SOCIALISTS AS SWEATERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 December 1926, Page 6

SOCIALISTS AS SWEATERS.

Humour has never been a strong point with members of the Labour Party. Probably they take themselves and their cause too seriously, and lave little time for those incongruities of life which do so much to enliven the drab hours of routine. Had it been otherwise, the adherents and spokesmen of Labour could not have failed to detect the incongruity of attacking the "greedy capitalists" as sweaters of the toilers, while at the same time some Labour employers pay low wages and exact severe service. The editorial staff of the "Glasgow Evening Standard," a Socialist paper owned by a Labour M.P., has gone on strike, alleging victimisation and a breach of trade union principles. The editor asserts that reporters received from 30/11 to 37/6 weekly, when their union rate entitled them to 70/. When they secured an increase to 80 per cent of the union rates, one of the most highly paid men was dismissed, and a boy was brought in. The charges are denied, but it is hardly likely that the editor is wrong in his statemeut about the wages. A few years ago the clerks in trade union offices complained of their wages, but received no satisfaction. Labour members of Parliament, when they are also officials of trade unions, are worked twice as hard as any other member, and the Labour Party demands of them double duty for a minimum of pay. The death-rate amongst Labour members is said to be the highest in the House. "The most necessary trade union of the present day," says the Parliamentary correspondent of a London paper, "is one for the protection of trade union members of Parliament, and for securing them a working day that is nearer eight than eighteen hours." It may bo that Labour regards itself as a sacred cause, and thus entitled to demand overwork and under-pay. Many churches make similar demands on their ministers, and church people seem to have acquired the habit of expecting a great deal of service for very little money. The editor of a church paper is sometimes in a similar position to the editors of Socialist papers like the Glasgow "Evening Standard," except that he is more apt to receive,the odd pence only of the 30/11 said to be paid by the "Standard." It is a curious comment on the perversities of human reasoning that the Socialists, who profess to aim at higher wages and better conditions for the workers, should sometimes be in practice worse than the employer who thinks of business alone, and that the churches, who preach so often about the duty of generosity, should in many cases refuse to extend this generosity to their ministers. . »..- .

There will he no publication of the ' "Auckland Star" on Saturday next, Christmas Day. Publication will also be suspended on the following Saturday, New Year's Day. Advertisers should make their arrangements accordingly. Elders should be encouraged in philanthropy when youth is found to the fore in good works. Among the contributions to the fund for the dispensation of Christmas cheer to patients at the Auckland Hospital is the sum of 24/ from the Vencedor Boys' Club, Mount Eden, which was yesterday handed to the house manager, Mr. E. I. Lyell, by two diminutive but large-souled members of the club. The money was raised by means of juvenile concerts and other devices, and it wag asked that the money be expended on the purchase of toys for the child patients at the hospital. Another pleasing gift is a complete doll's house, furnished and fitted with all conveniences. This fine model was the means of raising over £300 for the Plunket Society as first prize in an art union, and it has been presented to the hospital for the little girl patients by the winner, Miss Courtaney, of Point Chevalier. When the steam trawlers came into the fishing business in Auckland it looked as though the days of the small boats were doomed, but "since the introduction of seine net fishing the small man has taken a new lease of life, and as anyone can see who takes the trouble to go to Nelson Street wharf, round by the Kauri Timber Company's mill there is now quite a fleet of launches en<raged in the business. At yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board a request from the Seine Net and Line fishermen's Association for better shed and berthing accommodation at this spot was favourably considered. Injuries to a thigh were sustained last Monday by a ten-year-old boy, Ked ES'rt VlS l tOr tO the Gre af Barrier Island, through tripping over some brush. Ihe boy resides at Cambridge, where his Sn™ r^ ma , S < ter of the Waikato hounds. Some difficulty was experienced in getting a launch to convey the boy to the city. No vessel was available from Auckland and Captain Blackwell's launch had to be brought round from Trvphena to Okupu, where the accident happened. The journey to the hospital was commenced last night and the launch, on arriving in port this morning, was met by the St. John Ambulance and the injured boy conveyed to the Auckland Hospital. The opinion that Marlborough farmers are not particularly interested in the rural credits scheme was expressed at a meeting of the Blenheim branch of the Farmers' Union (says an exchange). The Marlborough Provincial Executive forwarded a copy of the following resolution carried at the recent Dominion executive meeting: "That this executive should continue to agitate for legislation embodying the recommendations made by the Rural Credits Commission in its report, and that provincial committees be set up to carry on the movement." It was stated that there was no strong agitation in Marlborough for the establishment of the rural credits scheme, because most Marlborough farmers were able to finance themselves and were unlikely to take advantage of the scheme. Mr. V. H. Dodson asked whether advances could be obtained for flood relief purposes, and the chairman (Mr. A. J. Mills) replied that it was like every other banking scheme. One could get an advance if one had the security, and not without. He considered that the Bank of New Zealand's new policy met all the requirements and practically cut the ground from under the rural credits scheme. The branch decided to "receive" the provincial executive's letter. An interesting test case is to occupy the attention of the Court at Christchurch shortly. The City Council, which has strong views on the unsightliness of hoarding and fence advertising, recently refused a firm permission to advertise its own business on the fence of its own premises. The company, having secured legal advice, proceeded with the project, and the City Council, equally armed with the advice of learned counsel, decided last night, reports a Christchurch telegram, to take proceedings so that the matter might be tested at law. Plans for the proposed , new Tamaki River Bridge have been approved by the Marine Department, and the Manukau "County Council has been authorised to carry out the work. The council will be required to accept responsibility for the disturbance •of riparian rights if any private interests are adversely affected by the work; and consideration of this matter has befen referred to the Finance Committee, with a view to ascertaining the council's position. A fire occurred yesterday afternoon at 2, Minco Road, Remuera, in a fiveroomed house owned by Mr. A. Taylor and occupied by Mr. J. W. Johnston. The outbreak originated at the califont in the bathroom, and slight damage resulted to the bathroom and the walls in the adjoining passage. Owing to complaints being made of unwelcome visits paid to inmates of the Auckland Infirmary by persons seeking personal benefit, the Hospital Board has now framed a rule that no person shall interview a patient on business matters unless accompanied 'by the medical superintendent. Debentures for the Remuera Library are being sold over the counter by the City Council, and it is reported that a good demand has been shown by the public. The library loan amounts to £12,000 and was authorised for building the new library block last year. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the unsuccessful applicant against the appointment of Mr. B. L. Dallard as Controller-General of Prisons was the chief clerk of the Justice Department. The 53rd annual prize meeting of the Auckland Rifle Association will be held on the Penrose rifle range on January 1 and 3. An attractive prize list is offered and the list of competitors is a big one. The shoot includes the King's Championship and the Champion Teams match.