NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12725, 30 November 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

■w:,: . .'.•.:■: ■■".;.: . ■ ■'. .'>''", Tin: annual meeting of the Saddlers' Union takes place uk Friday evening^ Window-glasWorkers in America hare had to submit to a .10 per cent, reduction'in wages. " ■ ■ ■!/■ The total actual membership of German % ? «a «?} ons in Jl,] y Qf this J reai * exceeded l,o30,0Q0» ! .. * ■ ; ' ( ' The Railway Telegraph Operators" Union m tho United" States gained 12,777 new members daring last July. The- local labour market is still improving all round, and indications .it present point to a fairly busy summer. ' It is currently reported that, several, of the local leaders , in trade . union; circles will contest tho nest municipal elections. Tho newly-farmed Coachworkevs' . Union met last week. The election of officers for the ensuing year was Ike chief business: , . The British Consul: at San Franciscowarns Australians against proceeding"to America with the object of seeking work. - ! Durinff the second quarter of 1904 the membership of I lie German Seamen's Union increased from 2769 "to 3542, a net gain of 773 members in 'good standing... '■■■. . -'; It is stated-'that a movement- in on foot among Iho Federal Labour members to inyite Mr. Seddoh to Austria to deliver a series of addresses on current politics. The Hon. J, Bigg, M L.C., is likely to .contest r»« of »i« .Wellborn u seats*' •fc the nest general electio|is in the interests of the newly-formed Independent Labour party. ' ■;,,,, - ■ ;•■.,. . ; ; > '".'•■■, The award of the Arbitration Court in. the saddlery, and harness- trade', expires on' December 20.'-The local union in aw incit:ing tie, employers :to' consider an amended statement. ':"'.. .'.' :: '.;-: Anthony Ifardern- and. Sons, about the :cutest money-making firm in Australia, are hating their "new five-storey premises in Sydney, the total cost of w»hich will" be about a-quartor of a million, put up entirely on the day labour system. The Wellington Saddlers' Union has submitted a eclieme for forming a federation' of the various saddlers' unions of the colony. The proposal lias been favourably considered by the unions interested, and the federation is likely to.; be ■an ; accomplished > fact " before long. ..:„•■-.. , '■.-*■ Mexico is sintering from a Yellow invasion. On top of the thousands of Chinese who have been arriving in that country, the Japanese are now pouring in in shiploads." They are engaged to work in the mines in Mexico for one dollar per month for' a

period of two years. . . There are evidently plenty of milkers awaiting engagement. Three Manaia fatmers, in response to advertisements in the Hawera paper, got respectively 23, 26, and 20 applications. Te this the Eltham. paper remarks: "Our experience in Eltham this season is quite the opposite, and good milksly are snapped up by the farmers as soon as bey appear in, the district." - r Giving evidence in the- New. South Wales Arbitration Court recently, Mr. Cutler, secretary of the United furniture Trad© Society, said the Chinese in, the'fttn'iitni'ft' trade worked, roughly, About 56 hours per week, , The number of funds, employed in European and Chinese factories was aboutthe same-—SOO each—so that the ' Chinese worked in i|he aggregate over 4WO ho%B per week longer than the Europeans.' Euro-' pean ' cabinetmakers earned on an average £2 7s 5d per w«ok for tho'da-v-worke'ra, and £2 13s 43." for piece-workers.'--.'' Among the Chinese, day-workers averaged £1 ■ 15s 2d per week, and piece-workers . £1 12s 7d, Of recent years there had been a tendency to a decrease in the wages. ' ' In an article conspicuous for the wide; sweep of' vision which it indicate?, Mr. .J, A. Spender, in.the Fortnightly Review; disci.«--„.-,-, nnder the title of "Forecasts and 'First 'Fruits,-" &6Wi of the" iiiaiui tendencies of political •'•opinions- in 0»-at Britain today. He takes the view that the" Liberal .-party, (aids hot "gained'- the assistance of" a solid and. compact body of democratic supporters, as, w.as expected when the ftan; difee wits widened v ta take hi the working class, and be Uteres to think lis it the enfranchised working class Prefer a propertied representative/to a bona-fjdo worki.ig-umn, as a rule. In fact, if we We to accept the view of this writer, the British' vnorkiugman has become far, more conservative' in bis opinions than, was expected by.such thinkers, as Bagshot and J- S. Millin ; ; the "sixth's." Mr. Spender contrasts the- position as it is manifested in Australia, New Zealand and Canada with that which he finds existing in England. ' ■ ' ■_: ' • ~ . ~\. . ..