LABOUR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 16

LABOUR NOTES.

UNION ACTIVITIES. (By INDUSTRIAL TRAMP.) ITXIOX MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. This Evening, August 12—Fellmongers. llonday, August 14—Furniture Trades' Executive. Painters' Special. Tuesday, August 10 —Freezing Works Employees. Thursday, August IT—Labour Party ("Women's Branch). Joint Council oi Labour. ARBITRATION COURT WORK. With Mr. Justice Frazer, President of the Arbitration Court, having his time fully taken up hearing appeals before the Transport Appeal Board, of which he is chairman, a large amount of important work is piling up in Auckland ripo for hearing by tho Court. The last session of the Arbitration Court in Auckland was in the month of February, and since then six months have elapsed, with no intimation of a date being fixed. Unions that obtained awards last year have applications to add parties to those awards for five months past, while other unions that have come to a mutual agreement with their employers as to working conditions have been waiting the same length of time for the Court to srt to make the necessary award for all parties. There are also held up applications under the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act, causing worry and hardship to the applicants. If this is so in Auckland, it is reasonable to assume that similar conditions exist in the other centres of the Dominion. It is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs.

CARPENTERS' REUNION. On Saturday evening last the Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners celebrated its Diamond Jubilee by a smoke social in the Trades Hall. There were 240 present, and the occasion was most enjoyable; there was a foregathering of some who had not seen each other for over 20 years. Three delegates came from the Waihi branch, while there were letters and. telegrams from as far south as Canterbury. One letter wishing every success was from an old member of 60 years' standing at Waimauku, who was too old to travel to the meeting, while another stalwart at Papakura, 85 years of age, had called at the Trades Hall on the day prior to the social to say that he was getting too old to travel at night and to offer his best wishes. Mr. C. H. Revell, branch president, was in the chair, and among the guests were members of Parliament, city councillors and members of the suburban borough councils, many of them having been old. members of the union during its existence of 60 years. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., proposed the toast of the Auckland Carpenters' Union in a speech in which he recalled the many activities in the Labour cause in which the union had been foremost. This was replied to by Mr. T. Bloodworth, secretary, and Mr. W. R. Tuck, consulting solicitor to the Carpenters Union. Mr. W. R. Bippen, district chairman of the organisation, proposed the toast of "Kindred Unions," which was replied to by Mr. Arthur Eosser, I for the workers' unions, and Mr. V. A. Coylc on behalf of the Auckland Builders' Association. Mr. Coyle said that he had joined the Auckuand Union as soon as he had served his apprenticeship at the trade, and had filled all the various offices. , An enjoyable musical programme by some of the best artists in the city was rendered, sufficient time being allowed between the items for a renewing of old acquaintances. During one of these intervals advantage was taken to make a presentation of a couple of books on the Labour movement and a case of pipes to Mr. J. VV• Mitchell, recently retired from the position of organiser, after a lifetime of service in the organisation. Mr. Mitchell suitably replied.

IN THE OLD DAYS. At the Diamond Jubilee smoke social beer and soft drinks were supplied for the toasts, but there were also tea and coffee for those who required such liquids. In the old days "liquor" figured in the ordinary balance-sheet of the union, as extracts from the account book of the Joiners' Society of Preston, 1810, would indicate: "August 13.—Liquor, 3/9," and each month a similar entry showed that the business was not entirely dry, until, for August 11, 1811, we find the entry: "Monthly expenses for liquor, 12/1," showing that the society was making progress, judging by the increase in liquor consumption. But it was at Preston that the temperance movement was started by "The Seven Men of Preston," and liquor reform invaded the precincts of the Carpenters' Society, for from the old minute book we find: "Moved by Thos. Cragg and seconded by John Nutter, that every member pay for his own liquor, and that the 3d per month now paid >for that purpose be appropriated to defraying the expenses of the strikes. —Unanimously rejected." The resolution being unanimously rejected would appear to indicate that Thos. Cragg and John Nutter's p..blic actions were somewhat ahead of their private opinions. Long years ago "liquor" was banished from the ordinary meetings of unions, and now only figures at socials or convivial meetings.

IN OTHER COUNTRIES. It is good to contrast tlie ideas of big employers in otlier countries with, the tactics employed .by industrialists in New Zealand. Mr. P. Malcolm Stewart, one of the managing directors of the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, made the following statements on "the new spirit which more and more is actuating modern industry." Writing in "Headway," the journal of the League of Xations Union, published in June of this year, he states: "For myself, I would support a 42 against a 44-hour week, more especially because with a 42-liour week continuous processes involving shift work could be catered for by four shifts of 42 hours, instead of three shifts of 56 hours, and would require an addition of one-third more workers." He then asks the question: "How are we to set to work? In the first place, let the industrialists approach the trade unions and say to them: "Will you co-operate with us l in an effort to reduce the number of unemployed? Our proposal is to put more men into employment by shortening the hoiu s of work. We want to negotiate with you as to how the cost incurred should be apportioned, and propose that to mitigate any sacrifice which the worker would bear in shouldering a share of the burden of reducing unemployment we should secure for him a share in the profits of industry and annually a week's holiday with pay.' With regard to wages, my creed is that fair wages must come before interest on capital, W and that; when there are profits the should have a share in them." —("Observer" ia "Chrifltchurch. . ■in