TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 160, 7 July 1909, Page 8

TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

(Bt - INDUSTRIAL TRAMP.") MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. This Evening, July 7 — Tinsmiths; Trades nod La hour Council Thureday, July a — Engine Drivers; Lal'i>ur Day Committee; Brewery Employefts i.Aunnal Meeting). Friday, July » — Furniture Trades Saturday, July lv — Chemical Workers 1. *\ fsineldj. iiouJay. July 12 — Uuuiworkers; Butchers. i.uesG-jy. July 1U — numbers; Tramways iWuuiterly). July 14 - Waterside Workers. At a meeting of representatives of the Labour party, held last week, it was decided to engage the Choral Hall for the purpose-of hearing Mr A. \Y. Hogg, late Minister for Labour, on the present political situation. His Worship the Mayor ■will be asked to preside, and July 23 was fixed upon* as a suitable date, a reply having been received from Mr Hogg by Mr (.;. Davis to the effect ihat that date v.ill suit him.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Brewery Employees' Union takes place to-morrow evening, when officers will be elected for the next term.

At a well-attended meeting of the Canterbury Hotel and Restaurant Employees' L'nion last week the opportunity was taken to present the Hon. John Barr with an artistically illuminated address. In making the piesentation. Mr James Mulligan (president of the Union) stated that the address had been signed by 100 members of the Union, and by two-thirds of the lady members. Mr Barr fittingly expressed his acknowledgment of the gift, find his pleasure that the lady members had appreciated his efforts." Mr E. Howard, as representing the Trades and Labour Council, eulogised the work done by Mr Barr in the cause of unionism.

I have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the report of the Hotel and Ke.naiirant Workers' Inaugural Federation Conference from Mr Long, the secretary of the Auckland Union. The conference took place on June S. and was attended by the following delegates:—Canterbury. Hon. J. Barr. Mr J. Mulligan; Auckland, Messrs T. Long, E. Mulligan; DuiNHlin. Mr K. Breen: Wellington, Messrs E. Mark. T. Helyer, E. J. Carey. It was decided to form the unions repreinto a federation, and apply for regi>tration. The longest debate of the conference took place over the question of registry offices, Mr Mulligan reporting on th? ?ueoese that had been achieved by the

Auckland Union, because of its award compelling employers to consult the T nion before engaging hands. All delepnit.- , were agreed that in framing future demands the Association should ask for a clause compelling employers to engage thoir workers per medium of the Union. It fl-ns eventually decided: "That the exartinn; of private registry offices on nn oT rployed workers be br">ught under the notice of the "Minister, and that the Owrrirnent be &sked to abolish the priViii office and fa> extend the present principle and system of the State Labour Exchange." It was decided that the next conference be held in Christchurch.

There is trouble in t'.ie camp of the railway employees of >Cew Zealand. Th» drivers, firemen and cleaners have come to the conclusion that thpy do not re-r*--iv-' fair treatment as members of the

A'niiipamatPn , Society of Railway Serva:i'-. nn;l have formed a rival organisation. ii?ir"?r tb° name of the New Zealand I.n-ivnctivp Engine-drivers, Firemen, and (~\ i n i>r>* As.-ix-iiition, and in the six !!'•■*li- prior til December 31. 1908. out of !"! : n mer.ibprs of lncn. pligible for mem-W'v-'iip. the Association enrolled 656. dnti'rliury is- evidently the centre of the FrhiMii. as it appenrs on the top of the list with ISO members. Otago with 137. Ir.v Tcargil) 7-t. and Wellington 42 cominc i:; thp ordPr named. Auckland appp.ir* to have on isolated position, in that jr- lorn. n!»n ("leave to the older society. Th- Loco. Union lias i?«u=d a little brochure p>-iritlp<l "An Appeal to Reason." ?n<] or: the top of the title page appears th* An-troliaii Enginernon's motto: "Tell t , p I .ni -to pull tofrsth«r." In this little pnMii Uiop—n ropy of wTiich has been fc.i w.m'ert t-n me—a very strong case has hpan mnde o:it for the formation of the T-" ••. I'nion. n:vl tho assertion is made that the New Z'&iand Government is r- ' r. «i)j<-ifn-is for the welfare of its r.«:i-. - Bv pel-rant"" Pβ n~e the Governments

< f "' ~ <~"ir."''orr~p.iHh. Comparisons are p'-:: of hours, wages, holidays, overtime, cltitii** supplied. Tieals and night allow-

e.ni-9?. in all of which the Dominion railway v-- r\"r-= compare most unfavourably.

For ; !istance. the maximum pay to en-piiy-dnvera in New South Wales is 15/ p» r .-!?ar-. Victoria. 14/: W>=t Australia, la : Qiioensland, 13/: nnd Xew Zealand,

12, finer day. Holidays granted are: N'w- fMiiith Wales, one day tor every proclaimed holiday and «ix"days in addition; Vr-t-.ria lfi days; West' Australia. 14 r'av-: OnemManr!. 12 days; and Xew Zealand. 7 days per annum. And so also in otlif-r conditions the Xevr Zealand railway worker fnres badly. It is claimed tlitt nr helonginir to the senior orsran-5-ntion the rlaims of the loco, men have Tiprer be>>n pushed as tbey should have (,r«n. :ind hence the split. An Ugly asserfion is made that the recent vote as to ■n-hpthor thf railway men should come irafjsr rb" provisions of the Arbitration Act \v;\~ not carried out fairly. I quote the worrU of the pamphlet, -which is signed on bohalf of the Loco. Men's Union by G. Brou-n i president) and W. McArley seoretary) :—"There was a vote tn recently to see if the men were vri'linrr to come under the Arbitration Act. and it was given out that a vot* xrii* t;'ken a? to whether the Second D:i :-inn would come under the Act. Di,l the 1000. men g-?t a vot<"? Xo! It vas never intended that ivp should. The Govorinr.ent practically admitted that a de.:M«d improvement in our conditions vonlJ result if tbe Court were to deal trit?] o':r ratas of pay and conditions." In Monday's paper, i note that largeiv attended meetings of the loco men have been held at Christchurch, Palmer»ton North, and Ikwera, in which the Jjv the Government have been strenu- ' ou.«ly put forth. The membership to &n to* is 960, and the ilinister for Rail-

•ways has promised that the union "ihaii receive due recognition as soon fts the thousand i> reached. A moderately attended meeting of the branches of the Auckland Gumdiggers' Union was held at Hua-kaka on the SOth lilt., the president (Air. E. McDougain in the chair. The treasurer (Mr. H. Black) read the quarterly statement of accounts for the quarter ending May 31st, 1009, from the following branches: —>Waipu, Waihopo, Ruakaka, and Ot.-.ika, which was adopted. The geeretnrv reported that the registrar of industrial unions had accepted the amendments to rales as from 25th May, 1009, and ha<l received instructions from the executive to have SCO copies printed. Jt was re&oWed to Bend copies of telegrams (-J fi'oni c Department of In<histrie= and Commerce referring to an expert duty of £1 par ton on kauri peon for the purpose of pxo-riduig funds | or in the kauri gum industry

to Mr. John Stallworthy, M.P., also an explanatory letter re the same. Accounts amounting to £2 2/S were passed for payment. The next monthly meeting oi branches will be held on the 28th inst.