The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-05-01


Nj. Frank G. Carpenter Is contrlbut-
ing 20 the press a series Of long articles
on economic conditions IN New Zeal
and. that appear 10 convey very COM
prehensive and fair ideas Of conditions
prevailing there. and their reasons
say Pennsylvania Grit New Zealand Is
the land OF the eight-hour work-day
weekly half-holiday. and municipal or
state ownership Of railroads. tele-
grnphs. telephones. savings banks life
insurance companies and other COM
prehensive business enterprises Mr.
Carpenter finds. contrary 20 common
belief here. that the eight-hour day Is
not a legal enactment except as to
state employees women and children.
II lie the result Of agreements made be-
tween trades unions and employers
enforced BY the power % the state
But the weekly half-holiday Is pre-
tcribed by statute In most cases Il
falls on Saturday. though not IN an.
the time being matter Of arrangement
between unions and employees In the
several occupations. Frequently Il re-
solves itself into a whole holiday. ar
raneements being made 10 work suf-
fcienf hours in i've days TO leave none
for the sixth. While the eight-hour
day as above. is the general rule.
there are exceptions. farm laborers
constituting the most important with
certain other branches on occupation
whose operations cannot be suspended
without defeating some Of the very
ends for which short hours and holi-
days exist-to extend 10 the masses
opportunities for self-government and
rational diversion. According 70 the
Hon. Edward Tregear. secretary for
labor OF New Zealand. ell these things
came about through a strike that
failed More than seven years ago the
men who handled freight on the
wharves had a union. very strong
financially. A. funds. collected BY as
sessment. grew. the union became
chary Of admitting new members un-
less they contributed financially IN
sum SUFFICIENT 70 make their interest in
the fund approximate that Of older
members As q result. the growth q
the shipping trade outstripped that Of
the union. and a strike followed. ship
pers demanding that the union furnish
men a. needed. or permit employment
OF non-unionisfs. which request the
union denied. Trade threatened 70 be-
come paraiyzed. when the people AZ
larae realized the absurdity Of that
particular position Of that particular
union. and men Of an sorts OF occu-
patiOns took hands az becoming volun-
teer 1oneshorcmen. and broke the
strike. This. according 20 AR Tregear.
set the community 10 thinking. and
they soon concluded that n they elect
ed enough workingmen 70 parliament
they could 50 * things that the coun-
try at large would Be assured the bene-
cts accrulng from adoption Of union
principles. without liability &c suffer
losses through short-sighted or selfish
actions of particular unions. They
soon got the balance Of power In par
lament. established the principle Of
state ownership. and erected boards Of
conciliaton. that finally determine the
issues involved whenever unions (or
employees and employers fall to agree.
Strikes now are unknown. and the New
Zeaiander is q contented mortal As
90 wages. Mr.. Tregear gave the follow
ing oncisl statistics. "Farm hands
with board get from 80 20 $50 per
month. and without board from 81 20
g1.75 per tay. Shepherds receive from
t2E0 70 gsso per year. ard shearers