Labour Day - then and now
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
A look back in time to the beginnings of Labour Day on 28 October 1890 as a commemoration for the 8-hour working day and what it signifies today.
Labour Day, Holidays, Workers, Employment, Trade unions, Unions, Recreation
Labour Day commemorates the campaign by workers for an eight-hour working day. It was first celebrated in NZ on 28 October 1890 when parades were held by trade union members and supporters in the main centres. The Labour Day Act of 1899 created a statutory public holiday on the second Wednesday in October, which was first celebrated in 1900. From 1910, the holiday was 'Mondayised' and held on the fourth Monday in October. In various other countries, the first day of May is commemorated as the annual holiday celebrating the union movement and is called May Day. Nowadays Labour Day is regarded in diverse ways, as captured by cartoonists and news media.
Read more: 'Labour Day', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/labour-day, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 19-Jun-2018
Back then since 1890
Auckland Libraries
Tremain, Garrick, 1941- : Dad, who called it Labour Day? Otago Daily Times [24 October 2004]
Alexander Turnbull Library
8-hour working day movement began 1840
Wellington carpenter Samuel Duncan Parnell is credited with starting the eight-hour working day movement in NZ in 1840. When sailing from London to NZ, Parnell had met shipping agent George Hunter on board. After arriving in NZ on 8 Feb 1840, Hunter asked him to build a store on Lambton Quay. Parnell would agree only on the condition that the working day was a maximum of eight hours and said he'd be available from 8am.
Samuel Parnell, father of the eight-hour day movement
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Why 8 hours?
Parnell was said to have argued, "There are twenty-four hours per day given us; eight of these should be for work, eight for sleep, and the remaining eight for recreation and in which for men to do what little things they want for themselves." Dividing the day into three equal eight-hour parts echoed the phrase coined by Welsh manufacturer and labour rights activist Robert Owen in 1817: “Eight hours labor, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest.” [See: Herbert Roth. 'Parnell, Samuel Duncan', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p7/parnell-samuel-duncan]
Otago movement for an 8-hour working day
Newspaper articles conjectured that whilst Parnell led the way in Wellington, there was also a movement underway in Otago. The Otago Association adopted 8 hour working day in 1845.
THE EIGHT HOURS SYSTEM WHERE WAS IT STARTED, AND BE WHOM ? (Evening Post, 22 October 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
Eight hours movement gains momentum
Parnell also canvassed new migrants arriving at the Post of Nicholson to resist those employers who wanted to impose longer working hours. This led to a meeting of Wellington workmen in October 1840 where, on the motion of William Taylor, seconded by Edwin Ticehurst, they resolved to work eight hours a day, from 8am to 5pm. By 1890 the eight-hour working day had become the custom for tradesmen and labourers. However, some workers were employed for longer hours, including seamen, farm labourers, and hotel, restaurant and shop employees. [See: Herbert Roth. 'Parnell, Samuel Duncan', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1p7/parnell-samuel-duncan]
Union campaign: 1890 - 1899
The parades that began on 28 October 1890 were part of a union campaign to force the Government to restrict working hours by law rather than custom. The floats represented different trades, and the banners carried union slogans. Various Bills were submitted to Parliament to legalise the eight-hour day, but failed to gain parliamentary approval.
The case for an fight hours Bill.* - The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 86
Victoria University of Wellington
Labour Day Act 1899
Although the Government was reluctant to enforce the eight-hour working day by law, it did pass the Labour Day Act 1899 to establish a statutory public holiday on the second Wednesday in October, which was first celebrated in 1900.
Labour Day holiday: 1900 - 1909 (Celebrated 2nd Wednesday in October)
A. Parades
The floats continued to represent different trades, and the banners carried union slogans.
Labour Day In New Zealand
Auckland Libraries
B: Sporting & recreational activities
The parades were followed by a mix of leisure activities.
C. Increased momentum for Labour Day observance
Labour Day: 1910 onwards (celebrated 4th Monday in October)
By the 1920s Labour Day parades became less of a public feature. Instead, Labour Day was increasingly regarded as just another holiday with a range of recreational pursuits, sports and conferences taking place over the three-day weekend.
Poster celebrating 100 years of Labour Day Parades, 1990
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Labour Day sentiments of today captured in cartoons
"So when is your next holiday, Dad?" "As soon as I go back to work tomorrow..." 22 October, 2007
Alexander Turnbull Library
"What do you like most about Labour Day - the long weekend or the short working week?" 25 October 2010
Alexander Turnbull Library
Labour Day dreams... "Hole in one." "How about holing a few plants instead..." 25 October 2010
Alexander Turnbull Library
Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Labour Day. 26 October 2014
Alexander Turnbull Library
Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :'So how did you spend the long weekend?...' 23 October 2012
Alexander Turnbull Library
Smith, Hayden James, 1976- :'Here's to the institution of the eight-hour working day...' 23 October 2012
Alexander Turnbull Library
In April 2022, National Party proposed the scrapping of Labour Day to make up for cost of new Matariki Day in June
Alexander Turnbull Library
Labour Weekend news: Sales, Traffic queues and Road accidents
Retailers Report A Rise In Weekend Spending
Radio New Zealand
Garden centre shopping, Labour Day 2005
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Big holiday sales entice shoppers into stores
Radio New Zealand
"... Something about celebrating the eight-hour day..." 22 October 2004
Alexander Turnbull Library
Statoil - Labour weekend traffic
Alexander Turnbull Library
"Slow down - I can't read the signs." 22 October 2010
Alexander Turnbull Library
What's happened to the battle for the 8-hour day?
What happened to the battle for the 8-hour working day?
Radio New Zealand
No more nine to five?
Radio New Zealand
Labour Day - spare a thought for workers' rights
Radio New Zealand
People working longer hours than ever - CTU
Radio New Zealand
Is 'eight hours rest' outdated in today's society?
Radio New Zealand
Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Labour Weekend Holiday. 27 October 2013
Alexander Turnbull Library
Bromhead, Peter, 1933-:Labour Day today... 28 October 2013
Alexander Turnbull Library
Symbolic
Alexander Turnbull Library
Tributes to Samuel Parnell
After Samuel Parnell died on 17 December 1890, thousands of people attended his public funeral. He is buried at Bolton Street Memorial Park and his grave is part of the memorial trail.
Samuel Parnell
Alexander Turnbull Library
DEATH OF MR. S. D. PARNELL. THE FOUNDER OF THE EIGHT HOURS SYSTEM. (Evening Post, 17 December 1890)
National Library of New Zealand
THE FUNERAL OF ME. PARNELL. THE PROCESSION PASSING THE OLD PAKLIAMENT HOUSE, DUBLIN. (Auckland Star, 19 December 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
THE PARNELL MEMORIAL. (Evening Post, 18 June 1891)
National Library of New Zealand
Land Declared Road Samuel Parnell Road Pursuant to section 114 (1) of th...
Department of Internal Affairs
FIND OUT MORE
Labour Day: Our first national public holiday
Radio New Zealand
Samuel Duncan Parnell, The Founder of the "Eight Hours System" - The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 69
Victoria University of Wellington
Trade union banners
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage