TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 8 June 1910, Page 8

TRADE & LABOUR NOTES.

h (BY "INDUSTRIAL TRAMP.."}

PIION MEETINGS FOB THE WEEK. This Evening, June 8 — Trades and Iα-

bour Council. Thursday, June 9 Friday, June 10 — Brewery Employees. Saturday. June 11 Monday, June 12 — Coachworkers; Grocers

(social committee). Tuesday, June 13 — Plumbers. Wednesday, June 14 — Waterside Workers

Mr P. Hally, ConaliatioitCommissioner ■for Wellington district, arrived in Auckland yesterday morning, to cope with the work that has been accumulating in Auckland through, ihe illness of Air T. H. Giles, the Auckland Commissioner, "who had been laid up through pneumonia. One of the first cases to be resumed is the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Dispute, which, was part heard, and was interrupted by the indisposition of one of the employers' assessors, and adjourned.

During the past few years I have several 'times in this column drawn attention to the iniquitous clause 58 of the Workers' Compensation Act, wbich allows "Contracting out under scheme approved by Arbitration.■ Court." Under this clause the employees of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company at the Chelsea works are precluded from the benefits of the Act, because the company have a Sick and Accident and Benefit Society, to which the men are expected to contribute. The only grounds upon -which such company can be exempt from the Workers' Compensation Act are, "that any scheme of compensation, benefit, or insurance for the -workers, is on the whole not less favourable to the general body of workers end their dependants than the provisions of this Act."

The unfortunate fatality that occurred at .the Chelsea Works on Saturday last, by which, a .breadwinner lost his life, is only one of several instances that have gone to prove the one-sided arrangement that serves to cut off the Sugar-workers of Chelsea from gaining the same 'benefits as other workers in the Dominion under the beneficent provisions of the Workers' Compensation. Under this Act, in the event of the death of the worker, his dependants would be entitled to receive three year's wages, or, £200. whichever of these sums is the larger, but not exceeding in any case £500; and this without paying a penny to secure it. The Company has been exempted from the provisions of the Act for a five years' term, because it has a benefit society of its own, to which the employees are required to contribute weekly a portion of their wages; bat the most that the dependants of a worker in the event of a fatality occurring, can claim, is a shade over" £ 100. In the ease of the worker who was killed .on Saturday last, he was only entitled to a partial benefit, and his dependants will now receive the paltry amount of £ 16, instead of £327 12s, being 3 years' wages at £2 2s per week. The Hon. A. R. Guinness has in prospect an amendment of the existing Act, to delete clause 58. to allow every worker in the Dominion to enjoy the full benefits under the Act; and this case will be a strong argument for him to use wlien his measure comes under the consideration, of Parliament. It is not unlikely.- ihkt the Prime Minister will be asked to receive a deputation of union officials during his visit to Auckland this week, to la-ing' the facts of this unfortunate case under his notice.

The finding of the Royal Commission appointed, 'by Government to inquire into the relative merits of the. air and the magnetic brakes, and suitability for installation on the Auckland tramcars, was made public last Thursday, and, as anticipated, proved to be strongly in favour of air brakes. In addition* the Commission recommends the installation of v pneumatic sanding gear, also that the existing track brake be reconstructed so as to make it possible by a strong application to transfer 45 per cent of the weight of a loaded car to the slipper blocks. The pneumatic sanding gear is already in existence on the locomotives on the New Zealand Government railways, and has been proved to be very effective in its application. The sand is forcibly expelled in a small stream, immediately in front of the rail surface of the wheels, and with a minimum expenditure of dry sand the maximum results are obtained. The finding has caused great satisfaction to the tramway employees; it 36 a triumphant climax to a struggle that has lasted for years. Ido not think t'ha-t the Auckland Electric Tramways Company -will go into mourning over the ■finding either, for it means a saving of £48,000 over the installation of the magnetic brake, as threatened by the recommendation of the previous Brakes Commission, with an increased efficiency, and consequent greater immunity from compensation for accidents. It ie not every decision that gives satisfaction to both parties concerned, ! but this one is a case in point, to which may be added for congratulation, a great third party— the general public, w ho will be better protected as to life and limb. It has been practically promised by the company that in the event of the air brake 'being recommended, the whole of the Auckland cars will be equipped-with the improved brake within ten nionthe from the receipt of the approval of the Public Works Department being placed upon the recommendation of the Royal Com-

The Auckland Grocers Assistants' Union on Monday evening decided to hold three socials during , the -winter months for the benefit of the members, and a strong social committee was elected to arrange details. Being the first meeting since the death of the King, the president moved a motion of condolence and sympathy with the Royal Family, which was carried unanimously, and ordered to be entered on the minutes. The president was also requested to convey to the president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council the congratulations of the union on his action in sending the memorable telegram of condolence to the Premier on the death of Kin" Edward VII. After addresses had beon heard from Messrs. J. A. McCullbugh and D. McLaren, M.P., it -was unanimously decided to support the candidature of the -accepted Labour nominee, •Mr. George Davis, for the City East vacancy.

A peculiar position has arisen in connection -with the selection of Mr. G. McKnight as the Labour candidate for Auckland East. After Mr. McKnight had been elected by a'majority of voles cast at the meeting of unionists in the Choral Hall on 3May 30th, someone suddenly remembered that in Mr McKnight's policy speech as a candidate for Darnell in 1908, he had declared his opposition to the principle of preference to unionists, which is the most vital plank m a Labour platform. Mr. McKnight nae not altered his opinion since then, and the result is the *mlj one that could ibe expected under, the evrcuTOsfcanoes— «he lAbew psifty ite suoporfc

from : Mr. 'McKnight, and brought out Mr. George Davis, who received the nest highest number of votes at the Choral Hall meeting. Mr. McKnight has refused to retire, and there are consequently '■two Eichmonds in the field" so far a» Labour is "concerned; a position that ie very much to be regretted. Mr. George Davis is one of our most prominent Auckland Labourites, and was born at Reading, England, in 1876. Oominc Auckland as a child with his parents, he is practically a colonial. After working as a carter, he became secretary of t'ni Auckland Carters' Union in 1899, and with the exception of a few months' in-terv-al, has occupied that position ovet eince. For six years 'he has been secretary of the Labour Day Celebration Committee, which, as the result of it» annual celebrations, has now a credit balance of over £700 towards the build, ing of an Auckland Trades HaH. Ht has always 'borne his part in the build, ing -up of a solid Labour party, both industrially and politically, and is very well fitted to 'bear the.'Labour bannef in the Auckland East campaign. He is a total abstainer, and -this fact has led to his securing tie support of the Auckland Temperance party in his candidature. In .1907 the Labour party ran a big ticket of ten for the Auckland municipal elections, one of whom, Dr. 'Stopford, was successful in winning a seat; among the others Mr. Davis finished well up. Last year he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.