TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 149, 24 June 1908, Page 8

TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

(Secretaries of the various Unions are reaoesteiJ to forward copies of their Union enijagements to "Industrial Tramp," ""Star" Office, and a list of Union Meetings will be furnished at tlie head of this column ior each weet-1 UXION HEETIXGS FOE THE WEEK. This Evening, July 24 — Trades and Labour Council (Special). Thursday, June 25 — Tramway Employees (Committee). Friday, June 26 — Coopers; Sloulders (a"udit). Saturday, June 27 — Engine Drivers; Gun>diggers (at Waipu). Monday, Jane 29 — Coachworkers. Tuesday, June 30 — Plumbers; Moulders. ■Wednesday, July 1 — Waterside Workers; Tinsmiths; Kattan and Wicker AYorkers (Conference). Workers, are you on the roll? Ask your union secretary to provide enrolment forms at each meeting of the union, they can be had gratis, and any elector can -witness''Tour application. More labour troubles brewing. This time at Gisborne and Waihi. The Auckland Farriers and General Blacksmiths' Union of Workers celebrated the coming into operation of their recent award, which is the first for the trade in the district, by a smoke social on Saturday evening last, in the Central HalL Mr. L. Hotchin (president) occupied the chair, and was supported by . representatives of the various unions, ■with whom the farriers come into direct contact. A large number of toasts were given, and were responded to by Messrs. C. Weaver and G. Davis, for the Carters' Union; Mr. Townshend, coachworkers; Mr. C. Shivnan, Master Farriers' Union; Mr. Robinson, Waterside Workers; Mr. A. Rosser, Trades and Labour Council; and Mr. Worthington, London Farriers' Guild. A lengthy programme was gone through, items being contributed by Messrs. Austin, Rosser. ■ Swarm, Lewis, Skinner, Brett, and Cullen. Mr. W. Pureell acted as accompanist. The usual meeting of the Auckland Rattan and Wickerworkers' Union was •held on Monday evening last, and was exceptionally well attended by the members." The replies to the circular letter ■ sent out to the employers by the secretary, asking for a consideration of the proposed alterations in the working conditions, were read and received. Two replies were practically accepting the conditions, while the remainder were distinctly conciliatory, and suggesting a conference. It was decided to ask the masters to meet delegates from the union in a conference on Wednesday, July 1. Several of the replies advanced as reasons why no rise in wajjes should be given that the union-made articles in rattan and wickerwork came into competition with goods made in Wellington, and Palmerston North by low priced labour. It was pointed out by the masters that until the workers in the trade in Wellington district were formed into a union and an award obtained ensuring proper ■wages and working conditions, and consequently more equal competition, no increase of wages could be expected for the Auckland workers. It was decided that the secretary should write to the Auckland and Wellington Trades and Labour Councils, urging them to use their influence in organising- the wickerworkers in the Wellington district.

As intimated in my last week's notes the Auckland Engine-drivers' AwawL, recently delivered by the Court, has been the "means of raising the wages of many engine-drivers in the district. It is refreshing to record instances of employers voluntarily raising the wages of the men, and an instance of this kind is the Nor.them Roller. Milling Company, which, though working under the flourmillers' agreement made in 1903, 'and", therefore, exempt from the engine-drivers' award, las voluntarily advanced the pay of its engine-drivers to the 1/3 per hour as fixed by the award. j

The slaughtermen's strike is now a memory of the past to the bulk of the citizens of the Dominion, but now and. then a ripple of the past comes to the surface and disturbs the calm serenity of a few people. Many of the fines inflicted on the -workers for participating in the strikes, either at Pareora or at Gisborne —they were mostly "fivers"—have been unpaid; the strikers -were nomadic in their habits, and removed to other parts of the -while some -went over to the Commonwealth, following the work. As soon as the season starts again, they — like the .swallows —"homeward fly," and the labour inspectors in different centres are affectionately waiting to welcome them. In this way several of the fines have been collected in the Auckland district lately, but the job is an unjilea'sant as "well as a wearisome one for "the officials concerned.

