AUCKLAND GENERAL LABOURERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 19

AUCKLAND GENERAL LABOURERS' UNION.

The annual meeting of the union was held at the Trades Hall on Wednesday evening last, and there was a good attendance of members. This is. one of the unions that has suffered most during the past year from the unemployment epidemic, and ill view of rumour* that have been heard from time to time that there was a prospect of a reorganisation under'the auspices of the Alliance of Labour it is interesting to note that a strong executive was elected for the ensuing year, with tlie secretary, Mr. J. Sutherland, and Mr. G. Solomon, organiser, both re-elected unopposed. The retiring vice-president was elected president, Mr. E. Toye not desiring nomination. UNEMPLOYMENT. Matters have not been much improved at the Trades Hall this week in securing work for unemployed members. In the painting trade the position is not quite so acute as in recent weeks, but there are still 21 members signing on at the office.

In' the plumbers' office there are 30 on the unemployment book this week, and each of these has received a notice from the secretary stressing the necessity of registration at the Government Unemployment Bureau in Customs Street. The Furniture Trades Union reports that the state of trade is very acute, the upholstering section having fallen very flat. It will be remembered that last month the upholstering trade was very brisk with a rush of casual work, and application by the employers was made to the Arbitration Court for an increase in the proportion of apprentices to journeymen. In support of the application the scarcity of labour that week was quoted, and also the fact that seats for one of the new theatres in Auckland were being made in Christchurch. In opposing it, the union contended that the scarcity was only temporary, ana the Court refused the application. The present position has proved the opinion of the union then given. This union also notifies every member out of work to register at the Labour Department's Bureau.

The committee of the unemployed still meets daily at the Trades Hall. As statements have been made from time to time and reported in the Press that workers on farms have thrown up their jobs and migrated to the cities to obtain the wages offered on relief works, the committee circularised 134 branches of the. Farmers' Union in the Auckland district asking if they required workers, and particulars of how many men had left the .employment of farms to take up relief work.* The replies, so far, indicate that there is no labour wanted, and that no workers have left to take on relief work. About 20 jobs have been offered by the head branch of the Farmers' Union, but in all cases the jobs are suitable only for youths. Wages. ranging from 10/ to 30/ per week "and found" have been offered, and'iiot many at the higher figure. It should be stated that all the replies are not yet in from branches circularised, as they*have not yet had a meeting to consider the circular, so that this is only a progress report on the letters that have been received.

UNEMPLOYMENT REGISTRATION The figures relating to the registration of the unemployed in the Dominion, received from Wellington on Thursday, are very illuminating indeed, and go to prove the contention often expressed at the Trades Hall, that the number actually registering for months past has not been a fair criterion of the state of unemployment existing, owing to hundred's that* had discontinued recording their names owing to despairing of obtaining any relief. Now that the Prime Minister has given his definite promise to find work for all registered at the Government Bureau within live weeks from the date of announcement the workless have plucked up heart again and are registering in great numbers. This is seen by the long queue that might have been seen at any time during the present week waiting outside the office to go on the list. It is also manifest by the increase in the number of registrations recorded an Thursday. In Auckland alone the number rose from 1400 on Wednesday to 1514 on Thursday, while the total for the Dominion is 6188.

; Ther increases show u regrettable state of affairs, so much so, that the Cabinet committee dealing -with unemployment has; issued instructions that these figures are not to be issued in future. I remember that once before, during the big influenza epidemic of 191S, the then Minister of Health, the Hon. G. W. Russell, decided not to make public the terrible toll the dread scourge was making in the Dominion, and it was I not till long after that we knew the i actual loss in lives the Dominion had sustained, but the loss went on all the same, and so it will be with regard to 'unemployment.

FOREIGN WORKERS IN BRITAIN. Great Britain is carefully guarding the right of entry of foreigners for employment, because of the widespread British unemployment. An order ksued by the Government prohibits the entry, without written permit, of a foreigner into the United Kingdom to enter employment. Under that order the employer must first guarantee that no worker already employed will be displaced by the foreigner; second, prove that he cannot fill the position from the workers available; and, third, prove that the prevailing rate of wages will be paid to the foreigner. Foreign technicians are being admitted to assist in establishing new industries, but they are limited a≤ to length of stay and must devote part of their time to training British subjects in their particular work.