WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 10401, 24 August 1897, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

BURWOOD COLLIERY STRIKE ENDED. ■ ; r [Peb 'Press Association.—Copyright, ] SYDNEY, August- 24. The, Burwood colliery strike bias been settled. The management agreed; to restart ’On the strength of the. men’s assurance that they would not again leave their work without due notice.

ANOTHER STRIKE IMMINENT; The management of the Dudley Colliery have given their employes a fortnight’s notice-that the pit willbe closed unless the men accept a reduction .in th,e hewing rate from 2s lid to 2s 6d. The men decided not to accept the reduction.

TILLETT’S VALEDICTORY. Mr Ben Tillett addressed this letter to the Wellington Trades Council on the eve of his departure from the colony:— I trust the cause of the workers and of the true reformer has been assisted by my efforts. Whilst speaking out strongly, my condemnation has always been directed to bad principles and systems, and not to persons. Except in one single instance, the criticisms of the, Press have been mainly fair. I would give you as a watchword Organise, organise, organise.” Having a sane and comprehensive policy, a reform.before you embracing your citizenship, your political power, your social rights, and all that concerns your human interest, and with an effective organisation at your back, you will command tremendous power and influence for good; and the greater y°u, r , Baity the greater the measure of good will fall to your share. In the party, sectional, or class organisations, you will then be a no mean factor m the social and political reform of New Zealand. With combination you will be able to throw your influence and strength at the back of all real. refprms and true reformers, and at the same time-be able to crush the ■ dog-in-the-manger sordidness that stands in the way of your human rights and the fulness of your life.The great institutions—religious, social, educational, legislative, administrative—offer tremendous scope for real'services to be rendered. Avail yourselves of these institutions as workers and social reformers. The humanitarians, whatever their class or their creed, will join hands with you in the good work if earnestness is shown by you. As a political reformer I would urge you to adopt the socialisation of industry, land, and commodities as your programme, the demooratisatioh of your governing institutions, the extension of the unimproved rating principle and the eight-hours' system, raising age to eighteen for. employment.' and old age pensions fifty years’ limit; -municipal and local government, which is sadly lacking. You could by reform turn your cities into beautiful, - wellventilated, well-lighted, and well-sanitised habitations. iou could municipalise every public service—water, lighting, and tramway;' direct employment for all improvements, and abolish the middleman contractor. A scheme of paramount importance could be carried out, such as the erection of bath and wash houses, the building of libraries, schools for technical education, the endowing or creation of schools of art, museums, and the taking over by the community of great building schemes such as exist in Glasgow and in London, effecting the proper housing of the community, the enforcing of sanitary precautions, inducing health and longevity.. In the democratisation of your national governing institutions privilege and plural voting should be abolished. In your schemes of aid to the infirm or aged, your schemes of pensions and aids to distress should be pushed through at all cqsts. .In order to acquire these things a federation representing all the labor bodies. of all creeds and callings could, as a repre-sentative-power, enforce all the improvements lam indicating. For the outlay of a farthing every week per member an organisation greater and -more .powerful than - any organisation of class or capitalist could be brought into existence. Xbat federation should be clear of the conflicting elements of either party, creed, calling, color, or country, and solidarity should be ensured to influence the march of progress, and you would be as a Roman phalanx, irresistible in overwhelming numbers, bound together by the ties of sympathy and interest. That you may be so organised to have the solidarity effected undisturbed by any conflicting jealousies within your ranks, or the false cries of your cunning enemies outside, is my wish. We want real, solid progress, and not the flitting will-of ; the*wisp and shadowy reforms.

A question was asked in the Sydney, Legislature the other night as to whether the Postmaster-General was aware that, owing to the low-priced contracts for carrying mails entered into by . some mail contractors, they did not pay their ooaoh drivers and grooms, some of whom were married men. Mr Cook, in reply, said he did not know such was the case, and he could not see his way clear .to insert a clause in all future eon tracts that the sureties be liable for all wages due to drivers and grooms.