TRADE AND LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 July 1926, Page 12

TRADE AND LABOUR NOTES.

(By INDUSTRIAL TRAMP.) UXION MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. Sunday, August I—Tramwaymen's AggreMonday. August 2—Shipwrights. Drivers. Typographical (Special). Thursday, August s—Moulders. FASCIST ACTIVITIES. One of the most remarkable ac well ac interesting movements of modern times is the Fascist, or black shirt, movement in Italy, a kind of an Italian Klu Klux Klan organisation, the head of which is Signor Mussolini, who ie the virtual head of the Italian Government. Started after the war as a counteracting influence to the disrupting influences of Italian Socialists and Communists, to say nothing of other numerous and more radical '"iste," the history of the Fascist movement, in some phases, carrUs ua back to medieval times when the Vehmgerichte flourished in Germany during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.. So in this case, the Fasciet organisation carried out its propaganda with ruthless severity, not even hesitating at murder when any prominent person opposed its progress, as' instanced by the removal of Signor Matteoti. In our cables of-Tues-day it was stated the Fascists had broken out on a new lihe of action, which is not so reprehensible as some of its past actions. The cable announces: "The General Fasciet Federation of Industries is organising, co-operative storee throughout Italy to supply workers with the necessities of life at a minimum cost. In some case.s industrialists are opening their own stores or arranging for existing shops to supply their workers with bread, rice and other foodstuffs at specially cheap prices." In New Zealand the housewife pays without grumbling the ruling rates for the necessities of life because she has learnt by this time that when the cost of living falls her hueband's wages will decrease also. But one feature of the business that needs dealing with firmly is that of having less value for the money. Why should jam, for example, that sails under the term of "pound tins" weigh only 14oz net? even though it is' so declared in small print on the labels of the tins. Before the war the housewife got her 16oz to the lb. Candles are in the same category, and numerous other necessary commodities, not including tobacco, some brands of which contain lfoz instead of the familiar 2oz tins. Many kinds of food are packed in cartons which unblush'ingly proclaim to those who are curious to search their deficiency to the generally accepted avoirdupois table. Some time ago thie matter was brought before one of the Ministers of the Massey Cabinet, and he explained that it would take about two years for some manufacturing firms to use up their stocks of tine or cartons. But the two years have elapsed, and the shortage still continues. In this respect at least one is almost inclined to wish that the Fascist activity might extend to the Dominion. j IMPORTED CLOTHING. I "Veteran," in his Labour column in \ last Thursday's Dunedin "Evening Star,"■"; after quoting my paragraph on "New Zealand-made Goods" of the previous week, pursues the matter further under the above heading. He writes: :— There is an agitation amongst clothing manufacturers to try to get something done by Parliament in the way of more protection for goods that are manufactured in New Zealand, and I believe the employees in the New Zear land Clothing Trade Federation will back up the employers in their protest against importations. And as far as Dunedin is concerned, the local members are to be written to asking them to support a higher tariff on ready-made clothing, which is being ■imported in large quantities. It does seem strange that wool which is grown in New Zealand should be sent 11,000 miles and made into both men's and women's clothing, and then shipped back to this country at great expense and bought by our own people. Surely there must be something wrong when this can take place. But the fact remains that thousands of pounds' worth of ready-made clothing is imported, and finds a ready sale, while our own factories and workers are idle and anxious for work. During the Exhibition the slogan was "Buy New Zea-land-made Goods," "Support Your Own Industries," but I am afraid there are many thousands who, after reading .those advertisements, which were to be seen in all the courts and all round Logan Park, have forgotten all about them. Every worker should make a point of. demanding locally-made goods, and I am sure if this policy is followed it will not be long beforo our local industries begin to flourish, and there will be more employment for their fellow workers, and thus more prosperity for everyone. Surely we liave the factories and workrooms now where these goods can be turned out as well as the imported articles, and at a price to compete with the cheap labour of the Old Country. We also have skilled TiT™™ % are at leaßt ea - ual t° those ■ of * he ° ld Country, and if our workers W - } ° nl y S lve th eir minds to it they will be able to turn out work as good as if not better than, the imported article. It would help our own country if everyone who makes his or her living here would make a point of buying locally-made goods wherever possible. FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVANTS. Federal public servants employed at the Department of Trade and Customs are to have their salaries increased according to a decision made at Melbourne recently by the Federal Public Service Arbitrator (Mr. Atlee Hunt) The salaries for the future will comnlence at £204 a year, and increase by £8 stages to £300. J Referring to a claim for the 44-hour week, in some instances it would not be found practicable to work the shorter hours. The matter would simply resolve into a question of paying overtime. "I am not satisfied as to the necessity for the change," said the arbitrator. . tl "' s t«*rtoroue. inquiet eiumner of sick life"—Carlyle What a dreadful nnetnese h m beins kepi awake all nlpht by n nasry cough ft Iβ unnecessary to have this happen if you have a bottle of Baxters Lung Pn-eerver a> hand Baxter's , will safeguard your health ana prevent coughs, colds, bronchial or other chest troubles A dose or two may •nve a serious Illness later on. Pleaeinr to take and also splendid as a tonic fo/°2/e C " r. obtal n ■ generons-eleed bottle