THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 16

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

[By Trade Unionist.) .•NEW ZEALAND RAILWAY REVIEW.’ A new innovation is made • in the get-up ” of the New Zealand Railway Review,’ a monthly trade journal published by the Amalgamated Society of: Railway Servants. The first issue of the new series (which by the way is also a jubilee number) commenced with the January number, and' in the 'writer’s opinion-is a decided improvement on the previous series of what is, I suppose, about tne oldest trade union journal in the Dominion. The' size of the new review is now double quarto, with 24 pages of matter; mostly of interest to railwaymen. The . issue referred to contains a New Year message from the national president, Mr Steve Gasper, of Otago, further congratulatory articles from the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) and the Minister of Railways (Mr D. G. Sullivan). Mr L. M'llvride, national secretary, contributes an article on ‘ Industrial Unionism.’ SHEARERS AND SHED HANDS’ AWARD. At InVercargill last week, a Southland farmer was fined £1 for employing non-union shearers during his shearing season, the shearers being approached by the shearers’ organiser to join the union, which they refused to do. The Inspector of Awards, who prosecuted on behalf of the Labour Depart: ment, said his department was having considerable trouble with farmers, who seemed not to know the law regarding the compulsory employment of union workers. The inspuctor did not press for a heavy penalty, as he wanted the case to be a warning to other farmers in ’respect of union workers being employed. After considerable discussion and evidence being given on both sides, the magistrate, convicted the defendant, as previously 1 stated. The writer is informed that this ease is; the ’first of its kind that has been taken against an employer for employing non-union workers in Otago and Southland. The decision certainly indicates the erroneous impression that exists amongst Some farmers that they have a fre_e_choice of workers, whether they bo union or non-union members. COMMUNISTIC LITERATURE. The Launceston Trades Hall Council |is concerned about the Trades Hall being used as a base for the distribution of Communistic literature. At a recent meeting a recommendation was received from .the Management Committee, stating that the distribution of such matter must cease. The, recommendation was accepted by the council members, and henceforth any action of this nature will meet with a hostile demon-, 'stration. It was suggested that the persons concerned in this distribution 'of canned Sovietism were in the habit of delivering the goods by pushing them hinder the doors of the various rooms arid offices. The action of members having Communistic pamphlets posted to them at the Trades Hall would, in future, not he appreciated. * * * * TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. Finland lives to celebrate the twentysecond anniversary of the winning of her independence—which Lenin publiclywelcomed and approved. Since then 22 years of social and political progress have given Finland highly*-deve loped democratic and cooperative institutions. And on her twenty-second birthday her people are fighting to defend them. , Czecho-Slovakia a year ago celebrated 'her twentieth birthday one month after the Munich disaster. Such are the tragedies which would be multiplied all over the world if the free nations failed to withstand the still rising flood of ag'gression. , Read what has happened to Poland’s trade unions. The Nazis arrested the secretaries and delegates, and sent some of them to concentration camps. The Russians dissolved the smaller Unions, and required the officials of the bigger ones to affirm their loyalty to* Stalin. Among those who refused many Were removed to'Russia. ' Compare that with what happens in democratic Britain. And then ask yourSelf which country you would prefer to live in. ... • •'* • * ■■ SPADEWORK FOR A JUST PEACE. . Flans for creating an informed public Opinion to influence ‘ the terras'of the peace settlement arc being put into effect by the Labour Movement in England.: Members are asked to organise lectures and study circles for’detailed discussion on the basis of the policy set out in “ Labour’s Peace Aims.” Similar discussion..' ■■groups ■, inside trade union • branches are also advocated-. Where extended study can be undertaken, Harold Laski’s ‘ Liberty in the Modern State ’ is recommended as a test book, " " i • • • *

This judgment was given by Mr Justice Atkinsort in the King’s Bench Division recently. He was dealing with a claim by a man who had been employed by B.S.A. Tools and who, during that time, had had two periods of sickness.

The judge said the question in every case must be; Was the consideration to bo work actually done, or was it to be readiness or willingness to do work if able to do it? . Ho held that in this case—and that it was a custom of the whole of this in-dustry—a-man should be paid only for the work he did.

