LABOUR NOTES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 14

LABOUR NOTES

~™l (By "Optimist.") THE JULY CONGRESS. As the time for the July Conference is close at hand, it is perhaps as well to givo a short review of tho last, Congress— called the Unity Congress — hold in Wellington from the Ist July to 10th July, 1913. Tho first division showed that there wore 332 delegates present, representing 30,000 workers. Up to that time it was tho largest Labour conference hold in Australasia. At the conference two parties were formed— the United Federation of Labour (representing Labour in tl>e industrial Geld), and tho Social Democratic Party (representing Labour in the political field). During the progress of the Conference a split occurred over the "strike clauses" of the Constitution. Some of the delegates considered the clause would be putting too much power in the hands of tho National Executive in ordering btrikos, and moved amondments with the view of getting the consent of every union by ballot before striking. Every amendment was defoated. As a result of the dofoat several delegates _ withdrew, and subsequently several unions represented at tho Conference by_ delegates remained outside the Federation, and "unity" was not attained. With regard to the Social Democratic Party — the political body — a bimilar result' camo about, and a separate body was set up called the United Labour Party. Amongst the objects of tho United Fedoration of Labour carried at tho Conference vvero: "To organise systematically and scientifically ; to secure employment of our members in preference to nonunionists." Has the United Federation of Labour attained these objects in Wellington ? Has it organised one body of workers^^Has it obtained any better conditions uflSany bodies that were affiliated to it ? CBrhat has been the cost to the unions affiliated with it? So far as the writer can gauge, the answers are that the Federation has disorganised instead of organised,- lost conditions instead of obtained them, lessened employment for individuals attached to affiliated unions, and the cost to the affiliated unions has been great. On the other hand unions affiliated to the Trades and Labour Council, Wellington, have obtained a six-day week for hotel employees, an increase of union by affiliation, seven new unions havo been formed, improved conditions sought for, fought for. and obtained, and the cost has been nominal. CONCILIATION BOARD. The Wellington Conciliation Board, presided over by Mr. P. Hally, has been ex. tremoly busy during the last Bix months. The number of disputes has been heavy (17), and in nearly every case an assessment has been reached. This speaks vol* ume3 for Mr. llally's ability aa a conciliator. WATERSIDE WORK. At the moment a conference is being held by the employers and the Waterside Union with regard to improving conditions of labour at the waterfront. It is to be hoped that any scheme ultimately agreed upon will not eliminate tho aged worker from following his occupation as a watorsider. He is generally a man full of resource, although not perhaps having the vigour of a younger man. If he is left out in tho cold, he will find it hard to get employment elsewhere. | TRADES UNION INVESTMENTS. A member of » Scottish union recently called at the Tradce Hall, Auckland, bearing a clearance card from that organisation. As showing tho financial positii... of some trade unions of tho United Kingdom ho mentioned that his union had £3000 invested in the Greenock dock, whioh brought in a good return to tho union. It also had £500 to £700 invested in a shipping company, whioh last year paid a dividend of 60 per cent, on tho capital invested. MR. PHILIP SNOWDEN, M.P. Mr. Snowden is shortly to visit New Zealand in tho interests of tho temperance movomont. Speaking recently to 25,000 minors at Swansoa, ho said "that for a working man to bo outside tho pale of unionism was cither duo to denso ignoranco or colossal selfishness. A trade unionist who voted for a Liberal or a Tory against a Labour candidate was juet aa much a "blackleg" to his class as n man who wont to work during a trade dispute. Tho greatest fault of tho British workman was want of eelf-ro«poct, want of Belf-oon-fidence, want of respect for his own labour, and of respect for his own class. Until they got more respect for thignselves, moro confidence in themsolves, t»gr would continue to recoivo what crumbs they got, aa Lazarus received tho crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Ho had no patience whatover with tho working mail who put the responsibility of hia condition upon everyone but himself. SHIRT AND WHITE WORKERS. At a recent meeting ol tht> Auckland Shirt and White Workers' Union, tho question was raised as to tho advisabloncss of taking stops to ascertain the fooling of the trade upon a proposal to Work the weekly number of hours in fivo daye, cutting nut Saturdays from tho list ol working days. At present threo and a. quarter hours are worked on Saturdays, from 8 a,.ni. to 11.45 a.m., and it is claimed that thig time could with advantage bo distributed over the fivo othor days, and Saturday could bo then a olear day off for both employers and employees without limiting the output or shortening the hours pf labour. The Factory Act at present bans tho way, aa it docs not allow any woman to work for moro than 8i hours in any one day, excluding meal times. Tho matter will come up for further discussion on 26th June. POLITICAL ACTION. The Executivo Board of the Carpenters and Joinors has on several occasions received resolutions' from branches requesting it to take a vote of members on the question of affiliating with either one or the other of tho parties claiming to vopresent Labour's political aspirations. Tho chairman ( of tho executive board points out that ' eucli a proceeding is contrary to tho rules of the* board . . . and that oven if a majority of tho mombors were in favour of uffiliation . . they would havo no right to u6e tho machinery of our organisation to forward tho antorest of the party of their choice or to introduce mat. tor into tho business of our meetings, which was foreign to tho objects of tho society. AUCKLAND UNIONS. According !o Jate advices the following Auckland unions havo decided to be re« presented at the July Conference : Painters, plumbers, plasterers, general labourers, furniture tradeSj bootmakers, coach\vorkor3, gas companies' employees, brewery workers, hotel and restaurant employees and tinibarworkcrs, and there may bo others. This shows a total of 11 organisations as against 47 organisations last congress. THE ARBITRATION COURT. A feeling is growing amongst trades unions and workers generally that the time is very near when tho present system of Arbitration awards will have to be materially altered. Instead of as at pre. sent of granting wages as to what tho particular industry will stand, (he award will first of all be based on a "living ■wage" quite apart from tho "industry" standpoint If an industry cannot grant «n increase of wages that will merit a. "liv ing wage" then cither the industry should die out or it should claim attention at tho hands of tho Customs authorities. Tho question of statisiics bearing on what a living watfe should bo should have tho earnest consideration of the Government. In tho Commonwealth Mr. Justico Hig* gins obtains his data, from Mr. Kuibbs'a records.