WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 9771, 30 July 1895, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

[Peb Press Association.]

SYDNEY, July 30.

Shearing in the Western sheds has begun. At Mungie Station the men refused l{ss per hundred and struck, but afterwards accepted the offer and started quietly. This is taken as an indication .that there will bo little trouble with the union this year. THE RELIEF WORKS. A General Committee meeting o{ the Unemployed Relief Works Association, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by Messrs Mitchell (chairman), Kempthorne, Ramsay, Ritchie, Bathgate, Burt, Brown, and the hon. secretary (Mr G. P; Farquhar). A letter from the hon. secretary of the Miners’ Association was read asking for a list of subscribers to the Association’s funds with a view to a direct appeal being made to them in order that they might express their desire upon whether a portion of the money should not be transferred to the Miners’ Association. —The hon. secretary was instructed to inform the Association that a full list of subscribers had already been published in the Press, and that all the moneys were already allopated to works now in progress or decided upon. The report of the Works Committee for the past week was submitted by Mr Chisholm and approved. After several minor matters had been discussed, including some questions of finance, the meeting closed.

A correspondent writes .-—“Bowen Downs, where the diabolical wholesale poisoning of workmen took place, is a large station near Roma,- Queensland, whore they sVar about a quarter of a million sheep Last year there was great trouble at this station between unionists and nonunionists, the shearing on that account taking over twelve weeks. Queensland having long had free immigration to Brisbane and Rockhampton, there is an unlimited supply of free labor always knocking about such large stations as Bowen Downs. There is a law passed that no immigrants can leave Queensland under a certain time. This was to prevent them swarming into New South Wales after landing. There being no work for swaggers in Queensland except at shearing time, they live during the winter on the squatters, and are becoming a regular men see. Three or four travellers lately nearly killed a lonely boundary rider because lie refused to supply them with rations, receiving a heavy sentence for the assault. When the Momba woolshed was burning there were fifty travellers camped in the huts, and, although these had been given plenty of free rations, not one raised the alarm of fire or offered assistance.” The weather has interfered with progress of the works the last day or two. Whereat all possible, however, the men show eagerness to be at work and earn as much as possible. A gang of men have been started to widen the Koslyn tram cutting, top of Rattray street, to facilitate pedestrian traffic in that quarter. Great improvements are noticeable in this locality. Planting of trees and shrubs will soon be started in various parts of the Belt where trenching is completed. The Southern Market Reserve and Jubilee Park have been quite transformed, and, under the skilful supervision exercised, will prove pleasant recreative resorts. The Works Committee meet almost daily, and are devoting considerable time and energy in seeing that both the men employed and the publicly generally will benefit by the works in hand. The principal objects of tho Association are to relievo distress temporarily, and to enable men to try and better their circumstances—not to enter on permanent work, nor to come into contact with the labor market. As illustrating the fact that the men while receiving assistance are not slow to assist others if they are in a position to do so, it may be mentioned that a case of distress brought under the notice of some of their number received very prompt attention. In an hoir or two a few pounds were collected and handed over to the parly concerned. The supervising engineers, Messrs Hay and Mirams, have expended much time and labor in laying out work, and are pleased with the progress and improvements generally made by the men. Robert Stuart sends a letter in which he complains of being refused work by the Relief Committee. It is doubtful whether any good purpose would be served by ventilating the alleged grievance. The Committee have an exceedingly difficult and troublous task, which we thoroughly believe they are performing with discretion and a large share of success, and, though it is quite possible that individual cases of hardship may occur, it would not help anyone for a third party to interfere, unless on the compulsion of a serious and strongly established indictment.

Mrs Grace Neill, inspector of factories, in her annual report, says “ Dressmaking as a trade is at present on a decline. Whether this is but a fluctuation of fashion or a permanent change remains to be proved. The larger firms say that their dressmaking rooms are run at a yearly loss. First-class private dressmakers complain tnat their trade has gone, and that small dressmakers are multiplying indefinitely, and the Liter are glad to go out to work for ladies by the day at from 2s to 3s. Notwithstanding the protection a (lorded by the 25 per cent, duty on made garments, society ladies who wish to he stylish and up to date get their smartest frocks from Paris, London, Melbourne, or Sydney, and let the local tailor build them a tweed suit for practical wear. The modern simplification of dress in the prevalent fashion of plain skirt, coat and blouse has aLo struck a blow at the dressmaking business. Siientitic methods of measuring and filling and well-cut paper patterns abound, so that any woman of ordinary intelligence and plenty of leisure can cither make her own mil her children’s dresses or supervise a needlewoman engaged by the day. Meanwhile girls are offering themselves in any number as ‘ apprentice 4 ,’ though seldom with the idea of acquiring a self-supporting trade. These apprentices receive no pay for either six or twelve months—may bo kept running messages, learning little or nothing during that lime, and sent off directly they are entitled to a wage. It will thus be seen that it is improbable that the wages of dressmakers will increase, that the chances of a girl earning a fair living at dressmaking are very slight, and that mothers would do better to obtain for their daughters a thorough home and domestic training than put them to the dressmaking after leaving school. ” In the annual report of the Labor Department Mr Tregear remarks:—“lt has been found necessary on account of the number of men out of employment to put the co-opera-tive laborers at puUic works on threequarter time. This is one of those temporary economies sometimes forced on us by pressure of circumstances when the money to be spent is limited by vote, and the number of applicants is in excess. Request has been made to Ministers that the same principle should be applied to skilled workmen, such as carpenters, painters, and others employed on Government buildings, etc. There are considerable object ions to any such course. Although it is difficult to know how to meet the demands of unemployed artisans, and although it may seem at first sight fair that those already in work should share their time with less fortunate craftsmen, I fe-r that the effect of such an innovation woo'd be disastrous io workmen by lowering wage < generally. So -oou a- it was found tha. 1 carpenter, working four days a week, r< cc-ived only £1 H>s per v.c-4:, so soon would there grow up an ac-ep’.cd idet, in the market that a carpenter’s ordinary wage was £i lbs a week. The effect would be disastrous to the skilled trades. It would bo better if carpenters and others gf-Ding 8s or 10s a day for every working day in the week should voluntarily set aside 2s a day towards a fund for the relief of those out of work in their own trade than that timv should suffer the general lowering of wage*. ” CHRISTCHURCH. Jcly 30. A meeting of the Winter Work Fund Committee was held to-day, w hen it was resolved to send a telegram to the Premier calling attention, to the state of the labor market here; also, calling attention to the incorrect reports issued by the Labor Bureau. Over 500 men are being employed by the

local bodies, and it is stated that .over Jpb are employed altogether. It is farther stated that the lands ia hand will not hold otit beyond three weeks. .