Sir Alexander Ramsay, director of the Engineering Employers’ Federation, gave evidence that the practice in the industry was that a workman was rated according to his particular class, and that, on that basis, he was paid for the hours he worked. ♦ • ♦ ♦ LABOUR IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Officially unity in the ranks of Labour in New boutlx Wales has been achieved. But, according to Mr Lang’s paper,the ‘ Century,' it would seem that the real thing, .Labour's team working in unison, has yet to be brought about. Mr Lang makes no secret of the position in that regard, and never misses an Opportunity to criticise or attack the members of the Central Executive of the A.L.P. The attitude which ho takes up would suggest to the average onlooker that his supporters and opponents within the ranks of the A.L.P. are just as much opposed to one another as they were before the alleged unity was agreed to, and are just as determined to fight out their alleged differences to the bitter end.

The position of Labour therefore in New South Wales is still as unsatisfactory as ever it was, and the unity within the ranks necessary to win elections has yet to become the order of the day. That it could be made so almost immediately is beyond question. But the move forward must be made first by the members of the unions and brandies of the A.L.P. They are the power behind the throne, and until they as a majority make a determined stand for unity there will be no improvement in the present state of affairs. Meanwhile Mr Lang and his opponents will continue to fight out their differences, much to the satisfaction of anti-Labour and to the, utter- disgust of all sincere and seriously-minded Labourites in New South Wales who have long ago become heartily' sick of the whole sorrv business.—‘ Melbourne Labour Call.’

THE SEAMAN, Shipwreck is one of the things he is disciplined to meet calmly. On a cargo ship every man knows his duties, lie has no passengers to aid and calm. Jt is simply out with the boats and over the side. It is easier to get a boat away from a cargo ship than it is from a passenger liner. This is the sort of survivor story English newspapermen have been getting from seamen whose ships have been the victims of the German U-boat ravages on British shipping. “ When it hit us 1 was snugged down in my bunk. My old ticker did a couple of ups-and-downs, but when I remembered I’d gone to sleep with my trousers on. 1 knew our cargo would keep us up for a while yet, so I didn’t hurry—not so .as you’d notice, anyway.

“ We went up to the boat deck, and going past the galley door saw Joe, the steward, pretty worried. He couldn’t find Ginger, the eat. So 1 bops down aft again, and Joe goes for’ard. “ We had to let up looking for the little devil when the Old Man yells at us to get up to the boat deck, pronto. And it was only when the poor old packet gave a sigh and up-ended that I found I’d left my mouth organ behind.”

No panic, yon will have noticed. Just a calm survey of the situation and a few unbelievably casual thoughts. This composite seaman quoted is just an ordinary seaman who doesn’t want to die. The only reason why he didn’t think of death was because he Had every faith in the arrangements made by the Board of Trade for his safety. He was excited, yes. But not frightened.

ENGLISH BUILDING INDUSTRY DECLINING.

The complacency of Mr Ernest Brown (British Minister’of Labour) about the employment outlook is not shared by the building industry in England. “1 never saw an industry going towards collapse so quickly as is building at the present time,” said Mr Richard Coppock, general secretary of the National Federation of Building Trades’ Operatives, recently'. The latest unemployment figures showed a jump of 14,032 in a month, making a total of 144,000 insured persons idle in this industry. There are in addition thousands of ■“ blnokcoats,” including more than 10,000 architects and assistants, out of work.

The situation must become rapidly worse in the next few months, it is held, unless there is a substantial removal of obstacles to civil work. It is not a problem of labour supply. Mr Coppook said that he knew the number of men that would be required for the Government war work programme, but it was a mere bagatelle compared with the total personnel of the industry. ' Some relaxation of restrictions on municipal housing has recently been given .after strong representations bv the building unions, but that is only a temporary relief. In the view of the industry there is a possibility of carrying out a large amount of housing and private and commercial building without hurt to the war programme. What is needed, says the industry, is proper co-ordination of supplies. Now it is each department for itself, with the result that, for example, far more timber than is necessary is being used on war jobs. 'Local authorities must also, it is pointed out, be allowed once more to borrow within reasonable limits for building schemes. Detailed facts arc being compiled by the Building Industries’ National Council, which includes every section of building organisation, with a view to renewed representations to the Government.