LABOUR NOTES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 1, 2 January 1915, Page 10

LABOUR NOTES

(By "Optimist.") THE WATERFRONT. Things are moving along smoothly on the waterfront, and men arc kopt fairly well employed. The new "union officials are doing their best to help things along The trouble that brewed on board the Messina was well nipped in the bud, and the offender brought to book, but it is as well for the Employers' Co-operative Association to bear in mind that the punishment must not be too severe It would be as well for the union executive and the association to come to some mutual arrangement to meet cases of this kind for the common good. THE LABOUR PARTY It is the intention of some of those who havo voted for Labour in the past, and who intend to do 6o again in tho future — men who are not at present linked up in any trade union or other organisation — to see what can bo done in helping along the cause of Labour politically. It is felt that Labour will suffer if it has to look to the aid of extremists of the typo of those who, from personal pique or other cause, consider themselves above platform, agreements, or any other consideration that raises party above self. With the new blood drawn from all classes there is no reason why the movement should not grow, and at will be found here, as it was in the Commonwealth, that the extremists who comprise the tail and want to wag the dog will be in cold isolation. MR. FISHER'S VISIT. The visit of Mr Andrew Fisher — and later that of Mr. W M. Hughes— to the Dominion should give a fillip to the Labour movement here What Mr Fisher has overcome in the Commonwealth against tremendous odds and opposition should stimulate those who have laboured, and are labouring, in the field here. Quietly, but fearlessly, Mr Fisher has worked his way forward etep by 6tep, foot by foot, from a working miner at Gympie to Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, and through the Australian Navy his name is now a household word. He has gathered into his fold some of the best brains of the Commonwealth, and even his political opponents admit that the name of Andrew Fisher is synonymous with honesty of purpose, straightforwardness, and fair dealing. No carping critic can find a flaw in the character of the elect of Wide Bay. NOT A LIVING WAGE. It was decided in tho New South Wales after the \ysr broke out that the regular system of increments and increases in the salaries of Civil servants should cease for tho time being A deputation recently waited on tho Attorney-General in Sydney pointing out that unless increments in some cases were granted Civil servants would not be receiving a living wage. Tho Attorney-General stated he would look into the question of cost of paying increments to those receiving less than £200 a year In Canada the authorities were feeding people in groups Australia had not got to that stage yet, but the day might come when the Government would not be considering increments, but a very much more distasteful proposition. In view of the possibilities of the situation, he hesitated to promise anything. LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION. Mr. Justice Bevan, Chief Justice of tho Northorn Territory, has just arrived at Sydney Discussing the labour market in the Northern. Territory, he said it was at present unsettled on account of the demands of unskilled labour for big wages. A number of men were on strike, and in his Honour's opinion they hardly gave a fair return for tho wages demanded Unskilled labourers, who were already earning as much as £3 2s 6d a week, were demanding £4. The whole question o£ wa°fos in that part of tho Commonwealth had boon referred to the Arbitration Court. By comparison with the more sottied States, the cost of living was slightly higher in tbo Northorn Territory, but tho disparity, in his judgment, did not warrant the workers' demands. Mr. Justice Bovan did not agree with those who contend that tho Northern Territory is unsuitable for white men. Success or failure, of course, largely depended upon the settler_ himself . Before any policy of importation of coloured labour was adopted, he considered that tho aVailablo supplies of ' British and Southern Europeans should be invited to settlo in the Territory JUDGE HEYDON'S DECISION. In Sydney Union circles the recent judgment of Judge Heydon, in respect to the application by the Railway Commissioner for a suspension of the payment of increments duo to railway employees under various awards, has not found favour. By this action tho increments are suspended pending a decision of the Wages Board on the matter ARBITRATION. According to statements made by officials of _ the _ New South Wales Minors' Federation it would appear that that organisation is not favourable to arbitration — certainly not favourable to the system which compels Buch organisations to arbitrate when undesirous of doing so. Their remarks indicate that they would prefer the Arbitration Act being made optional as far as unions are concerned. Union secretaries in the Trades Hall were not anxious to pass an opinion for or against the miners' suggestion, but one did say that it was not without a. precedent. He said that under the New Zealand Arbitration Act and the Victorian State Wages Board Act similar circumstances prevail. In Victoria employees are not > compelled by virtue of the Act to refrain from striking in the event of nn award not being to their liking. In the li^ht of recent events in New Zealand it would no doubt prove a. helpful hint to the New South Wales miners if some union secretary here were to send them the Hon. J. T. Paul's booklet entitled "Labour and tho Future," published in 1911. The agreements entered into j outside the Arbitration Court in the Do- ! minion havo created more discord than any awards made under the Arbitration Court. COST OF LIVING An. item of interest in Sydney is a discussion goinp on. amongst unionists interested in that big subject, "Cost of Living." It is considered that there is a need for Governmental action in regard to the standardising of the weights of various food commodities. It is alleged by men that have gone closely into the question that there has been a tendency by some firms to reduce, the weight of certain articles. It is claimed by these unionists that if an Act dealing with the matter was passed, it would be a protection both to tho consumer and the tradespeople who at present supply full weight articles. One man said that tho cost of living figures compiled by Mr. Knibbs did not take into consideration those reductions in weights.