THE LABOUR STANDPOINT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 7

THE LABOUR STANDPOINT.

MR HOWARD’S VIEW. “ : .Let us look at inlustry, not as a science apart, but ;is a vital function of communal life,’ ” said Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. (quoting Cole), when asked by a “ Lyttelton Times ” representative for a review of the Labour year. “ How has Labour fared during the year 1920? Well, if one was to begin a* the end like the young lady with her first love-letter and work back, oue could say that Labour has been the victim of a sad mistake. Taking the year right through Labour in New Zealand was getting on very fairly. Wages had risen from Is 6d for general labourers to 2s per hour. All wages are calculated from the Labourers, so that all other trades had risen accordingly. Work has been plentiful, and there was a tendency on the part of the employers to meet their workers around the table and to discuss things in a more friendly spirit-.. As an example, the' wool and,- wheat store owners in the early part of the year,, suggested the setting up of a joint committee, that coukl be called together to discuss the increase in the cost of living, and to adjust tho wages accordingly- This has worked splendidly. From a psychological point of. view nothing could be better. Employer and employee are on good terms, the work

goes with a swing, -and from every point of view it has proved a success. The same spirit seems to have animated the building industry, and there again things have run along smoothly and comfortably. Then the Workers Compensation Act has been improved. The maximum of compensation, has been raised from £SOO to £750. Accident pay is to commence after three days sickness and the weekly sick pay is raised! from 50 per cent to 55 per cent of the weekly earnings. Then the Shops and Offices Act has been amended in the direction of altering the number of working hours from fifty-two' to fortyeight, and also giving the Arbitration Court power to fix she. closing hours of all shops in an industrial district. “Bummed up then—locally, work has been plentiful, wages were being adjusted according to she rise in the cost' of living and everything* wak working along smoothly until the tration Court came along and made .the greatest mistake that it could possibly makq. It listened to the workers’ representatives. It examined the-cost of living barometer and awarded a 9s bonus. Then] apparently, the Court became afraid of its own judgment and announced it was open to review ltd own findings. And it did review its own judgment afid cut the bonus clown to 3s. And the consequence is all the old bitterness has been revived and we end the year with a common feeling in the ranks of Labour, that it has been cheated and robbed by back door methods. And so Labour feels bitter and rebellious. It’s a pity, but there it is.” . .