COUNCILLOR ANDERSON & THE GASWORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 96, 23 April 1921, Page 9

COUNCILLOR ANDERSON & THE GASWORKERS

10 THI KDITOR. Sir, —As chairman of the Lower Hutt branch of the New Zealand Labour Party (affiliated to the Hutt L.8.0.-) from whence originated the resolution calling upon the Hutt L.E.C. to demand Councillor Anderson's resignation, I should like, with your permission, to say a few words in reply to Councillor Anderson's complaint, and, in passing,' let me say that no one regrets the necessity more than myself. The occupation of gas-stoking_ ig one of the most laborious in modern industry, so much so that not more than 1 per cent, of workers are physically able to stick it, and -of that 1 per cent, not more than a-quarter are willing to. The consequence is that to those who are willing to mortgage their physical future, attractions in the shape of much higher wages, etc., have to be made. Out of those who are willing to engage in the work very few stay at it for long. Hence, the apparently high pay. Now, the history of the last bonus: is well.known : suffice to say that after conceding 9s, the Arbitration Court reduced it to 3s. This, it is presumed, was for all workers in the Dominion. If so, it included .gas siokers, whose cost of living had risen proportionately. Coup cillor Anderson did, his best (or worst) to stop it. He now challenges the movement to show which plank he has broken, simply because under present conditions it is not advisable to put down in black and white a hard-and-fast rule/governing wages. However, we contend that he has (figuratively speaking) smashed the whole structure, including its foundations, because, if I understand anything of the Labour movement, its whole origin,, intention, and design is to get for the workers, hand and brain,.more .comforts, more luxuries, and more of everything that Goes to make up the (fulness of life. These can only be got under present conditions through the medium of £s. d.. whjch Councillor Anderson refuses. He asks what is to be the standard of pay for the guidance of future representatives? Previous to the war.£s 12s might have looked respectable, though, with the lessons of the ■war, it has been proved that industry could have paid more. But everybody knows that that sum is not more than equal to £3 now. Councillor Anderson cmpte9, presumably with a view to pandering to our lower-paid comrades, of whom I am one, the proportionate rise of the gas stoker's wage since 1914. which is about the proportion of most, other workers' rises. Now, will Councillor Anderson he as frank, (and shall I say courageous) and publish to the world the proportionate increase of profits he derives from his business now, and the three years preceding 1914? If he is doing hotter (and no sensible man begrudges him if he is), why does he refuse those in his power some more of the good things he is enjoying himself. Finally, since the passing of the Lower Hutt resolution, Councillor Anderson has gone one better, for he has been the prime mover on the Petone* Councillor a reduction of wages (i.e., the 3s bonus) and reversion to a 48 (or is it a 56) hour week, and if th© Petone woollen workers, whose representative fie is, close their eyes, the time may come when they will be called upon to fight against a similar move. In all my more than thirty years' active connection with ..Labour politics, I have never yet met with'a parallel case. Trusting you will find room for this rather long letter. —I am, etc.,

".■,,-. ■ H. ADAMS, Chairman, Lower Hutt Branch, N.Z.L. Party. 21st April. '