WINTER AND WORK

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14660, 8 May 1913, Page 4

WINTER AND WORK

A GLOOM 1' OUTLOOK

POSITION OF CITI COUNCIL

The prospects for the coming winter so far as the casual labourer is concerned appear to bo anything but bright. 'ihe Jlayor already is receiving soino Wf-a-uozen applications lor work tiaily, and this nuuiocr is expected to bo largely augmented ia the near future

As far as the Council is concerned the portion in tno matter or nuding casual woiii tor tno wiutor aoes uot fifcwui to oe at all satisfactory. bueakiug to a -Press" reporter yesteruay tue Aiayor said that tne Oouncii would Have co uo someuuug to uud employment tor a uumoer of wen uuriiiK tue wintor. He aid not know, flowover, wuat too Council couiu uo. xno Council was working under an award, ana wnoii it required casual labour it had to give preference to members of S General Labourersnumber of the men. work, however, belonged to otner trades, and before they could l>o engaged by tho Council they had to get a transfer from their own union to tne General Labourers' Union. To do that tho men had to pay all arrears, also an entrance fee, and in the plight they were in when they MUgbt wofk from tho Council«Sey were quite unable .to attord to »ay the amount involved. lho Council did not wish at all to tako advantage of tho position of the men wanting work; they were prepared to pay the award wages for casual labour, bub they did not want to run the risk of being prosecuted for employ.ng men who had not become members of tho Labourers' Union on nocount of tho oxpenso involved in effecting a transfer. Last winter tho Council Was twice threatened with proceedings on this account. There was one case where a metal worker was 13s in arrears, with Ins Union, and ho could not get a transfer until he paid that otf, with another 2 3 Gd transfer fee. That meant 15s Cd, which was a serious thing to a man with no money and wanting work. There was also tho case of the old men who wanted caeual work on odd days, and who could not get employment, for they were not worth the-award wage, and did nob expect it. There did not seem to be a spark of practical Socialism in such v position. Tho Mayor added he intended to urge the Council to put a sum on tho estimates to provido casual work auring tho winter for those in need of it, and who could bo legally employed for the purpose.