LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES.

(By Uniouist.) ITEMS OF INTEREST. Mr. Peter Muir, secretary of the local Tailors' Union, returned during the week from a vimt to the other «de. Mr. Mnir wa* particularly impressed with the political activity of the Australian trade unions, and *haie« the general belief that Labour will havo largely increased representation in the new Federal Parliament At the half-yearly meeting of the Wellington Grocer Y Union, held on Tue«day, Mr. J. M'Kenzie was elected Sreoitlenb for the ensuing year. Mr. E. . Carey wa» re-elected secretary for a similar period. A circular letter has this week been forwarded to all the union* in the Wellington industrial district by the Registrar of Industrial Unions. The circular reads : — "An application by the Havrkea Bay Employers' Association that th« Wellington industrial district should be subdivided by constituting * separata industrial district for Hawkes Bay ;' and I am directed by tha Hon. the Minister for Labour to communicate with yon in order to give you an opportunity of expressing your views on the subject' if yon wish to do no. I may say that if any alteration in tho district* is brought about, it is proposed to make one industrial district for the whole of Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay. Kindly let me have any comment you may wuh to make not later than one month from this date." Several unions have already considered the circular, and decided to enter objection to the creation of another industrial district. _ It is safe to predict that a. largo majority of the unions will do likewise. The tendency of unionism nowatlay* is to closer federation, and it is felt that if the application outlined inthe circular were acceded to, it would* help to check that closer federation. Already several federation* have fought <to eeciuie a common award, and for ■their purpose* to have the Dominion made practically into one industrial district. Even kindred unions not yet joined into federations approve of tho 'common rule" principle, hence the assumption of general objection to the proposals of the circular.' Mr. Dennis Jone*, Labour nominee, has been returned unopposed for the .Forrest seat in the West Australian Assembly, rendered vacunt by the resigna tion of Mr. P. O'Loughlin, who is cantetl'nff the Swan Federal seat on behalf of Labour against Sir John Forrest. Fuller details to hand by mail go to show that tho decision of tho High Court in connection with the question of Federal Arbitration Court awards versus the State awards, is not so far-reaching as the cabled report* indicated. Tlio ca«e arose out of a dispute- between the Australian Boot Trade Employee*' Federation and tho boot trade employers. When the dispute came before the Federal Arbitration Court recently, tho president (Judge Uiggins) made an award but decided that effect should not be given to it until the following questions, which be submitted for tho determination of tbo High Court, were dealt with :— (1) Is it competent for this Commonwealth Court under the Federal Constitution to make any award which is inconsistent with any, and if so which, of the said awards or determination* of the State wages boards? (2) Is thero in the proposed award any provirion or provisions, and if so what, inconsistent with any, and if so which, of the awards or determinations of the State wages board?, and in what respect? The High Court answered both questions in the negative, which meting that tho Arbitration Court awurd is uphold, and will come into operation from a date to be etated by Judge Higgins. By reason of the validity of the Federal award, now established, the employees in tho Boot trade in each State will receive inneased wages over the rate prescribed in certain of Vhe State*' determination*. The High Court's answer to tho recond question apparently means that the Federal Arbitration Court may p'/ant a higher scale of wage* in an industry than is prescribed by tho State- awurd in the 'same industry, und jet the Federal Court's award will not be inconnintent with the State award oi> that account. Wednesday next will be a regular "banner day" in the political world of Australia. The Federal elections fixed for that day aro exciting more widespread interest than uny election over held previously in Australia. A new Home of Representatives of 75 members :ind half the Senate (18 members) is to bo elected. In addition, tho whole of the Commonwealth electors will be required to voto on two referendum* in connection with the rearrangement of tho financial clauses of the Federal constitution. The importance of these two ismies will help to make the polling heavy and interesting, apart from the excitement of the contest between Labour and Government in the election field. Extra election faro in provided in Queensland and in certain of the electoral districts of New South Wales. The electors in Ihoep districts will have quite a "field duy." Queensland electors, at a <o»t of nbout £8000 to the tnxpayprs, are being asKod, in addition to their FiVeral voting duties, to visit the adjoining State polling booths on 13th April, and record their votes for or again«t Bib'c reading in the Slate schools. In thvee of the New .South Wales State electorates, by-elections have bern fixed to fit in with Federal election day. Tho hycl«clio!in .l)ftv>* ell been icndered nerMcary by Hi<* lesignation of Labour members vho ate leaving the State for Federal politics. The Aufctrulian cables, to v. nids thp end of next week, will be exceptionally interesting lo those concerned in Australian politic 3. Mr. John Norton is standing as an Independent candidate for the Senate in Ncv South Wales. Hi^ candidature is considered to havo the effect of spoiling tho chance* of tho Labour throe, and ensuring the return of the three retiring Government supporters. Tho Labour press is severely criticising Mr. Norton's candidature. Speaking in Sydney last week, Mr. Fisher, Federal Labour leader, said that from all he' had seen and heard, he judged the Labour party's prospects for the coming elections to be excellent, and he would bo vastly surprised if it did not gain at least ten further seats in tho two Houbph. There should be a gain of three Representatives in New South Wales, three in Queensland, one in South Australia, two in Tasmania, and one in Western Australia. The Senate should also show at lea*t an equal division of seats, or probably a slight uHvupee on that. He thought the Labour Senators of Queensland were safe, and his own seat equally so. He had addrexsrd meetings every* night during his Queensland tour, and had found » good receptio'i everywhere, with a complete absence of hostility. Everywhere tho indications were I hut moie people were growing to understand the Labour policy, and that support for the cause would come from many who had foimerly been opposed to it. A» far as New South Wales was concerned, Mr. Fisher was of opinion that the late strike had made *>onie opponents for Labour, but the imprisonment of the leaders had consolidated the patty, and he thought an increased vote by Labour elector* would about counterbalance toy increase gaintd by the other, fid**