THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 17

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

[By J.S.S.] Brief contributions on matters with reference to the Labor Movement are invited. UNEMPLOYMENT SUSTENANCE ALLOWANCE. CASUAL WORKERS’ DEMANDS MET. Tho watersiders appear to have been successful in the protests they placed before the Minister in charge of tho Unemployment Insurance Bill. The Minister added a clause in the new legislation providing that on such recommendation being made by the board, sustenance allowance might bo paid to any unemployed contributor to the fund, notwithstanding that the period of his unemployment was less than fourteen days, or that lie had been already in receipt of sustenance allowance for more than thirteen weeks. This appears substantially to overcome the objection raised that the vast number of workers casually employed would suffer hardship through, being deprived of the benefits of tho fund in consequence of doing a few hours work. Whether, of course, the fresh clause works out beneficially in a practical sense remains to he seen. There are undoubtedly misgivings and forebodings among unionists concerning the difficulties and troubles which must arise when the hoard set up to deal with the problem of unemployment actually has begun its task. Resentment against the tax must now be nursed inwardly, as the futility of public protest has become apparent now that the_ Bill has passed the House. The particular present concern of the movement is to watch developments as they affect the unemployed themselves and the organised workers generally. Judging by criticisms heard quite commonly this week U is obvious that many have not grasped the fact that the Minister has acceded to the demands of the watersiders and others,, and has added a clause to meet tho special needs of the casual workers. Possibly some may plead that the clause is not definite enough, and that too much is being left to the discretion of the board. Of course much will depend on the wise, practical administration of the hoard’s functions, and disappointment has been expressed that tho proposed representation of the Labour movement is not greater. Certainly, however, the watersiders gained a victory in having the addition to the sustenance clause passed by tho House on tho same day that a deputation went before the Minister of Labour (Hon. S. G. Smith) _ for that purpose. There had been a little previous criticism of tho alleged selfish attitude to the Bill taken up by tho watersiders, and it was gratifying to see that the Minister -was impressed with tho justice of their claim. The only member of tho House voting against the amended clause was tho Independent member for Gisborne (Mr W. D. Lysnar). It would be noticed that in the last debates to bo hold on this all-import-ant Bill, various amendments were put forward by Reform and Labour members designed to effect improvements or restrictions in the legislation. The nature of each amendment was determined by the political outlook of the mover. There seemed confusion over tho matter as to whether award rates of pay would prevail on works undertaken under the jurisdiction of tho hoard, Labour members desiring to be assured that protection was adequate for tho workers. It was pointed out by tho Minister that tho Unemployment Committee had rccommcndM 1 that award rates of pay should bo paid, and be that tbo board would observe that viewpoint. Indications are that the first avenues of work to bo tackled lie in the opening up of bush lands, reclamation, afforestation, and tho improvement of farms by way of subsidy to the farmer, * * * v» COUNTRY MOTOR TRADE APPRENTICES. In Dunedin Engineering Union circles it is frequently questioned whether apprentices to tho motor trade in country towns are sufficiently under the supervision and control of the apprenticeship committees, Tho position is now that the recently instituted uniform dominion apprenticeship order, applicable in town and country and in both islands, must be sanctioned by tbo town committees. The criticism is that after _ this preliminary procedure the committees nave few opportunities of seeming that country apprentices are being properly trained. The Amalgamated Engineers’ Union believes it has a genuine grievance in this direction, and claims that a sub-committee of the Apprenticeship Committee, representative of the particular trade affected, should _ pay regular visits to country towns in order to seo that the requirements sot out in tho orders are being conscientiously fulfilled. The obstacle to this desirable stop being taken is that tho Government refuses to bear the cost of the expenses involved, despite tho solicitations of both employers and workers’ representatives. Tho matter was brought up at the recent conference between tbo Motor Traders’ Association and the unions, and a resolution was adopted asking the Minister to approve of Apprentice Committee delegates being reimbursed as tho result of their supervisory visits to country centres. A Ministerial objection was that union delegates might make these periodical country visits the occasion for organisation and propaganda. This fear, in tho opinion of unions, is altogether groundless. If a representative each of the _ employers and workers were to comprise a committee visiting these towns there could scarcely be any chance of their doing work other than that for which they were appointed. Tho committee would bo able to sco tho actual conditions under which an apprentice worked, could investigate complaints, and also seo that both employer and apprentice were doing their best to obey tho very wise and thorough regulations embodied in tho order. A union executive gives it as liis opinion that at present many country youths arc being most unsatisfactorily trained as tho result of lack of proper supervision during the term of apprenticeship. Ho has seen quite a number of instances where the training of boys in certain country garages has been most haphazard, and the result from tho asspect of skilled workmanship has been tragic. Now that North Island apprenticeship committees bring in all country towns into their respective areas, which is a change from tho old governing limitation of a twelve-mile radius, it may be expected that fur tlicr support will bo given to the claim that delegates should regularly visit country towns and should also ho reimbursed for their financial outlay. • it * » ENGINEERS ON PUBLIC WORKS. Tho necessity for finalising one or two clauses in the projected and tho delay caused by tho heavy sessional work imposed on tho Minister have been the two factors causing the hold-up to tho actual operation of Iho new conditions governing engineers on public works. Agreement was effected some time ago between the Amalgamated Engineers’ Union and tho department on the main clauses, and these aro expected to be of distinct

