The Argus Wednesday 14 June 1882 p.6
LONG HOURS OF RAILWAY
OFFICIALS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
Sir,-In the House to-day the motion
tabled by the Hon. R. Clark for the intro-
duction of the eight hours' system among
railway employees comes up for discussion, and
every right thinking person will agree that
the question warrants the warm support of
all members of the House. The employees
at the Sandhurst station to my knowledge
have to work on the average 12 hours a day.
Some of the platform men have to work as
long as 14 hours a day, with a couple of hours
allowed for luncheon. Now, Sir, I am sure
railway employees have to work as hard as
miners and also engine-drivers, all of whom
have now obtained the eight hours' system.
It is very hard on the Sandhurst railway
employees to work 12 and 11 hours a day and
their brother Workmen at Melbourne, Geelong,
and Ballarat have only to work eight hours.
Whs should not the Sandhurst employees enjoy
the same benefits ? I believe the only persons
against the system at Sandhurst are the
stationmaster and head officers. The duties
of the former are not heavy, and I believe he
is always relieved in the afternoons. There-
fore, I do not see how that gentleman can
protest against the eight hours. It will be
very hard if Mr. Clark's motion does not
meet with approval, but I think if you were
to draw the attention of members to the
question through your editorial columns,
everyone would see the necessity of support-
ing the eight hours system on the whole of
our railway lines. Thanking you for the
insertion of this letter, I am, &c.,
A LOVER OF EIGHT HOURS.
June 13.
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