A fairly large sum of money is lying in the bank to the credit of the Wellington Furniture Trade Union. Members iave lately questioned the necessity; of storing up their funds in such a way, and are advocating a benefit scheme whereby they -would participate in .the income of the union. They purpose to establish sick and out-of-work benefits, something after the fashion of the Carpenters' j Union, and as is done in unions of their calling in' Australia. A committee of the union is at present engaged in arranging the details of the proposed scheme.

"Vorwarts," the German Socialist daily, has published' a leading arVcle again calling attention to the enormous increase in-the cost of living in Germany. -'Wheat has' gone up in five years from £8 per ton to £10 19/- per ton, rye from £6 12/- to £10 II- ml ton. . r

In Germany the policy of smashing the trade unions is in favour with- the powers that he. Henceforth no apprentice or young workman lander the a»e of IS can take part in their meetings or enrol themselves in the ranks of organised labour. °

Profits of the French State tobacco ■monopoly last-year were £15,000,000 'equal.to about 92 per cent, of the sales effected. ■"■'■ :■ ' ■ V I

There is a gradual lowering of wages in some of the Charters Towers mines. :Where men were formerly paid 10/----per day, many are now only getting 9/and 9/6. "

The Socialist of to-day only advocates the conscious adoption of a principle of social organisation which the world has already found to be the inevitable outcome of Democracy and the industrial Webb.

The new agreement between Labour groups in the House of Commons is framed with a two-fold 'object*—to secure united! aefion in the House upon ail trade union measures, and to avoid conflict in the election Seid... In «omt>arison. to the risky nature of the the miner is the poorest paid of any worker mTthVTJominion. In connection with the Waihi miners' objection to contract labour- ii theTmines, it is on recora that more accidents, fatal and otherwise, i»ve occurred since the contrast system" was introduced, than.all the time during which the work was done by day-Ja bour.

The Auckland unions are being asked by circular from Mr. G. Davis, secretary of the 1907 Labour Day Committee, to send delegates to form the committee lor the 1908 celebr-ation, which takes place on October 14 next. It is expected that there will be a big function this year, and any attempt to take the location of the sports from tae Auckland Cricket Ground ■will be opposed by the majority of the unions represented, as had the last year's celebration been held there, and not at Pine Island, wet day though it was, it would have at any rate paid expenses, -whereas a heavy loss resulted, which will have to be recouped from this year's function. It is a noteworthy fact that ar. the profits have been made from sports held in the local Domain, while all "water picnics " have been frosts in. more senses tnan one. Nearly all the shoes sold in .Russia are manufactured by one firm in St. Petersburg. It is one of the most prosperous stock companies in the world. How some of our manufacturers must envy these Russian conditions! No competition, no vexatious labour laws; why, it must be as near a manufacturers' paradise as it is possible to attain.

A man can hire a horse in Japan, keep two servants, and live on thn fat of th£ land for a little over £4 a month. And it must not be forgotten that it is Japan that we are to be brought into competition with an industrial matters before very long.

The deepest hole in the earth ever dug, is in the coal fields of Paruschowitz, Upper Silesia, a province of South-East Prussia. It extends to a depth of 6570 feet, or about a mile and a quarter. Beside this, the No. 9 level in the Martha lode at Waihi is but a mere trifle; and yet the atmosphere in the latte* is quite enough to satisfy the casual visitor.

An Old Country orator recently stated that the choice between Toryism and Socialism was a choice between smallpox and measles!

The Wellington branch of the Political Labour League has deeiisa to take over the Theatre Royal for Sunday night lectures, and a start is to be made immediately.

" There is not a single garment in this room that is free from the taint of sweating," was the declaration of Miss Mary McArthur to a fashionable audience of ladies assembled recently in a West End drawing-room. The object of the gathering was to listen to a lecture from Miss McArthur on sweating in the East End. Miss McArthur said the average of 3A millions of women workers was from 7/6 to S/ per week. The trade unionist is labouring in a practical everyday manner to alter such things by way of wages and , labour laws.