LABOUR NOTES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 127, 30 May 1914, Page 12

LABOUR NOTES

(By "Optimist). WELLINGTON WATERSIDE WORKERS. The auditor is still making an investigation of tho Wellington Waterside Union's books. The question of electing an executive as well as secretary and treasurer «ill come up shortly. It is expected that among tho candidates for the position of secretary will be Messrs Farlund, Bruce, and Bruton. Many connected with the waterfront, believing with John Morley that "the root of social reform is security of employment," are anxiously awaiting Mr. Massey's first move for the gaining of permanence of employment at the waterfront, and now tho Farmers' Union havo passed a unanimous resolution in favour of permanency, and early start should be made to gather evidence and information generally. Tho ' Wellington Harbour Board has, too, decided to approach the Government with the object of legislation being provided to give Harbour Boards authority to carry out all work on tho waterfront. The board also resolved to increase its permanent wharf labouring stall' by some 250 men. DEPARTMENT OF ADVICE. The executive of the Labour Council in New South Wales has started a department of advice for uniohs having cases before the Arbitration Courte. Mr. M. Henwood has been appointed to tako charge of the department. AUSTRALIAN IRON INDUSTRY. The judgment of Mr. Justice Heydon on the application, of the. Federated Ironworkers' "Association (Lithgow) and G. and C. Hoskins, Ltd. (cross appeals), for a variation of award has beon delivered. Hoskins' claimed to have the ba6ic wage lowered to. the living wage rate, but his Honour said "he was satisfied such a rate would, at Lithgow, bo less than 8s j but he thought it unnecessary to find exactly what, it should be. It was enough that ho did not lower the wage fixed lay the award. On the other hand, except in two caees, he could not se© his way to raise the award rates. Ho could not see that the industry in New South Wales should be an exact reproduction of the earn© industry in England. It was evident that, as the unskilled or the slightly skilled labour formed the great bulk of that engaged at juch works as those, such a difforence as that was a great handicap to the Australian master." The rate 3of tho shunters were raised to Is l{d per hour, and that of the platelayers to Is 3d. UNIONISTS v. NON-UNIONISTS. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers in Newcastle and Hamilton (N.S.W.) have determined that they will not work with non-unionists after Ist August. Tho men outside of any union wfll not be debarred from joining one or other of the unions, but the unionists are tired of fighting and paying for better rates and conditions to be enjoyed by those who do not pay the amount of the union subscriptions. However, amongst tho ironworkers and ironworkers' assistants, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, has taken action which should commend itsqU to other employers of labour— they will not now employ anyone except through the secretary of the union. SYDNEY SLATERS' STRIKE. Thero were 102 summonses issued against members of tho Sydney Slaters' Union for striking, and all woro served oxcopt 11. Tho mon were fined, £5 each, and given three months in which to pay tho fine. THE COST OF LIVING. Tho statistics for the first quarter of 1914 in tho Commonwealth show that tho cost of living has. increased since the proceding quarter in all tho cities except Porth Tho increase is slightly greater thati 2 per cent, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, and 1^ t>er cent, in Hobart, and somewhat less than 1 per cent, in Brisbane, whilst thero was a decrease of 1 per cent, in Perth. Tho weighted average for all tho towns shows an increase of 1.9 per cont. GRAND COUNCIL 'OF FOUR. Tho Workers' Educational Association set up at Melbourne has a Grand Council ot four members which speaks for over 700,000 unionists. Tho association is nonparty politically, but it is always interested in the educational advancement of the loaders of the trade union or political labour parties, as well as progress in other directions. THE CHURCH AND LABOUR. There aro at present 1000 carpenters on strike in Western Australia, and at Perth ■recently delegates from both pai'tios to tho dispute mot with Bishop Riley (as chairman), Monsignor Verling, and Rev. T. Allen, representing the Committee of tho Churches. Each of the parties is desirous of a settlement. A basis of settlement was sent forward for consideration by tho employers and employees. DAY BAKING. The fight for day baking still continues. Day baking is now in operation in tho following places:— Tho Now South Wales State Bakory, all Sydney bakeries, Rockhampton, Mount Morgan, Warwick, Dalby. many Queensland bush towns, and sixteen master bakers id Brisbane. Reports received etato that several other master bakers havo decided to adopt tho day baking syetem. CARGO PILLAGING. v Special application was made to Mr. Justice Higgins by tho Australian Associated Chambers of Commerce for a clauso in tho waterside workers' award to provide that wharf laibourers convicted of pillaging from the wharves must, be dismissed from the union. Mr. Justice Hijjfeina said ho could not go into details in regard to whioh there was no sworn evidence, and h6 could not go beyond the ambit of tho disputo beforp him. Ho j agreed, though, 'that tho assistance of tho unions should be eought to prevent the evil complained of. RECENT FEDERAL AWARDS. Commonwealth Telegraph • Linesmen.— ! 46£ hours per week. . Linesmen, £138 per annum ; linesmen in chargo and senior linosmen, £160 ; lino foremon. £186 ; line inspectors, £215, with annual increments rising from £6 per year to biennial increments for lino foremen and inspectors of £12 each. Shipping Clerks (South-eastern awaird).— | Offico staff, 48 hours weokly; wharf staff, 144 hours. Tho minimum rate* of pay run from 15s a week at 17 years for male clerks to 45s at 21 years and over. Female clerks, 128 6d a week at 16 years to 35» at I 21 years and over. No clerk who is in receipt of higher pay at tho timo of the award shall bo subject to roduction. Overtimo rates, time and a half or time off. Sugar Industry.— Bs 8d per daiy for the southern and 9s 2d for tho central and northern have been fixed as tho minimum wages for a 48-hour day week. 15s in the south and 16s in the other districts hag boon the amount fixed for board and lodg. ing v to be paid when tho worker is lodged. A DECISION UPHELD. The High Court of Australia, by a majority of four to two, havo given their judgmont in the case of the Master Builders' Association of New South Walt* versus tho Builders' Labourers' Federation. The caso hinged on tho question as to whether an award for the whole Com--monwealth was valid. Tho Master Builders' Association applied for prohibition from tho award • ac to its jurisdiction in Now South Wales, but, as stated above, tho High Court hold that tho award must stand. TO THE UNORGANISED. "If I were a factory employee, a workman on tho rtiilroads, or a wage-earner of any sort, I would undoubtedly join tho union of my trade. If I disapproved of its policy 1 would join in order to fight that policy ; if the union leaders were cltehoncst I would join in order to put them out. I believe in tho union, and 1 beliovo that all men who aro benefited by tho union are morally bound to help to the extent of their power in tho common interest* advanced by tho uaioa,'-— Th?oI dore Rassexelij < H