NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13522, 21 August 1907, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

BY ARTISAN.

A Blacksmiths and Farmers' Union was formed last week, with Mr. A. Rosser secretary, pro tern. ..-,."> A strike of 37 years' duration recently ended in Germany by a strong company, capitulating to the Cutlers' Trade Union. A London factory inspector reports English slaves in the city making shirts at from 6d to Is 6d per dozen, trousers and coats 4d each. The Curriers' Union is approaching the Court for an increase of wages, for the first lime since the award was secured eight years ago. Union meetings for "current week: — Trades and Labour Council, 21st; Painters, 26th; Coachworkers, 26th; Ironmoulders, 27th. New York female State school teachers have organised themselves into a strong union, with the object of securing the same salaries as male teachers. • The Labour Day Celebration Committee have received a large number of donations and a number of trophies have been promised for the forthcoming holiday. Strikes increase in number every year in Germany. The average for the year 1899 to 1903, inclusive, was 1242; in 1904 'it rose to 1870, and in 1905 to 2057. Sweat: To get something advantageous, as money, property, or labour, from anyone by exaction or oppression. Sweater: An 'employer who oppresses his workmen by paying low wages.Webster's International Dictionary. Labour Leader Bath, of West Australia, condemns the amended Arbitration Act introduced by the Government of that. State as a primitive measure aimed at trade unionism, and actuated by the worst manifestations of party bias. The Sydney Arbitration Court award in connection with the claims of the Shop Assistants' Union makes the minimum wage for male shop assistants of nine years' experience £2 10s per week, and £1 7s 6d for females for a week of 53 hours. The tinsmiths of Auckland and suburbs formed a union last week, Mr. Geo. Davis being elected secretary. The; necessary steps towards securing registration are being taken, and an improvement in wages and conditions of employment will be sought in due course. Stranded English immigrants in Canada are only paid about one-third the wages promised by immigration touts. Farmers excuse the lies of the touts by telling the unfortunate immigrants that he is a green hand, i.nd is merely paid what he is worth. The Brewers, Wine and Spirit Merchants, and Aerated Water Workers' Union has been formed, . and the rules were* forwarded to the registrar in Wellington for approval last week. A committee has been appointed to draw up a statement for an increase of wages and better conditions of employment, which will be considered by the union shortly. Mr. R. F. Way is secretary. Last week was a busy week' with the employers in the engineering and allied trades. Separate conferences were held between the employers and representatives of the Amalgamated Engineers', the Ironmoulders', and the Boilermakers' Unions. In each case there is a possibility of a settlement of the dispute without recourse to the Court, though, 'of course, there is an element of discord in the meetings. j — : A public meeting is being arranged for by a joint committee of the Independent Political Labour League and the Trades and Labour Council to deal with the "strap hanging" and other tramway matters. The meeting will, if arrangements can be made, be held in the Opera House next Sunday. An invitation will be accorded to the City Councillors to attend and speak on the question. Motions will be submitted protesting against "strap hangers" being allowed, for a proper inspection of the cars, and against the excessive rate of speed demanded by the present time-tables.

A slight difficulty occurred in a Thames engineering firm recently, when about a dozen apprentices refused to turn to until a proper understanding was arrived at respecting the teaching of the trade. To be qualified to pass a Board of Trade examination for a marine certificate, applicants must have served three years out of the five years of their apprenticeship at " fitting and erecting;" The boys complained that they were kept principally at turning or machine work, and would, at the end of their time, be disqualified from obtaining their sea-going "ticket." I am' given to' understand that the matter has been settled in favour of the boys.

There is a tendency on the part of some of the employers in Auckland to have the power to issue permits to under-rate workmen removed from the ' chairman of the Conciliation Board to the stipendiary magistrate, and also to debar the union representative from having a say in the matter. This, if persisted in, will be the cause of trouble, for it simply means a reversion to the old go-aa-ycu-plcase .style, and would to a great extent nullify the awards. The impartiality of the chairman of the Conciliation Board is without question, and an analysis of the results of applications for permits would show that the proportion of permits granted in Auckland in all trades is greater than in the other centres.

The Waterside Workers' Unicfn was formed seven months ago, and on the occasion of the last, meeting there were 814 names on the roll. Since formation the union has secured an award from the Court of Arbitration, giving several improvements in the condition.? of employment.. In spite of the difficulty of handling such a large body of men, whose work is of a more or less casual character, the award has been working very smoothly, there being only a few minor .breaches, unintentional in character, the result of inadvertanee or carelessness in the reading of the award. The union meetings are being well attended, the average attendance" being close on 250 each night. This union is the first showing any permanence that has been formed since the great strike of 1890. At present the union has under consideration the formation of an accident fund. It has also adopted (the first in Auckland to do so) a union badge or button, so that no difficulty is experienced in the engagement of unionists. The result of the recent conference in Wellington was highly appreciated by the members, and the conclusions arrived at were endorsed unanimously.