Angry Captain : What the deuce do you mean by leaving the wheel before you are relieved'? Do you want to wreck the ship ? Law-Abiding Sailor: Can't help it, sir. My eight hours are up, and I ain't agoing to break the law. Anxious Doctor : Hurry up, now, John, and drive like the dickens. They have rung up to say Mrs Brown is dangerously ill, and we haven't a moment to lose. Coachman : Begging yer parding, sir, but I can't do it. Eight hours is up, sir, and I don't want to go to gaol for working overtime. Farmer : Come, Ricks, what is this ? You're not going to knock off till the rest of the hay is in, with the rain threatening as it is. Unionist Farm Labourer : You know the law, sir���six months for working more than eight hours. Very sorry if the hay spoils, but I don't want to go to prison. Mistress : Where are you going, Matilda'? It is not your afternoon out, and I want you to see to the dinner this afternoon while I take the children out myself. Maid : You forget, ma'am, that I started the washing at six o'clock this morning, and my eight hours finished at two this afternoon, and if you ask me to do any more work to-day I'll make it my business to complain to the Labour Inspector and have you up for it. How it will all end.���Worried Wife (to returning trades unionist husband): 'You want your tea, do you? Well, then, get it for yourself. Here have I been all the afternoon with these crying children, and a girl who refuses to do a stroke after her eight hours is up, and all because of your trades union fads. You have an eight hours law, the servant girl has an eight hours law, everybody has an eight hours law, and now lam going to have eight hours law, too. You trades unionists are so anxious for the blessings of the eight hours system for everyone else. Now, why shouldn't your poor wives have a little of the eight hours blessings, too ? Just you reckon me "on strike." ' (Observer, 21 March 1896)

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Angry Captain : What the deuce do you mean by leaving the wheel before you are relieved'? Do you want to wreck the ship ? Law-Abiding Sailor: Can't help it, sir. My eight hours are up, and I ain't agoing to break the law. Anxious Doctor : Hurry up, now, John, and drive like the dickens. They have rung up to say Mrs Brown is dangerously ill, and we haven't a moment to lose. Coachman : Begging yer parding, sir, but I can't do it. Eight hours is up, sir, and I don't want to go to gaol for working overtime. Farmer : Come, Ricks, what is this ? You're not going to knock off till the rest of the hay is in, with the rain threatening as it is. Unionist Farm Labourer : You know the law, sir���six months for working more than eight hours. Very sorry if the hay spoils, but I don't want to go to prison. Mistress : Where are you going, Matilda'? It is not your afternoon out, and I want you to see to the dinner this afternoon while I take the children out myself. Maid : You forget, ma'am, that I started the washing at six o'clock this morning, and my eight hours finished at two this afternoon, and if you ask me to do any more work to-day I'll make it my business to complain to the Labour Inspector and have you up for it. How it will all end.���Worried Wife (to returning trades unionist husband): 'You want your tea, do you? Well, then, get it for yourself. Here have I been all the afternoon with these crying children, and a girl who refuses to do a stroke after her eight hours is up, and all because of your trades union fads. You have an eight hours law, the servant girl has an eight hours law, everybody has an eight hours law, and now lam going to have eight hours law, too. You trades unionists are so anxious for the blessings of the eight hours system for everyone else. Now, why shouldn't your poor wives have a little of the eight hours blessings, too ? Just you reckon me "on strike." ' (Observer, 21 March 1896)

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21-03-1896

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO18960321.2.22.1

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New Zealand

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