LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 108, 8 May 1909, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES.

ITEMS OF INTEREST. (By Unionist.) The (hearing of the dispute between the Ohriistchnrch Operative Bootmakers' Union and the employers before a Council of Conciliation, has been fixed for 2nd June. The Arbitration Court's award in the dispute in the same industry to bo heard in Wellington in a few weeks' time, though technically confined to this district, will form the basis of all awards in the trade in the other centres. The disputes will be heard by the councils, mostly as a matter of form. Mr. J. C. Watson, (Labour member for South Sydney in the Federal House of Representatives, will retire from politics at the end of the present Parliament. The Now South "Wales Political Labour League is anxious to retain the seat for Labour, and is desirous that a strong man be selected to contest the electorate. Much interest will be taken in the league's preliminary plebiscite. Already several prominent Sydney Labourites have announced their intention of contesting the selection ballot. 'Mr. Arthur Griffith, IVI.L.A. for Sturt in the State Parliament, has also consented to stand the plebiscite, at the request of certain influential members of tho league. Mr. Griffith is widely known in New South Wales Labour circles. He has twice previously contested the State Senate elections, and only recently resigned his seat in Parliament as a protest against the Speaker's ruling, and was again elected unopposed. Mr. Griffith is practically certain to be finally chosen as the most likely candidate, though the initial vote is expected to he very close. In addition to the Opposition candidate, Labour in South Sydney will at the next Federal elections be opposed by Mr. H. Holland, of the Socialist Party. There are 43 Socialist members in tne Italian Chamber of Deputies. Nine additional seats were gained at the elections held in March. , The first Wages' Board determination in the Victorian furniture trade came into operation in April, 1907. It fixed the minimum wage for journeymen at £2 5s per week. Since then, by constant advocacy on the part of the Melbourne Union, the wages nave been several times increased, and are now fixed at £3 per week of 48 hours. Next year the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters ,and Joiners will attain its ju&ilee. The society was established in Manchester in 1860. Since then it has extended its operations very largely. There is now a total of 914 branches. In England there are 736, in "America 69, in Canada 41, in New Zealand 22, in Australia 31, and in South Africa 14. The Commonwealth Shop Assistants' Federation is circularising all the employers in the large establishments in various States, with a view to arranging a conference to discuss the demands of the federation. Amongst other conditions, the federation is asking for a 49-hour week, and for from lOs per week wages for beginners up to £3 per week for competent assistants. No settlement was arrived at at the conference between representatives of the Otago Miners' Union and the employers concerned, held in Dunedin last week. The Arbitration Court will now be called upon to adjudicate in the dispute. Labour fared badly in Auckland and Christchurch as it did in Wellington at the municipal elections. Only two candidates were run in Auckland, Messrs. Davis and Long, but both were easily beaten. They polled 1440 and 1028 votes respectively. A like experience resulted in Christchurch, where a larger ticket, spread over the various wards, was run. No Labour man secured election. In Dunedin Mr. R. Douglas, the Labour nominee, was elected for Leith ward. He polled 1031 votes. According lo the secretary's report, submitted to the half-yearly meeting of the Cooks and Waiters' Union, halcl on Monday last, the organisation still continues to make good progress. During the half-year 195 new members joined the union. The receipts for the period wefe" £167 10s 6d, and the expenditure was £143 12s 6d. A sum of £181 18s iOd is now in the bank to the credit of members. For the incoming term, the following officials have been elected : — President, E. Mark ; vice-pre-sident, F. C. Smith ; treasurer, T. M'Kenzie ; secretary, E. J. Carey ; trustees, N. J. Mulcahy and W. E. Brown. Mr. Justice Higgins has reserved his decision in the application of the Woodworkers' Employers' Association for a Federal award, pending the consideration of several points raised by the employers for the consideration of the High Court. Amongst other objections, counsel for employers argued that the Commonwealth Court had no power to set aside industrial awards and agreements made and existing in various States. Another point raised was as to whether the dispute extended beyond the limits of any one State in the case of an organisation of employees acting in concert in the different States, while the employers did not act in concert. The power of the court to grant employees in the industry in West Australia fifteen per cent, increase in their v/ages over the rates asked for in other States, was also questioned, and is reserved for the decision of the High Court. Section 38, of the New South Wales Industrial Disputes Act provides that the Industria' Court may set aside the award of a wages board on certain considerations. For a while the United Licensed Victuallers' Association, of Sydney contemplated appealing to the court to have set aside the recent award in the hotel and restaurant industry of the city. At a meeting of the association last week, however, it was" decided to drop the idea of appealing, and to observe the award in its entirety.' The new conditions became operative on 26th April last. "" — — — | Labour now counts on a caucus of eleven, possibly twelve, pledged members in the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the future to consist of thirty members. Prior to the elections there were only seven Labour members in the House, then composed of thirty-five representatives. South Australia's new Agent-General, the Hon. A. A. Kirkpatrick, is the first Labour man to receive such an appointment in the Commonwealth. The byelection caused by Mr. Kirkpatrick'B resignation from the Legislative Council will be" held on 15th May. Mr. A. W. Styles is the Labour nominee. King O'Malley is likely to meet with opposition for the Darwin seat at Federal election time. Two local Labourites have announced their intention of contesting the preliminary selection ballot against him. In Dunedin, the latest union to appoint a paid secretary is the Carpenters' Union. Mr. Jas. Brown has been appointed organisinig secretary, and commences his duties next month. A Timber Workers' Union has been formed in Greymouth. Arrangements for a conference of representatives of all such unloiiß in New Zealand are now in pipgresft.