THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20780, 30 April 1931, Page 16

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

[By J.S.S.]

Brief contributions on matters witli reference 1.0 tins Labour Movement are invited. TJ X EM BLGYMENT BOARD VACANCY. It is not expected tlmt the majority of Dunedin unions will move in the matter of making nominations for the election to lill the vacancy on the Unemployment Board caused by the resignation of Mr Walter Bromley. Much opposition was shown in the first instance towards the manner of appointing the board’s personnel. Just now there is discontent in union circles against the alleged very unfair treatment of the unemployed by the board. In view of the circumstances, many officials fee! that to make nominations would not be in the Labour interests. The Canterbury Labourers’ Union lias already decided not to make any nominations. This union takes the stand that though representatives on 'tho board are chosen by the unions the final selection is made by Order-in-Conncil. The appointee is therefore a Civil servant, who is not bound to act in the Labour interest. • » » » WAGE REDUCTIONS AND HOME MARKET. It is a frequent contention of Labour that a universal policy of wage reductions will seriously affect the New Zealand farmers' home market. The tendency of Labour’s opponents is to minimise the importance of this effect by slating that by far the greater proportion of our produce is exported. The exact amount of produce consumed in the country as compared with the amount exported is shown in the appended list, which is taken from the Year Book. The figures given are claimed to add force to the Labour view.

BREACH OE AWARD. The precedent cron ted by the Minister of Lauour in refusing to prosecute tlireslmig mill owners in Otago and .Southland lor breaches ol the award is ueing adversely commented on in local union circles. Whether employers should be permitted to disregard the award was lirst raised in Farlianicnt about a month ago by Mr M'Dougall (United M.i'. for Mataura), who contended that Mich permission should be given to employers. On that occasion the Prime Minister made it clear that any amendment of award conditions required a joint application ol the parties concerned to the Arbitration Court. Later the matter was brought up by Mr Clyde Carr (Labour M,)'. lor Timaru), who asked whether the inspector ol awards at Invercargill had been instructed to prosecute Employers covered hy the award who had decided to pay Is fid an hour instead of the award rate of Is IOJd, and had also dismissed workers for refusing to accept the reduced rates. Mr Carr argued that the reduction of 20 per cent, meant an average saving to each fanner of only £4 per annum. The Minister of Labour replied that it was not considered advisable or desirable to institute proceedings against cither the employers or the workers concerned, seeing that they had agreed to the arrangement made. A strong protest was registered by the New Zealand Workers’ Union against the Minister’s decision, and a representative gathering of trades union secretaries at Christchurch has also registered its condemnation. • • * • NEW ZEALAND'S WEALTH. For many years a prominent miners’ union official on the West Coast, Hon. Mark Fagan, continues to light the cause of the working man. in a recent speech in the.. Legislative Council he made a strong plea against wage reductions, remarking particularly on the effects they would • have If applied to minors. He said income' taxation was a held for greater exploitation on the part of the Government. He mentioned that assessable incomes had increased from £46,000,000 in 1922-23 to £65,000,000 in 1929-30, and the taxable balance rose from £21,000,000 to £32,000,000 in that period. The revenue derived from income tax in 1921-22 was £8,000,000, but in 1929-30 it had dropped to £3,000,000 —a difference of £5,000.000. The incomes had increased from £11,000,000, but the taxation on incomes dropped £5,000,000. Giving details of big incomes earned, he staled that one man received £25,448, nine received £11,747 each, 71 got £6,563 each, and 2,186 got £1,820 each. “If we take incomes derived from investments,” he went on, “ wo find that the total number of taxpayers is 11,871, the total income from investments £11,631,227, and the tax paid last- year was £529,853. People who in this country are earning from £SOO to £I,OOO per year are receiving between thorn £11,117,694. fn the last five years fixed deposits have, increased in _ New Zealand hy £12,000,000. The private wealth of the dominion has trebled since 1913.” • • • * CHRISTCHURCH TRAMWAYMEN. No trouble is expected to eventuate as the reside of the drastic alterations made in the working conditions of the Christchurch trannvaymen. The union lias, perforce, accented the now conditions. It is variously computed that the changes made involve losses of between 11 per cent, and 20 per cent, in the earning power of the men. Every employee of the board has received notice of the termination of his employment, and will bo invited to apply by April 30 for ro-employment under the new scale, which comes into operation on May 11. An offer by the union to accept a 10 per cent, out in wages, provided the old ednditions were not interfered with, was rejected. The proposals adopted provide for a general wage reduction of id per hour, which is equivalent to a reduction of 21 per cent. Double pav for Sunday work will be discontinued, and ordinary rates will be paid for work on that day. Men working on Sunday will be compensated with a day off during the week, and, except in extraordinary circumstances, no man-will be required to work on two successive Sundays. Any man required to work on his" day’ off will bo paid at overtime rates. Annual paid holidays will be discontinued after this year. » * ♦ •* I.C. AND A. ACT AMENDMENT. It is certain that industrial unions will insist on the I.C. and A. Act Amendment Bill being brought forward

