NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS. BY ARTISAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13202, 13 June 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS. BY ARTISAN.

The Arbitration Court is making good progress with the business set down for hearing*at this session in Auckland. The (mongers' Union now numbers practically all the workmen engaged in this calling on its roll of membership, and as a result of the increase in wages granted by the recent industrial agreement which was embodied by the Arbitration Court as an award the members are all financial. 7 On Sunday afternoon the Auckland Political Labour League dealt with the recent American meat scandals, and also touched on ho local meat supply. A strong resolution was carried urging the Government to immediately take over the supply and distribution of meat throughout the colony.

Mr. S. Brown, of the Arbitration Court, gave a very interesting address in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week 011 the advantages of the proposed Industrial Association. The subscription fee for artisan members is much too high and will debar many who otherwise would have become active members. ,

The open air meetings instituted by the Auckland Independent ' Political LabourLeague have so far been • very , successful. The chief speakers, so far have been Messrs. Harle, Aggers, and Way, who have been dealing with "the chief political and social questions of . the day. The meetings will shortly be held weekly every Wednesday evening and occasionally on Sunday afternoons at the wharf.

'--So' far no step's' have 'been' taken "to"call together the delegates from the Auckland unions to decide what steps shall be taken to"; celebrate -Labour Day this year. According to current report there is every likelihood of a stormy .meeting, over, last year's celebration when the meeting, (if any) eventuates. Apparently the Trades Council, which is responsible for the calling of the delegates, wishes to postpone'the evil day.. '

' Work is still fairly plentiful for this time' of 'the year, though broken' time is the general ride in. most trades. • The, Auckland building trade keeps good for the season of the year, but there are a fair number of men on the unemployed book. House painters are quiet, bootmakers fairly busy, timber mills fair, Boilermakers' fairly busy, but engineers and fitters are quiet, and quite a number arc signing tinunemployed book. The Labour Bureau still is. able- to find country work for suitable men.

The whole of the Operative Boot and Shoemakers,' Unions throughout the Commonwealth have federated, and there is a growing feeling in the Commonwealth that the New Zealand unions should also federate with their Australian brethren. The question will. I understand, be discussed at the annual conference of the New Zealand unions to be held in Christchureh next Christmas. It is quite possible that an Australasian Federated Conference will eventuate in Sydney during the next two or three years. ! 7

At the last meeting of the Auckland Independent Political Labour League, the secretary, was instructed by resolution to write to President Roosevelt protesting against the treatment accorded Messrs. Mover, Hay ward, and Pettiboiie by the State officials of Colorado.' These men were the executive officers of the Western Federation of Miners, and have been arrested 'on 'a charge of conspiracy and inciting to murder. Extraordinary precautions and harsh treatment have according to late American liles been accorded to these men. The league has also forwarded • its sympathy with the Miners' Federation iu its troubles with the tnineowners.

The decision of the Arbitration Court to take only those cases filed before December last revives the question of utilising the Conciliation Boards again. In some quarters' the opinion is put forth that if the constitution of the Board Was altered so that the parties to a dispute were on each side to appoint expert members of their own trade or calling with a chairman to ho ' mutually agreed uponfailing agreement the chairman to be appointed 1,,- the Government —there would be a far better prospect of reaching a satisfactory settlement of a dispute, and in cases where only a partial agreement could be arrived at "only those points in dispute to be- referred to court. This plan it is held would relieve the court.

" The Premier is dead." The sad tidings spread quickly through, the city oil Monday, just as the citizens were preparing to welcome him home after . his triumphal trip through Australia. Now all is changed. He is no longer with us. Labour mourns for her dead champion. When the late Premier's life is written, the brightest pages will be, those telling of his "care and thoughtfulne?« for the workers, how lie lifted up and bettered their conditions in face of bitter opposition. All workers, whether they toil with their hands', or their brains, in workshop, factory, office, or fields, have lost a friend, nay a father. I will not touch on what lie" did for labour, for his record is engrafted in the minds and hearts of all workers. Much as lie had done in the past, he gave promise of doing more in the future, had he been spared to us. His was a life of strenuous arid unremitting labour for the; benefit of the great mass of the people. It -was with him a labour of love. Labour cannot adequately express its gratitude for what lie has done for,labour' Time alone wil' tell. Labour tenders iu '"virti'elt sympathy to his bereaved' family. ! '

A conference of Waterside, Transport, and Wharf Labourers' Unions will be held in Wellington early in July. All the shipping centres of New Zealand will be represented with the exception of Auckland, where no union is at present in existence. The chief object of the conference to discuss the desirability of forming a New Zealand Federation of Waterside, Transport, and Wharf Labourers' Unions, and also to secure uniform conditions throng!)- 1 out the colony. It is also probable that the New Zealand unions will affiliate with the Australian unions and form a strong international union. In Auckland the men of this calling are in many instances better paid than the ruling rate in the South. A union was formed in Auckland seme lew years back, but it was found that the men had more to lose than to gain in an appeal to the Arbitration Court., judging through the results attained by the Southern unions. In fact preference to unionists was about the only thing that could be asked for, so after due consideration it was deemed advisable to cancel the registration of the union and keep on under the ruling conditions. Speaking from experience, I can say that the employers deal fairly and justly with the men, and there is an. absence of that feeling of antag nism that is somewhat noticeable in seven! of the trades.