THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 3

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

[By J.S.S.]

Brief contributions on matters with reference to the Labour Movement are invited. UNDER STATE CONTROL. All London bus, street car, and railway lines have been brought under Government control, under a plan designed by the last Labour Government to bring about general socialisation. The plan is being put into effect by tins present Conservative Government, with some amendments. Owners ol the transportation lines have been given stock in the Government-owned system as compensation. Their compensation stock profits are limited, depending on the class of stock, to between 4 per cent, and 6 per cent. Part of the stock is to be bought out in twenty-six years, all of it in ninety years, and then the ownership will be entirely in the hands of the Government, as well as the operation. The agreement with tire former owners provides that jf the Government cannot run the lines at a profit, they are to be returned to private ownership and operation. Profits above those which go to compensation stockholders are not to be placed in the public treasury, but are supposed to be ploughed back into the lines, for higher wages, shorter Ivours for workers, and lower fares.

SOCIALISM—NOT COMMUNISM. Mr Norman Thomas, Socialist candidate for the last Presidential election in the United States, stated recently:— “ It is a delusion to think that Communism is making , great forward strides. Outside of Russia its gains have been in backward countries from an industrial point of view—in China and perhaps in the Balkans. Tu Western Europe, in Norway, Switzerland, Great Britain, it is Socialism that is going forward. Here, in America, in view of Communist devotion, the very vulnerable state of many ol onr Labour organisations, and the great depression, the amazing thing is that Communism dc*?s not gain more rapidly.” * * * * BIG EMPLOYER’S VIEWS. “ Jt should be declared that the standard of living lias no visible limit.” This striking sentence was the keynote of the speech to the Glasgow City Business Club by Mr J. Gibson Jarvie, chairman and managing director of, the United Dominions Trust. “ How can wo deny an improved standard of living to people while at the same time we destroy the produce which they want? ” he asked. “ To my mind there is to-day one major problem to which all others are subsidiary—the problem of equitable and efficient distribution. Jt should be declared that the standard of living shall have no visible limit; that it will be based on production and effort, and not on any arbitrary standard of the past. There never was seriously suggested a more economically fantastic contention than that we can become wealthy by restricting the production of wealth. With a higher standard of .living there must be greater amenities. The Government must give the lead. The Government must state its creed. It must translate its creed into an effective plan which is definite, which does give us something to work for.” « » * SYDNEY GIRLS’ STRIKE. Supported by their sweethearts, male friends, and others, the girl textile workers, who are on strike, in Sydney, recently deflated the tyres of every taxi cab on the railway station rank. The incident was greeted with hilarious cheers. A number of taxi men had been criticised earlier in the night because they had allowed themselves to be employed in the conveyance of workers to ami from the mill of Amalgamated Textile (Aust.) Ltd. When the cars were driven to the railway station before the arrival of the mail trains crowds followed, hooting and threatening to have revenge. While the taxi men were on the platform the tyres of their cars were let down and travellers were persuaded to hump their own luggage and walk. Police protection was necessary while the tyres were being put in order—a task that met with gibes and jokes from the crowd. Then there was a. hue and cry about a dance hall, and the strikers and thei- swains ran to the Foresters’ Hall, where tiiey attempted to seize a girl who had gone to work in defiance of the strikers. The police stopped, them, so, after singing songs and cheering the speakers, the crowd went home. * * * * A MODEL TOWN. As a by-product of the Tennessee Valley project, the United States Government is .building the model town of Norris for about 2,000 workers. Norris shows what can be done along this line. It is in striking contrast with the village hells built by mining corporations. The new town avoids dreary sameness of dwellings. Variety of homes and grouping, differing slopes and roofs, porches, windows, and gardens are conspicuous. Every home will have a garden plot 75ft by 200 ft; and farm plots averaging four acres each will permit those who desire it to engage in small-scale farming in connection with other work. Due consideration is given the housewife. “ Electric ranges and refrigerators arc to be furnished. and in each case the simplest, most efficient relation and grouping of range, refrigerators, sink, kitchen cabinets has been carefully worked out so as to- save unnecessary steps,” reads an account in the ‘ United States News.’ Harmony of design, variety in architecture, and health are the main considerations. * * * * UNIONISM AND UNEMPLOYMENT. In a reference to the organisations of unemployed workers in New Zealand and Australia, ‘ Industrial and Labour Information,’ published by the International Labour Office of tho League of Nations, the following paragraphs appear:— “ A conference of delegates of organisations representing relief and sustenance workers was held in Western Australia in October, 1933, and it was decided to form the Relief and Sustenance Workers’ Industrial Union. A deputation was to wait on the Premier to request recognition of the new union as the body representing the unemployed', and at the same time a claim was to be presented embodying the views of the union as to the .measures to be taken for the relief of the unemployed. “The decision to. form this union was adversely criticised by the State Executive of the Australian Labour Party. In their opinion it was inimical

to the welfare of the workers, and would disintegrate the trade union movement in Western Australia. The existing unions affiliated to the Labour movement were effectively safeguarding the interests of the working class and were capable of doing everything a separate union could do.’,’ “ In view of the variety of unemployed organisations in Now Zealand and the continuous dissension between them which destroys their power and confuses the public,” states the New Zealand Worker,’ “ there is a good deal to be said for the attitude of the Western Australian trade unions. Unfortunately the onrush of unemployment was so swift as to take trade unionism unawares, and before the problem could bo properly envisaged it had developed far beyond the capacity of the trade unions to ho/d the thousands directly involved in it. But the unhappy position of the unemployed and the ineffectiveness of their present methods may ultimately move them to turn again to trade unionism for their defence.” **. * * AMERICA’S PLIGHT. “ Unquestionably,” states the American Federation of Labour. “ the winter ahead of us will be the worst the unemployed have yet experienced.” It is estimated that nearly one-quarter of the population of the U.S.A. will be dependent on those without work this winter. Some 20,000,000 _ will probably rely on relief for their living. Of those dependent on relief 22 per cent, are children under the age of sixteen years. Scales of relief applied arc said to be hopelessly inadequate, as a rule. The Department of Agriculture has stated that the minimum food budget on which a family of four or five members can exist without danger—and then for short periods only—costs between 29s and 40s a week respectively (dollars taken at par). Rut the average relief allowance for the country as a whole is less than 17s 3d a week per family. The Federal Government now supplies 70 per cent, of all public funds, which State and local agencies are giving out. * * * * IRISH LABOUR. Mr W. O’Brien, presiding at the third annual convention of the Irish Labour Party in Dublin recently, said many of Ireland’s present difficulties wore no doubt duo to the results of centuries of foreign rule. Mr De Valera’s Government had so far given no evidence of any well-thought-out or co-ordinated plan to solve the problem of unemployment, he added, ft was, however, better to seo the Government milking some attempt, even on the wrong lines, than the complete repudiation of its responsibilities by what was the Government under Mr Cosgraye. They bad no hope whatever that a Government set up by what was now called the United Ireland Party would do anything except repudiate responsibilities, too.