iin Parliament next session. Interest in the matter lias been rekindled by the receipt of the annual report of the National Legislation Committee. This committee consists of representatives of the unions and the Labour Party, and deals with legislative problems affecting the workers for the guidance of tbo party in Parliament. The committee’s report covers the history of the eases which led to tbo introduction of the Hill. The decision of the High Court in the case of Federated Seamen’s Union v., Sandford Ltd. had the effect of rendering ultra vires those clauses in industrial agreements and awards which affect tho relationships as between the employer and tho union, notwithstanding that tbo clauses may have been inserted into tbo award or agreement by mutual consent of the parties. This decision caused grave concern to unions, and .led to deputations waiting on the Minister, asking for an amendment to the Act, varying tho definition of the term “ industrial matters.” The object of tho amendment was to validate those clauses in awards which had been made ultra vires. Later, an Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament. It was suddenly dropped, however, in tho. dying hours of the session, causing much resentment among Labour members, who had expected the Hill to receive the lull support of the Government. • • • • .HIGH WAGES POLICY. The maimer in which America overcame a threatened industrial crisis in 1921-22 by tlie adoption of a policy of high wages was mentioned by Mr J. M. M'Combs (M.P. for Lyttelton) in the debate on tho Finance Bill. In his speech Mr M'Combs made a strong plea against wage reductions. He has since been selected by the New Zealand Trades and Labour Councils’ Federation to appear on behalf’ of the workers in tbo important Arbitration Court hearing which opens on May ,12. Mr M'Combs quoted interesting figures from the Thirteenth Annual Report of the Department of Commerce. Washington, dated November, 1925. In 1921 wages in the United States were set down at 190 (based on tho .100 mark); in 1921 wages were 202; in 1923, 213; in 1924. 288. Wages rose from 190 to 288. and because of the internal boom thus created there was an increased demand and mass production became possible, with the result that prices foil from 220 to 150. This is the opinion of tho Secretary of tho Department of Commerce, who further states; ‘‘This increase in the wages figures in the United States did not prejudicially affect the farmers there, but gave them a better market than they otherwise would have had.” in 1922 tho average net income of, the American farmer, was 514, dollars. Since then it has risen to 682 dollars in 1923, 7C6 dollars in 1924, 854 dollars in 1925, and 879 dollars in 1926.

Article. Production. Fxported. lb. lb. Butler 212,757,51-1 102.755,898 Cheese 132,800,512 171.251,080 Beef 290,873,100 63,462,112 Mutton 224,068.900 113.549,146 Lamb 225,958,704 209,615.765 Pork 32,317,920 13,174,336 Bacon and ham 21,757,630 569.922 Potatoes 270,129,066 2,661,806 Onions 15,873.386 2.726.826 Flour 254.047,333 314,900 Refined sugar 126.011,050 2,358,272 Apples 79X112,346 32.732,242 Pears 11.812,233 1.550.743 Lemons 1,222,550 15.890 (granges '264,880 400 Tobacco 512.153 42,414