TIMBER WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1920, Page 5

TIMBER WORKERS

OFriCIAL COLUMN.

(By F. Turley, Secretary.)

», A committee, meeting was held on November 23 last in. the Lyceum Hall, Greymouth, the following being present:—Mr B. Topp (president) Mr J. C. Bloulson, Mr. W. S. James, Mr. R. Fifezgerald and Mr M. McLauglan, and the secretary.

A letter A\-as received from the W.E.A. asking this union to assist and appoint two delegates to attend a meeting to be held some time iv November at Greymouth to further discuss the matter. After a lot of discussion it Avas decided to write the W.E.A. pointing out that avc are not satisfied that they arc doing the work alleged to* be done by them, and that they appear to be assisting the capitalist class to hold together the present rotten system of capitalism. lt Avas decided that avc do all possible to assist the Omoto Ratepayers' Association in their suggcsn.on ror the establishing of a St. Helen's Home Jn Greymouth. , ' It Avas also decided to write to -the Hon. Minister of Labour protesting about the way the department treat? breaches of awards on the part of the employers and the way the department persecutes the Avorkcrs for a breach of the awards. A letter was received from Mr T West, oragniser for the proposed West Coast Industrial Ambulance Association, and your executive is in full sympathy Avith the movement, instructing your secretary to pay £3 3/- into tho funds of same if tho formation is completed. Your secretary was instructed to write to tho secretary of the Timber Workers' Federation pointing out that we are in accord with the proposal to link up Avith the Alliance of r.abour as laid down by their conference held in Wellington a few Avccks ago. and that the federation take the necessary steps to have the matter of linking up completed. SICK MEMBERS. An appeal sent in l>y one of your members on behalf of a timber worscr who has been off Avork some two and a-half years Avas received, ami it was pointed out that we have no money in hand for this purpose, also that ar the present time avc have three timber workers avlio have been off Avork from one to two years, with not much prospects of returning to Avork again. These cases prove the necessity for the early competition of the Sick amAccident Fund proposed by youi union. .» In connection with this fund tho conijmitrce appointed to draw up rules for same should meet in Christchurch this Avcck, and it should be possible to bring the scheme into operation by January of next year.

The Hon. Minister of Public Works has also been Avrittcu to asking him to appoint- an inspector for the, Nortii Island and one for the South Island in connection Avith the recent legislation making provision for the inspection of bridges, tramways, etc. BONUS. In connection with Ihe last increase of 1/6 a day granted by the Arbirra tion Court to workers on account of tin increased cost of living, a circular Avas received from the Trades Council in Wellington asking for assistance in putting a case before the Court on November 29, pointing out that it was an expensive matter and that the, best evidence available was being brought forward. The appeal was turned down, as we are of the opinion that the unions should not have agreed to tho employers being heard, as the Court had already gave its decision for the increase and this should have been demanded. As it noAv stands the court now has the chaiicc to alter its prcA'ious decision on the evidence brought fonvard. aad make no mistake about it, the workers do not control the Court and there is no telling what, may be the result. However on this occasion the writer docs not expect- to sec the previous decision altered, but if the. workers Avant to hold AA-hat they have got (and 4:hat is not much) then you have got to be prepared to combat any move which may be made by the Employers' Association of Ncav Zealand, this, can only be done by remaining true aud standing solid behind your organisation. The Avriter would have no fear of the Labour movement both industrially and politically to-day if the toiler Avould stand as solid to his union as the boss does to his.

Xl' e London Star pxiblishos a statement from Mr H.C. Cameron, of tin? New -Zealand Government Office, 'to the effect that the Dominion would ho tible to absorb a tremendous amount of unskilled and semi-skilled labour, but the warning is given thai married men should not emigrate, owing to the scarcity" of houses. The prices given to illustrate the low cost of Hying in New Zealand have, however, si ice the information was published. For instance, butter is quoted at Is 6d per Ib, whereas it is now 2s 3d. It also r-osts more than Is 6d now to buy 41b of sugar. Jt is interesting; to learn that miners and farm labourers pay ov.hr £10 for the voyage out through thp High Commissioner' 8. Office, and others at the rate of £26. O:ie'paragraph in the statement- wil| be fully endorsed in Auckland: 'Jit | s the hoiising problem that is the real difficulty."