WORK AND WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

A STOVEMAKERS' STRIKE. Press Association—By TelegTapfa—Copyright. SYDNEY July 20. (Received July 20, at 10.24 a.m.) Over 100 stovemakers employed by Mctteas and Co., at Newtown, struck as a protest against the introduction of piece instead of day work. THE NEW ZEALAND LABOR MARKET. [Special to thk Star.] WELLINGTON, July 20. The ' Lyttelton Times' thinks there is no reason to suppose that the members of the Dunedin and Suburban Laborers' Union are not quite disinterested in deputing Mr S. Boreham to supply one of the large Home newspapers with a.n account of the conditions of labor and the cost of living in New Zealand, but wishes the task had been entrusted to a more judicial authority. It does not doubt Mr Boreham's ability or integrity, but is afraid that he sometimes allows his strong •sympathy with the working classes to run away with his judgment. At the meeting of the union at which he was requested to lay the laborers' case before the. British public, for instance, he made a number of statements which, to put it very mildly, could not be included in any fair summary of the position. OTAGO LABORERS' UNION. The following are the main features of tbe report to be presented at tbe annual meeting of the above union, to be held at Milton:— The case brought by the union on behalf I of the Milburn lime-workers, which was commenced in the Arbitration Court just | about two years ago, has at length. been disposed of, and an award—of a kin<l—has been given. The Threshing award, which was to continue in force for two years, expires on the Ist November nest, and the union will be called upon in the near future to decide whether action shall be taken with a view to securing a fresh award. For some time past grave dissatisfaction has been expressed amongst workers at the palpable unfairness, and our union have every reason to associate themselves with the views expressed by delegates to the Trades Conference and by other prominent unionists in condemnation of the present ' Court. Several instances could be giveneven fwm.Ofjx brief experience as a union—of the arbitrary and one-sided action of the Court, but for the present one sample will suffice. Some two years ago the union' wets approached by a number of Milburn Eme-workers and asked to try to secure redress for certain grievances which these particular workers were alleged to be laboring under. The union accordingly prepared a statement, cited the MHborn employers—the only lime-work employers in | the county—and asked for an award. The Judge declined to make an award unless and until all the lime quarry proprietors in the province were cited, and members will

recall the vast amount of tronble and expense which the union incurred in hunting out every pokey little quarry throughout the length and breadth of Otago, and in gathering witnesses and evidence from the most remote and scattered districts." After a long delay the whole of the parties were at length brought before th© Cfcrart, and voluminous evidence was taken at various centres from InvercargiU to Oamaru. A few months ago, the Court made their award, and to the amazement of the union ordered that the award should only applyto the two employers originally cited, the whole of the other had been cited by the direct order of the-Court -jbemg"• expressly exempted front its provisions. Little wonder that earnest unionists who are anxious to alleviate the condition of their fellows feel somewhat bitter about the "red tape-and flummery" of th© Court. '.; .-: For some considerable time past the desirableness of having the wages of ploughmen; fencers, and all agricultural workers placed on a fixed and definite footing has been brought forcibly before the union, and with that object in view a lengthy and comprehensive statement is now being drafted by the Executive. This will be submitted to the union in due course, and Wlll afterwards be referred to a conference of the .workers and the employers. As this statement, if. adopted, will include practically every class of agricultural and general labor m the district, it is of the greatest importance that every worker interested should join the union and take his part in seeing that the terms and conditions asked for are- satisfactory. . Tn view of the uncertainty of existing political conditions,, and of the possibility of a reactionary party getting into power, it is more than ever necessary, for the •workers to cling to the union and to stand ten in defence of tbeir right. It is hoped that during the. current- year a forward movement will be made in the direction ol extending the organisation of country workers. Th e Trades and Labor Council have already shown their sympathy with such a movement by giving a substantial donation, and if the union are ready to do their part the Trades Council can safely be depended on to do thens..