THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 16

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

[By Veteran.]' Brief contributions on mailers with reference lo the Labour Movement are invited. NEEED FOR ACCURACY IN DATES. On reading Trades and Labour Notes by “Industrial Tramp,” in the Auckland ‘ Star,’ for tbo third week of April last, I noticed one or two errors which may be misleading to Labour men who may in future years be reading up the history of the movement in New Zealand. The most serious mistake is where “ Industrial Tramp ” says the first award was made on May 31, 1897, and that it was the Wellington seamen’s award, followed by an Auckland seamen’s award, dated January 4, 1898. . I think if “ Industrial Tramp ” will look up the records again he will find that the first two awards were made on September 23, 1896, at Reefton. One was the Denniston coal miners’ award and the other the Reefton quartz miners’ award. In describing the employees representatives on the court, “Tramp” is fairly correct, but ho says there have been the same number of workers’ representatives on the court, and ho names them. Surely ho has forgotten Mr M. ,T. Reardon, who followed Mr J. A. M'Cullough. 1 also notice ho makes no mention of Mr Justice Denniston. who acted ns president while Mr Justice Edwards was away in Australia. “Industrial Tramp ” "goes on to say: “In all the | different changes of the personnel of i the court, as recounted above, it has been the fortunate experience of the tribunal, that only one change came about at the one time. There wore always two of the members left to secure a continuity of policy, and provide experience for the incoming member, he he president or member. When Mr Montcith came on the court as a young and energetic workers’ representative, there were already Mr Justice Frazer and Mr Scott to furnish sufficient industrial ballast to guard against the ship being taken “flat aback” in any-emergency; aiateso it has been all the way through. Trur G. T. Booth is the new member now, and there aro the president, and Mr Monteitb, well versed in the precedents and decisions of the court, carrying out the Scriptural axiom in an extensive fashion of ‘ A little leaven Icaveneth the whole lump.’ I have termed Mr Booth a ‘ new member,’ hut lie cannot, by any stretch of imagination bo considered an inexperienced member, for, born in 1858, and having built up tbo wellknown business firm of Booth, Macdonald, of Christchurch, and occupied many positions on borough councils, chambers of commerce, and employers’ associations in Christchurch, ho brings with him a large fund of industrial experience which will make him anything but an inexperienced man on the court. Our workers out in search of work, often complain that employers applied to, invariably look askance at grey hairs or other signs of ago, and the expression lias been coined * too old at forty.’ But it is rather to the wisdom of the employers, that when they need calm deliberation and sound judgment, they look to men who have had experience of the world to manage their industrial affairs.” ■ * » * INDUSTRIAL UNREST. Speaking at Melbourne on April 11, the Acting Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party (Air J. FI ■ Scullin) said that there were signs that tho Brucc-Pago Ministry was contemplating an election this year. Air Bruce’s constant references to strikes and industrial unrest showed that ho was trying to create a psychology similar to that which enabled him to win through at tho last Federal election. “It would not be forgotten,” said Mr Scullin, “ that Mr Bruce’s appeal to the electors in 1925 was for a mandate to settle industrial disputes. Given that mandate, ho promised strong action that would rid Australia of those who ho alleged were causing the trouble. The only action he took was to pass the Crimes Act, and then remained inactive for two years. Now that the election was approaching the Ministry had brought in the Arbitration Bill, which was designed to bring about industrial peace, hut was more likely to create industrial war.” Mr Scullin said that tho Bruce-Puge Government, was to blame for the serious unemployment. The policy of raising loans oversea, which could only come hero in tho form of goods, together with inadequate protection lor Australian industries, had been a big factor in contributing to unemployment in Australia. In addition there was a flow of immigration without adequate provision for its absorption.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN AMERICA. A cablegram last week estimated the number of unemployed in the United States at something more than 1,800.000 persons. In America there is much difference of opinion as to the exact number, and, though the above is the estimate of the Secretary of Labour, it is not generally accepted. Another estimate recently made reached 8,000,000, and it was urged that this was based on the Labour Bureau figures. A further one is that published by tho ‘ New Republic,' and this reaches 4,000,000. “ Already, it may be said, conditions have improved, and unemployment may have shrunk to t*he ‘ normal ’ level before we can get around to doing anything about it,” adds tho ‘Republic.’ “ Even if this were so, wo ought to prepare for tho next onslaught. But it is not likely to he so. Improvement Inis been visible recently m automobile manufacturing iwd steel. The motor manufacturers have boon preparing in advance for the spring trade; it remains to bo seen whether they can soli many more cars than in 1927, over a series of months. Steel has benefited not only by increased demand from the automobile, industry, but from large railroad orders, partly carried over from last year. But the expectation is that not much more will bo spent by the railroads for plant and equipment m 1928 as a whole than in 1927. Large contracts for public works have been awarded; whether these and new capital expenditure for industry will serve to make up the recent deficiencies in production remains at tho least open to question. No recovery is in sight for textiles or coal, which contribute large divisions of the unemployed army. There is no sure sign on tho horizon that business will continue to be much bettor this vea- than last.”

