LABOUR NOTES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 13

LABOUR NOTES

(By "Optimist.") CARPENTERS AND JOINERS. The monthly returns for the Carpenters and Joiners' Sooiety show a memborehip of 4622, with 43 out of employment, with trade conditions described mostly as "moderate," but in the Auckland district as "bad." For the Commonwealth a membership of 8311 is shown, with a toemendous number out of employment, and trade generally as "bad." In Perth, Western Australia, 25 per cent, of the members are unemployed, and in Melbourne unemployment is rife. THE QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS. The Queensland Elections are over and Labour has wiped the elate with a glorious victory, the biggest triumph that Labour has ever experienced at the polls. The elections have been fought hard, and Labour has spared no energy, in organising and on the platform, to bring about the result. The new Labour Premier, Mr. Ryan, is a young and vigorous man. He has the best of his life before him, and he is just the typo of man to "make good." Last o lection Labour had the aftermath of the disastrous Brisbane strike, and tho sectarian strife (Biblereading in Schools) to combat. They were hard pushed against tho wall by sins, not of their commission, but of some other fellows' ; but it's a long Tano that ha-s not got a turning, and tho turn has come. Labour has striven for victory in Queensland since 1886, when the attempt failed. In 1892 Labour had 4 representatives, and the number from 1893 to 1912 varied from 15 .to 35. For the last Parliament 23 Labour member* wore returned, and now after the election, over 50, a gain of ove-r 100 per cent. There must be a reason for it, and the main reason is exploitation. The Labour papers have fairly reeked- of x it for the last six weeke. and the facts and figures they produced have evidently not only convinced the consumer, but have convinced tho farmer as well. DAYLIGHT BAKING. In future all the bread baked in Brisbane Svill be produced in daylight. The starting time will bo 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. ; finishing time 6 p.m. MINERS' COMPLAINT. Men suffering from miners' phthisis, so widely spread among the metalliferous workers, will not in future be given work in West Australian mines. The reasons for this _ decision are set forth in a communication which has reached sundry unions throughout Australia. It is forwarded on behalf of the Mine Workers' Relief Fund by the acting secretary of the Westralian Miners' Association. The Mine Workers' Relief Fund, which is maintained by equal contributions from the West Australian Government, the mine employees, and the mine owpers, has been founded to provide for miners whose employment has caused injury to their health and rendered them unable to work. Their dependents also are considered. The men who were in the W.A. mines when the fund started have been granted exempted certificates, enabling them to benefit under the fund if their state of health should ever render this necessary. But newcomers who seek work in the mines, if not possessed of one of these certificates, wilt be required to pass a medical examination and produce a certificate showing freedom from any disease that may have caused by working as a miner This precaution is regarded as highly necessary by those in charge of the fund, as they maintain that otherwise it might be swamped by an influx of men already affected by disease. • PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. New instructions have been issued to the heads of Commonwealth Departments by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher) in regard to preference. The circular conveying these instructions states that where a bona fide union exist ed in any industry applicants for Government employment must be members of that body before the appointment wan made. The object intended was to encourage the industrial community to become, members of recognised industrial organisations It was to be distinctly understood, however, that preference was given on the understanding that the unions offered all reasonable facilities for non-unionistß to join their organisations. '