THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21220, 29 September 1932, Page 5

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

|Cy J.S.S.] Brief contributions on matters with reference \o the Labour Movement are invited. ENGINEERING TRADE. Tho demands of the Engineers’ Union for a fresh award will bo heard by the Conciliation Commissioner at Christchurch on October 4. When the engineers negotiated for a new award some months ago they were associated with the moulders and boilermakers, but owing to tho failure of the parties to agree the award was cancelled on July 17 last. Now each branch of the trade is seeking a separate award. The.case of the moulders was sot down for yesterday, but it has been postponed until October 17 to enable the application of tho engineers to bo disposed of first. » • » * MUSTERERS, PACKERS, AND DROVERS. In Dunedin, as in other centres, the representatives of the musterers, packers, and drovers and the Sheepowners’ Federation have failed to agree upon the terms for a new award. The employers’ proposals, summarised, are as follows: Musterers, by the week, £2 ss, by the day 10s. Packers, by the week £1 15s, by the day Bs. Drovers, by the day 15s. The expired award rates, after deducting a 10 per cent, reauction inflicted by the court last year, were as follows;—Musterers, by the week, £3 17s 4d; by the day, 15s lOd. Packers, by the week, £3 3s 10d; by the day, 14s 6d. Drovers, by the day, 19s 6d. The union’s counter-proposals are as follows: Musterers, by the week, £3 17s 6d; by the day, 15s 6d, with an additional 15s 6d for any Sunday on which they are required to do any mustering. Packers, by the week, £3 2s 6d; or 14s 6d per day, with an additional 14s 6d for any Sunday on which they are required to work. Drovers, £1 per day, and all necessary expenses. * • • * SEASONAL WORKERS’ RELIEF. The amount of relief which may be granted to seasonal workers is set out m a circular which has been forwarded to the secretary of the Freezing Workers’ and Related Trades’ Union (Mr H. C. Revel!) by-the Commissioner of Unemployment (Mr G. C. Godfrey).' “The board is now of the opinion that the rigid application of circular No. 160 will in some cases result in undue hardship, and this the board is anxious to avoid,” states the circular. “ In view of this the board directs that the above-mentioned circular should be regarded as operating only from the commencement of the ensuing season. During the remainder of the present ‘ off ’ period certifying officers will exercise their judgment in affording a certain measure or work relief to those seasonal workers with families who are in necessitous circumstances. In granting this relief, however, certifying officers should be guided by the worker’s family responsibilities, tho extent of his earnings during the past season, and other relevant circumstances.” NEAV WAGES AGREEMENT. The new agreement of the Wellington City Tramways and Power-house Employees’ Union involves an all-round wage reduction of 10 per cent. It must be explained, however, that this 10 per cent, is not in addition to the general 10 per cent, reduction ordered hist year by the Arbitration Court. When the court’s order came into operation the Wellington tramways traffic employees received a 7 per cent, cut, and time off to the value of a 3 per cent, cut of their wages. The new argeement applies the original 10 per cent, cut in its entirety. The new agreement provides that the following shall he the minimum rates of wages per hour payable to tho several classes of employees:—

Motormen, first year. Is BJd ; motormen, after first year, Is 9|d; conductors, first year. Is 7sd; conductors, second, third. fourth, and fifth years, Is 8d; conductors, after five years. Is BJd; linesmen, Is Hid; linesmen’s assistants, Is lOd; cable jointers, Is Hid; assistant cable-jointers, Is lOd; permanent way repairers, Is 9id; trackmen. Is Bid; emergency linesmen. Is Hid; tower-wagon drivers, Is o]d: motor bus drivers, Is 9Jd. The following is the wage per week of six shifts:—Motormen engaged on track cleaner or grinder, £4 14s Gd; track cleaner attendant. £4 5s 6d. Per hour; Car examiners, Is 10id; car equipment adjusters, first grade, Is 9Jd; car equipment adjusters, second grade, Is B£d ; shed labourers. Is Bid; pitmen, Is hid; welders. Is 10£d; welders’, attendants, Is 9id; tramcar and bus cleaners, Is Bid; blacksmiths’ strikers, Is 10{d; white-metal workers. Is 10id; leading firemen, Is 10id; firemen, Is 9]d; greasers. Is 10id; handymen, Is 9d; trimmers, Is Bid; engine room cleaners, Is 9Jd. Lorry drivers: Up to 3 tons, ls'9jd; over 3 tons. Is Hd; tractor and petrol roller drivers. Is 10j-d. Permanent way and overhead equipment men who are required to do night work shall be paid for the first night at time and a-balf rates. For each following night 2d (instead of 3d, as formerly) per hour is to be paid in addition to the ordinary day rates.

