TRADE AMD LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 21 June 1917, Page 11

TRADE AMD LABOUR NOTES.

(BT IM'l STRIAL TRAMIV, r> - l0 N MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. T .v. JU Jun7 _^"Y' : , o imer s and HairJuue -'S - Kngineurivcrs and Coopers.

HARD LABOtll.

soote rather curious letters a -c sotnefaas attached to appeals coming before jijp Military service Boards. One of the 0 -t Btarlhiip, and fit the same time 'unique, literary productions came before *), e Second Auckland Military Service Boar.i at Te Aro la on Monday last. The jppcal was mad- by an appellant from tho re"ion 01 the llauraki Plains, which trben properly drained and cultivated mil he one if the most fertile districts in the Auckland province He war. a smile man. and after tillinj in on his ichedide that ins "calling up for service would be the cause of undue hardship from the following reasons: That men ar? wanted on the land, that the world ja not over populated, but the land is neglected ar. I allowed to lie idle and dor■■mint." stati d in a covering letter to tinBoard: "Villi regard to serving with the Expeditionary Force, 1 am sending in an appe; 1 on the ground that, being enraged in bringing into use lands which were lying idle and waste throush excess of water, nnd not carrying half the amount of stock they would if the; were properly drained; also that 1 have been producing enough pork and bacon on ■waste land.- to f.-ed half a dozen families, and rould i reduce a lot more, but people do not seem to be satisfied at being pven pork and bacon lo eat, as they boiron- the pigs when I am not looking; and they destroy the breeding sows. Well, 1 must s-ay that 1 have drained, through rry own exertions, at least a thousand acres, but could! have drained more witl machinery: in fart. 1 have fining the shovel until I am all blasted less and consumption, like a sick turkey. loni as a six-foot bamboo, nnd twice as ■vellov*. So it you can make it any hotter for mc. for — sake sail in. as I am about tire.l of life at this racket. There arc many who desire to direct the hand of labour, but labour is that labour does. —I remain. > ours obediently ——. P.S.— Owing to high prices for produce a man is held i raeti -ally in bondage all the time." I' might be mentioned that the appeal of the writer of this very original letter ha? been adjourned for one month, as the Medical Board, after a careful examination, bad classed him as "8.2,"' ivhich means that he has a chance of recovery from the "sick turkey"' stage alter be ng "repaired." so there was some ground for his appeal for the time being. TRADE- UNIONS' OPEN CONGRESS. The open congress which is held every two years under the auspices of the United Federation of Labour, at Wellington, opens on duly 3. and all unions, ■whether affiliated or non-affiliate.i to the T'.l'.L.. are eligible to send representatives. The basis of representation is: Federations or unions with 500 members or 'e=.?. one delegate: .iOl members to 1000. two delegates; 1001 members and upwards, three delegates. The remits a.-, sent out by the executive are of a very varied character, an! will provide some animated and interesting debates. They .ire a> follow: — 1. That the C-onrrres? review the decision of the Arbitration Court, in connection with the judgment in the case of tlie Agricultural and Pastoral Workers futon's application for registration including the dairy factories employee?, and a more recent judgment of the Arbitration t ourt of Christchurch in the case of the Canterbury Federations of Unions, also any other instance of a similar nature where registration has been sough: to brine: about amalgamation and refused by the Registrar of Industrial L'nions or'by the Arbitration Court. That application be made to the Government to bring down amending legislatiot to give effect to the desire of orrrar. iscd bodies of workers to amalgamate whether in "related industries" or otherwise. J. That the ( ongress consider the grouping Of unions and federations, whi.-h are mo?t essential in the future, witj a view to the attainment of a complete linking up of all unions and federations in one grand federation, and the best means of securing affiliation of all unaffiliated bodies. .'!. That the Congress pive consideration to the reported remarks of the Hon W. Fraser. Minister of Public Works wherein he stated that he would refuse r,, sanction the payment of more thai 1 i per iia\- to labourers in the employ of I ounty i ouneils and other loial bodies in receipt of loan money iron the Government. 4 That the Congress consider the question of the nomination and appointment of worker.-' representatives on the Art ;trat:on (ourt with a view of improving upon the present method and dat" of nomination. That i oneress consider the statu? Oi tradesmen in the lioveniment service whose trades are the subject of awards, applicable to employees outside t'ne Gov-e-rrment service, but whose unions and tm ir respective awards are not recog-ni.-ed by the various Departments. |>. That the ■ ongress give special consideration to the problem of t'ne in- j creased cost of Cue prices of necessaries of life, with a view to takinu action to reduce the ~.-t of living. 7. That the objects of the National Efficiency Board, it- constitution and personnel be reviewed by ( ongress with a v.civ to as-.-ting to secure national efficiency from the labour standpoint in the interest? of the whole community. 8. That the question of the introduet on of coloured labour into the Dominion he ri,. a lt with by the Congress, and t'presentations l.c made to tiie Government at/ain-t same. '■'■ I hat i ongress consider the question of the provision of emphovment for returned sold:cr=.