IS PROFIT-SHAKING A FAILURE? Profit-sharing in industry does not seem to be making very last progress in Great Britain, judging from data presented on that subject in a recent issue of tliQ ‘ Industrial News,’ published by the British Trades Union Congress. .. Outside the Labour co-operatives ot production, which play quite a role in the construction industry in Britain, there were 280 partnership business concerns in existence at the beginning of this year, with about 400,000 employees, of whom 193,000 were entitled to share in the profits of the business. In some cases employees must deposit savings with the concern or buy stock in order to participate in the profits, and, in general, it is necessary to servo a certain number of years with the company before such participation. Casualties have been heavy among the schemes started in the engineering, ship-building, and allied industries, only forty-four of the eighty-one companies originally undertaking profitsharing having stuck to it. In agriculture but six of the thirty original schemes are still alive; in general, merchandising the number of houses sharing profits has fallen from 92 to 41. According to details furnished by 205 of the existing profit-sharing concerns,

the average annual bonus paid, or credited, to tbe employees last year was £9 8s 7d. Tlio highest annual bonus was paid in insurance, banking, and other financial undertakings, being as much as £23 16s. - m * ♦ * LABOUR LAUNCHES CENSURE MOTION. The New South Wales State Parliament was opened recently by Commission. Tho Governor's speech, which was road by the president of the Legislative Council (Mr Flowers), said that Parliament had been called together to deal with certain bills of an urgent nature. After the formal opening ceremony there was a short adjournment. On resuming later in the day the Speaker (Mr Levy) announced tho election of Air M. Morton as the new member for Wollondilly, in succession to Sir George Falter. Labour Leader Lang challenged the election, contending that it was unconstitutional in that it 'should have taken place under the new boundaries. The Speaker, however, ruled that Mr Morton was entitled to take his scat. Svmpathctie references wore made to tlio'absence of tho Premier (Mr Bavin), owing to a serious operation, and the hope was expressed that lie would soon bo able to take his place as leader of the Government. Numerous questions were asked by members, particularly concerning unemployment. The Acting Premier (Mr Buttensbaw) expressed the opinion that unemployment was now decreasing. Labour members did not think that such was the ease. Labour Leader Lang gave notice that to-day ho would move that tho Government’no longer possessed the confidence of tho House. Following the customary rule, tho House immediately adjourned. The censure motion will begin to-day (Wednesday). FORTY PER CENT. WORKLESS. Forty per cent, of American labour is unemployed, according to a statement made before the Agricultural Committee of the House of Representatives by Mr Edgar Wallace, Parliamentary representative of the American Federation of Labour. Tbe present conditions of unemployment in the United States were, he said, comparable with the general depression of 1920. The normal proportion of unemployment was 20 per cent. A Democratic, resolution introduced in the House ot" Representatives gives a different but no less serious estimate of the number of unemployed as 4,000,000. Unemployment, it states, is most keenly felt in New York. New Jersey, New England, the middle Atlantic States, and tbe coal regions of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. « ♦ » » ENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN. The month of Juno will be devoted by Hie British Labour Party to a festival of extraordinary activity. It will bo a “Women’s Month” to signalise the enfranchisement of 3,000,000 women under the bill now before tbe House of Commons. The women’s sections and Labour Women's Advisory Councils, aided by local Labour Parties, will carry out everywhere a remarkable programme of effort. There will bo house-to-house visitations, coupled with mass canvassing, garden parties, children’s fetes, picnics, charabanc tours - (with meetings on tbe road), and, finally, county gala days, with processions, pageants, and demonstrations.