All work on Sundays and on Anzac Day shall be paid for at tinft and a-half rates, instead of double rates ns hitherto.

The new agreement enforces a slight reduction in paid scheduled travelling time.

Full paid holidays have been reduced by one per annum. With regard to broken shifts, additional broken shifts have been provided for which extend the hours to thirteen instead of twelve, ns previously. There has been a slight extension of time required for the wearing of clothing before renewals will be granted by the employer. The municipal motor bus drivers’ conditions have been altered to conform with the public motor bus owners' award. The conditions have, therefore, been made slightly worse, and wages carry the 10 per cent. cut. In connection with “dirty work ’’ at the power house (working inside boilers, sweeping tops of boilers, cleaning economiser fines, super-heaters, blow-down pits, main flues, etc.), the pay has been reduced from 5d per hour to 3d per hour additional to ordinary rates. 1 The new agreement operates for twelve months from the 7th of this month. • • • • LABOUR EDITOR’S DEATH. Edward John Dunn, editor of the ‘ Labour Daily ' newspaper, Sydney, died at bis homo at Bondi recently, alter an illness extending over some months. He was fifty-eight years of ago. “ Ted ” Dunn (as he was known all over Australia) bad been prominent in Labour journalism for many years. He

was a brother of Mr W. F. Dunn, Minister of Agriculture in the Lang Government.

He was secretary of the Murwillumhah Labour League twenty years ago, and represented the district at the Labour Conference in 1912.

In the early days of the ‘ Daily Standard,’ Brisbane, Mr Dunn was leader writer. Later he became editor of Brisbane ‘ Truth,’ and was subsequently editor of Perth ‘ Truth ’ for a number of years. On removing to Sydney he joined the staff of .the ‘ Labour Daily,’ and he was appointed editor last year. During the conscription campaign he played a prominent part on the “anti” side, and ho contested the Brownhill-Ivauhoe seat against Premier Scaddan on the conscription issue. In 1917 he was the endorsed Labour candidate for Perth, and he was a member of the Perth Trades and Labour Council for years. He was a fluent and effective speaker, as well as a most vigorous writer. * * * • TO HELP UNEMPLOYED. Greater cultivation of tobacco, bananas, and cotton and other crops is embodied in a scheme for settlement which is being drawn up by the Queensland Labour Government.. It is proposed to place 1,000 needy families on plantations in areas from the Far North to the border. Officers of the Department of Agriculture and Stocks are ascertaining what crops could be economically grown, and it is intended, if possible, to increase the cultivation of bananas and tobacco, as well as introduce cotton. Under the terms of an agreement which would be entered into, the settlers would he required to demontrate their capacity for agricultural pursuits. They would then be given the land in perpetual lease. Settlers who have already been placed on holdings in the Beerhurrum districts are confident they will succeed, and the Minister of Agriculture and Stocks, Mr F. W. Bulcock, who is supplying their needs, states that the department is confident it “ will not be let down.” * * » • BRITISH SEAMEN. The committee appointed by the Slipping Federation of Great Britain in 1929 to work out a standard accommodation for seamen in cargo steamers, with special reference to hygiene, has now issued its report. Tho report contains a definite plan providing for better lighting and ventilation and greater space in the sleeping quarters. A number of other proposals are made showing the increasing interest now taken in the comfort of crews.