benefit to engineering tradesmen, as they approximate fairly closely to town conditions. Just as soon as the agreement is finalised Mr A. J. Rice, of the Dunedin Union, intends to visit all public works, in particular that of the Waitpki hydro-electric undertaking, where many men are employed, for the purpose of bringing all engineering tradesmen within the fold of Ins union. Where sufficient numbers of tradesmen are working in nearby localities they will be addressed for the purpose ot impressing them with the necessity of joining the union organisation which has been responsible for the increased benefits they enjoy. * » « DISPOSAL OF FUNDS. Tho Trades Hah officials and social workers are greatly exercised this week over the question of the disposal of the £BOO odd proceeds derived from the recently conducted art union. Trouble over this matter was foreseen when the split occurred within the ranks of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee some time ago The determination was expressed then that, as tho unions, their officials, and prominent Labour: social welfare workers had worked so hard to ensure the success of the art union, they should play an effective part in tho disposal ot the funds. One chief contention is that the funds would be far better spent on actual and immediate relief to the distressed in our midst than on the provision of work and wages for only a limited number. By the Labour social workers who operate from the Trades Hall it is believed that, given control of the_ funds, they could supply the necessities from week to week of the most deeply distressed, endeavouring at the same time to control the expenditure by a wise discrimination. The money spent in this way would go much further in the way of food and clothing, which, after all, are the fundamental requirements. * * w » ARBITRATION COURT CASES. The capacity of the Arbitration Court for work is certainly prodigious. From centre to centre the court moves without relaxation, hearing tho never-ending streams of diametrically opposed arguments of employers’ and workers’ advocates ' and their witnesses concerning their local and national award problems. Tho court scarcely ever rests from the task of making new awards governing the wages and conditions of large masses of workers. Then there are tho knotty problems arising from tho interpreta-. tion of existing industrial legislation to be decided, as well as giving consideration to questions of precedence, and the actual effect on industry of any particular award. The hearing of evidence entails long and arduous sittings, relieved somewhat perhaps by the fact that part of it is common to all districts. On the other side of the court’s unique work there are long lists of compensation ease: to bo settled, on the outcome of which depend very often the future welfare and happiness of many victims of accidents. Regarding its sympathetic dealing with compensation cases the Arbitration Court has a highly satisfactory record, victims of accident 1 - always being assured of every consideration being given their claims. The work of tho court is of special interest to Dnntdin unions just now, as judgment is awaited on several important disputes In particular, reserved decision has yet to be announced on the shop assistants’ award. Decision on the boot trade dispute was announced yesterday. Other cases to be finalised are those relating to the interpretation of certain clauses in tho shop assistants’ award and tho question of the reduction ot tho apprenticeship quota in tho engineering award. A number of compensation cases have also to be settled. , * TAXI DRIVERS’ POSITION. Because a taxi driver was a bailee of a ear and not a servant of tho owner there was no control over the cab by tho Arbitration Court, and there was no limit to the hours a man might work. Thus it happened that some taxi drivers worked almost twenty-four hours a day in the stress of competition, and, becoming sleepy by tho long hours, they constituted a danger not only to those hiring the cab, but to other users of tho road. These were the views advanced in favour of one section in Mr H G. R. Mason’s (Labour member for Auckland Suburbs) Motor Cabs Bill, introduced into Parliament last week. Another problem which his Bill set out to overcome was that tho drivers of a taxi cab had no remedy under tho Workers’ Compensation Act, as no master and servant relationship existed. Tho other chief clause dealt with anomalies which exist regarding tho recovery of damages when an accident caused by the negligence of both parties takes place. * * » * UNEMPLOYED ENGINEERS. Ninety-three is tho correct number of unemployed engineers on tho register of tho Dunedin Engineers’ Union, 75 per cent, of these being actually on the engineering .side, the remainder being apportioned to the motor mechanics’ and other branches which do not come, for tho purposes of tho union, within the strict designation of engineer. According to the secretary (Mr A. J. Rice) a good number of those out of work are married men, who have had a particularly bad spin during the past twelve months. The stagnant state of the marine engineering trade at Port Chalmers is one reason for the present position, for a number of years there having been a gradual falling off in tho employment offering there for ship repair work. The position probably would bo revealed as worse except for the fact that a largo number have given u,p hope of getting back to tho trade, and are in other avenues of employment, thus losing contact with their union. Broad reasons which Air Rico gives for the depression among his men arc briefly: Tho present largo (proportion of apprentices to journeymen extending over a long period and the accumulation of tradesmen during that period; the fact that steam power had boon supplanted by electricity practically throughout tho dominion; and the fact that foreign countries have organised their works on the most up-to-date lines to compote in world competition. ->■ «• j;. REMEDIES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT. Certain European trade unions re cently outlined their remedies for unemployment in tho following manner;— (1) The limitation of overtime in all occupations in which there are largo numbers unemployed; (2) Stale regulation of employment exchanges, with the co-operation of trade unions; (3) protection of older workers who have been employed in a concern for many years from sudden dismissal at short notice—workers rendered superfluous;in a concern as a result of concentration must bo granted a leaving bonus proportionate to the number of years ot their service with tho concern; (4) consultation of workers in measures ot rationalisation and tho amalgamation of concerns—expansion of statutory powers of workers’ councils; (5) encouragement of home production and export by appropriate fiscal, transport, commercial, and State financial policy; (0) compilation of a programme of public works covering a long period of

time ahead, to ho gradually put into operation in times of severe unemployment; (7) revision of freight rates ami tho redaction of freight scales (especially for long distances) for the raw materials and semi-manufactured goods required in industry.