they do" replied Mr.. Ire
gear but in some not. In the latter in
stances the workingman starts In entbusi-
astically He is all for labor and nothing
LOT rapltaL He Is soon corrupted. however,
py MS association with the rich. The dinners
ana attentions of his Weather parliament
airy fellows turn his head. BY the end of
the flrst session he has risen above his class
ana changes his working suit for a tweed
sun. Al the end of the next session you
ma MIN in black broadcloth with a tall hat.
ana thereafter he probably votes with the
CAPITALISTS. AS whole, however our work.
ihgmen make fairly good representatives.
1 asked as to the feeling between labor
ana capital Mr.. Tregear replied:
think it is very good As I told YOU.
we nave not had strike for seven years,
"a
nave nave any IN the future. The government
mas enacted certain factory laws and our
arpitrailon and Cancellation acts remove ,he
possibilities of Strikes
Factory Laws.
Give me some idea of your factory laws
Mr. Tregear," said l.
Ihese laws regulate the building and
management of the factories. They ~ao,,ira
that the buildings be well ventilated and
that the machinery be so protected as IN
preserve the life and health of the empIov-
IS every factory must have certain sani-
tdfy arrangements. 1t must be kent clean
ana must furnish fresh drinking water
, AS TO the management of the factories
lhe secretary for labor went on I'VE have
asnac,a NV 10 protect the workingmen, and
especially the unions. The factory law is
such that 1t includes nearly every wnrEing.
man IN the country. A factory il definnJ &c
p,ace IN which two or more persons ara
craft; any such place comes updan ~
Inspection eo'S- hiiieiil
and are all factories inspected?' I asked
Every one of them, replied Mr. TIC
gear. I'VE have a chief insnactor ara &c,
iecal inspectors. The country Is divided m
lr:to districts and each is under the cba rae
oI one OF these inspectors. BY law the fac
on, -es must De open to such inspection at
any time of the day or night, and their
managers must give all information de-
Sired as to the workmen or workwornen
Every factor keeps a record of the 400
sex; character of the work. hours of work
ON, IN, wages OF each OF his employees and If
TINS is not in accordance with the laws tho
inspector will notify him of the fact and
prosecute him. N-o
As 10 Women and Children
we have very stringent laws for the
protection of women and children in tho
factories" Mr.. Tregear continued I'VE
have women inspectors who go from far
tory to factory to investigate the condition
Of the women. According to law no woman
or boy can be employed for more than
iorty-elght hours week in a factory. No
poy under fourteen or girl under eighteen
can work in a glass factory nor can anv
girl under sixteen be employed in a brick
or tile works or any place where any drv
grinolng In the metal trade or the dipping
or iuc1fer matches is going on This is to
protect the health of the girl"
Up 70 what age do you keep your chill
dren out of the factories?" 1 asked.
we do not allow any to be employed
Under fourteen and all under sixteen must
nave passed through the fourth grade of
the public schools. No woman and no how
or girl under eighteen, can be EMPLOYED for
more ,nan -FOUR hours and a half without
an interval for meals. We provide that
all the meals shall be taken outside the
work rooms. This is to prevent any work
being done during meal hours"
No Store Orders
How about wages, Mr. Tregear? Are anv
or your people paid in orders on stores?'
mo, we have strict laws as to such mat
ters- The payment for labor in goods is
Illegal In actions for wages, goods
or articles furnished by the employer or
supplied on his premises cannot be brought
forth as set off, nor can the EMPLOYER sIe
his clerks for things bought Workmen
must be paid In money, and at least once
a month, If they so desire. In absence of
written agreements those engaged in man
uai labor must be paid weekly, and II not
SO paid they can attach all money due ar
thereafter to become due to the emnlover
on the work. The wages of those who re-
ceive less than so per week cannot no
touched for debt and where a man goes
bankrupt the wages of his clerks and work
men for four months preceding are prefer
entail claims on the estate.'
What WorkIngmen Get,
1 here asked Mr. Tregear to give me some
idea of wages in New Zealand. He handed
| me government report. from which have
deduced the following:
Farm hands with board get from $40 TO
n