LABOUR NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES.

(By "Unionist.") ITEMS OF~INTEREST. • Continued interest is being displayed in local trade union and labour affairs. There has Taeen a bit of a lull in the enrolment of electors, but union officials are still active in that direction. Slow progress is reported in connection with the Saturday half-holiday petition. It is difficult to estimate the number of signatures now attached. A lot of lists are out in the hands of canvassers. Probably a safe estimate is that actually in Hand there are now close on 3000 signatures. The Trades Council people are anxious for greater assistance in the matter from outside. The meeting during the week in furtherance of the project was a very successful one; but at least another olAK) names aro wanted to ensure that the petition will be effective. There is still another five weeks in which to canvass for names. It is fairly certain that sufficient signatures will in the end be obtained. Jleantame more individual support is wanted by the council, and canvassers are reminded that tho full name should be signed on the petition forms. The Labour Party meets next week to consider the question of the municipal campaign. During the week a meeting ot women members of the party was held in connection with the candidature, oi the Labour eight. Next week's meeting will probably decide on tne date of tho opening of the campaign. JL V Tregear is interesting himself in tne breach between the Labour Party and the Socialists here. He is attempting to arrange a conference between ten members of each body with a view to bocialist support of the Labour ticket. Mr. Iregear advises that the Socialist party seeks the conference. Tho proposal will most likely be dealt with at the next meeting of the Labour Party. Mr. J. C. Watson, ex-Prime Minister, and formerly Leader of the Australian Labour Party, proved to be anything but an "extinct volcano" during the sittings of the congress of the State 'Labour Party. The victory of the Federal party at the conference was in a great measure due to the influence and reasoning of Mr. Watson. Interviewed in Melbourne last week in reference to the conference's attitude on the referendum proposals, Mr. Watson said :■— " The attitude of the conference was to be anticipated by anyone familiar with tho Labour movement. Nearly three years ago the demand for effective arbitration and the accomplishment of new protection was emphatically voiced at the interState conference in Brisbane. In the succeeding New South Wales Labour conferences the Brisbane proposals were readily endorsed. The feeling has, therefore, been strongly in favour of securing, beyond any doubt, that the Federal authority shall have power to deal with industrial matters, both in regard to wages and working conditions, and with respect to the effect! of a protectionist tariff upon the people employed in protected industries. ' What is proposed has appealed for a Jong time past to employers as well as to the employed, namely, that where the product of any given., industry enters into competition with the' products of other States in the Australian market, the power shall rest in some authority to insist upon something approaching equal conditions throughout Australia. This will not necessarily involve uniformity of wages.. It is obvious that in some parts or Australia wages will bo Higher than in other parts, owing to climatic and other disadvantages. No one expects that any Australian Arbitration Court will lay down equal wages for every portion of the Commonwealth, but, consistent with a due regard to local conditions, there is nothing to prevent wages being so arranged that employers in each State shall have a reasonably equal jihance to compete in the Australian ' markets. I have every confidence that, so far as New South Wales is concerned, the referendum will be carried by a, good majority. As to the other matters included in the referendum proposals, nationalisation of monopolies has been upon the programme of the -Australian Labour Party for some eight or lime years, and it has received every endorsement from the New South Wales organisations. The question of tho amendment of the Commerce Act also involves the plank in the Labour platform in connection with the navigation law, and the Seamen's Compensation Act. Our conference has been very emphatic for several years in the desire to get a Navigation Act that will effectually regulate sea going conditions, and without some amendment of the Constitution it seems impossible that anything satisfactory in that direction can bo obtained, as power to pass navigation laws depends upon the trade and commerce provisions of the Constitution. It appears imperative that the authority of the Federal Parliament shall be extended. Closely allied with the suggestion of the nationalisation of monopolies is the proposal to give further' powers io the Commonwealth in regard to the control of corporations. It does not seeni feasible to set about the nationalisation -of monopolies without the first making enquiry as to whether any that *na\ exist in Australia are acting prejudicially to the public interest. In ether ..words, it would be wise to enquire closely into the working of every alleged monopoly before any attempt at nationalisation is made. From the exoression of opinion, of the High Court Judges it appears that the power to x-egulate and enquire into the conduct of alleged monopolies, or corporations which are monopolies, does not at present exist in the Federal Constitution, and, so as a prelude to any proposals for the nationalisation of monopolies, it seemt essential that the Federal authority shall have the power to enquire into the working of corporations, and, if necessary, vo regulate their conduct, even if it is not thought wise to go as far as nationalisation. On the whole, it seemed to our conference in Sydney that the whole of the suggested alterations of the Constitution are either directly planks of the Labour platform, or indirectly necessary for the carrying through of some of tho proposals included in our programme." Election of officers of the New South , Wales Labour Party for the incoming year has resulted as follows: — President, Mr. H. Lamond ; vice-presidents, Mr. W. L. Duncan, Mr. E. Farrar ; secretary. Mr. J. Grant; interstate delegates to Federal Congress, Messrs. J. C. Watson, J. S. T. M'Gowen, H. Lamond, A H. Griffith, F. H. Bryant, Mrs. K. Dn-yer; executive, Messrs. J. (J. Watson, F H. Bryant, W. L. Duncan, W. Holmaii, H. Lamond, Eev. T. Crawford, E. Farrar, R. D. Meagher. J. S T. M'Goweh, I-I. Thyer, Dr. Jensen, Mrs. K. Dwyer, F. Flowers, G. S. Beeby, W. M. Hughes, A. Rae, E. J. Kavanagh, J. P. Cochrau, Con Hogon, R. J. Stuart Koberison, J. H. Canu, Geo. Black, E. Riley, P. J. Minahan, J. J. Morrisln Mrs. Grant, P. B. Marshall, M. J Connuiglon, C. Yon Hagen, N. Nielson. The result of the recent municipal elections at Broken Hill proved to be in favour of the Labour candidates:, who captured another seat at the council board, making the number— Labour 7, the enemy 5. The declaration of the poll was received with chews tor Liibour's victory.