THE FEDERATION'S BALANCESHEET.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1474, 24 June 1912, Page 3

THE FEDERATION'S BALANCESHEET.

Sir.—V\"hii=! the' Puderation of Labb-U-r lia= isot the s.lig-h.'ieSt cbfeetio'ii -to the f'l'v'left 'p'ubiieiiy being given tp even iiis i-n----■tewial nii'a'ifs, ti-rtain- in.'foreilces and-■siate.me'n-.ts iiv yoi.if Jour'nal as 'io its Tiiianeial. i\uniini>:liition cannot be itllow'ed lb p;\«- nnclialK-n.rcil.

I in'il. li.oi: >pvh<l tirnft i'.n obje'tf iirj to yiur ,iioadiiiipv. and i.li.e Inipreision yo.u tlierelVy e'vi'-lili.ti'y >cck i.o f;reate:,. t)»t wit.'ii your ro])>-";nt' I iviil remiiid. yinif rea'd'e-rs of the baliiii.w-shee.t prinii-d by \nv on 'j'lilir-xlav last', t'liat; .of llio ox.pr''iuii.ture of .Eitii' lS.s< iii.., iio less a .sum litall !''ultis. oil. was deviled tp l : h& Worker," inijv.i'iig a balance o.f O.ivl.y 1!!<. 7.(1.. f*>,r g.e.'nei'a! -espe.nditiire, iiiellfiling salnfb.s:,. s.slieit.or, pwivting. aiVsl -oj--g.-vijiSin.g. Novc, it is tjucsli.o'iiable if a'ri.y Lo.ijpu.r -organisation oi' tiio- iiuinci-icr.l strength of 'tho l J ederati'on ot' Lal.ioiir' van stow greater .economy in admiivistra'tibn. It v.'biilu perhaps. Is.*) inroertinfii.t to ask that j.f tl.ie.r'o exists I'll iXew ZcalaiH'i a poliiieai, industiini of a'eti-v. 'i'ty—inchidi'iig the Employers' F.erter'atioi! - —aoiiig- its- work .nio'ro ecpn.pinic.ally,- mis', other tilings .cq.ual, it;- bajance-shoe't ni.islr.t -.riipcn.r in y-o'iii:' coiiijiiixs? May I furiijn.r point; c-iit. -t'liat. tor. t-be ■ experiili't-iirp' .cited .-iniihr work, lias ljepjl ' transacted to- that ■undertaken by the Ar'b'itraf-ion- Court;,, and. ut a cost tliji merest fraction of what proceedings in t-ho Court would have, neeessitate'di ami ignoring nl-'bgctlier the coat to the: State cf that iisstitution.

its to yoiir -reierehws to "pay" and "ferauisitcs," I des'irg tp. .s.ay : th'a't th.'o niaking of agreements .call's for sonic expe'nd.i- : ti.ire, 'and. that it 'is 'ivnpc'ra.tivo that, liien' bo Ji'roug.iit tp a: centre from .outp-cs'ls to satisfactorily complete sUcli. J3ut, takingtlip '.l.arce.s!; e'ntr-v ltii'der "Ijepufatiori.s'V i,e., P. C. Wobl,: to W.W.A., .iii 12s. fid, nie; indicate that this amount p'i:<iH rides not <Snl'y tor 18 -days' .attendance at ii 'noteworthy, conference, but for a-, tour -among tli<> waterside unions -for tipn- of agreement. M'ake' t'ho iiieat of ■thecost fp t-he i'elsra.t.ion in procuring thb recent, agreement with the -dripping companies, then put alongside it the fact that at a .moderate! estimate ,£l(?i.ona per annum increase in wages was gained, will .those .. j;pii s.rem to wish tp-turn .'against tho l''eder.it; : .o!i oil- miserably lnc-aii grounds iipt Consider the h'd.vah.tages pbtained as wonderfully cheap..? Take another of tlii; !i.eavy items inuler d.ejiuta ti^ns—.l. Dowgray .to Kuponga, ill it:- 1 -.—- tflfil' up.-the .cost of'bringing Mr'-. .'D'p.wgray from firauify to IJt.ipoijgci. aiifl ..his w-'ages while absent, iiiid ;hbw trilling .tho nni.o.r.ii.t is, -not- calculatiiig the- admittedly excei.lei.it bareaiii ina<ie to the ga.i'n 'of -tilt, miner.s involved.

And no.\y., I, pavti'eiiUirly crave your into deal with-flip ;i;<\inarKs. n'njsht Mr, .Se.iiiple'; you are right in Blironiclnru his salary us .£! par wefk; biit: h<>w sural!, compared i.c> thpt of Pro.fes;-of Mills (United labour party);, or th-jt of Mr. : Pryijr (employers' organiser).. You arc wrong, however, in. respect. to Mr. S'eiriple's Australian tour. He . was b'liseni. 13 weeks', anil not "about fix/' He had wiin him a wife ai'd two children, o.ncl the amount expeyi.iled' from CrCv-niou't-li. and'back was J:il.o. iO."?. TlVis isn't: "something over two; guineas a day," but considerably uiidci\ Again, this nii.ssipn to Australia, was supposed to l;c a. combination of hoi-ifo.y tfnd Re-v-ice, the. cost. of it : fce.iilg' offered by 'iliij Fed'er'atten p:ur- : ■posei'y tjj set jjtr. Seniplp 'away .for ri.. change, He bad not had. a/holiday ;for p'ver t'wio years, and ijr.as bre:ak.in.g;- down under his severe. it.a'nlpaigTii'nif.. Vou wij! alloy.'. I feci 'lire, that such dn- : lies, as Mr. Scrapie is cal!e<! ; upon fe fulfil : are '.not .oiily liara.ssiiLg and; onerous,' Iflifc. .impel stn.'n, wear a:id worry. By the! voio of il'.a or.gatiisaiiou as a wlrcji'e, Mr.. Se.nvriis; iy<Snt to Aiistralia. in search of health. but insisted on. ninkiiig 'his trip utilitarian aTsa. Reference to the hot-ailce-sheet yo.if 'printed. Will shoiy tjia't .tli'e donai'-ons specially fjiiiscri-Ved. by iiii-icifis ■for Mr. Semple's visit to Australia 'tob'fcd Sm i'O's, 10(1. Veil St.-i'li.' flint "labour !-? ?. ■not. alfoirether unprofitable- business.'' But' even-If it should be, can 0.11 allow-nee of .6' 2s. fid; per day .'to covc.r tic. Considered' .o\fra.Yp,'*.:ir)t. pity for jjij. shifi-ricd organisers iiiid- deleAalvs?... T.li.l's js the airpii'nt C.xtd 'by ;Fp.ddration am. "fc.. J. GLOY'EE, Sec,'