NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13701, 18 March 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

I BV ARTISAN. Tin; opinion is expressed in well-informed circles that Mr. Robert Slater will lie appointed to one of the vacant scats in the Legislative Council. The special knowledge gained by Mr. Slater while on the Bench of the Arbitration Court gives him an advantage over any other Labour nominees that may be .suggested, and his appointment would give universal satisfaction to the workers. From time to time the actual majority gained by Air. McOnllough over Mr. Slater for the position of workers' representative (mi the Bench of the Arbitration Court, bus been discussed, and rumour has it that though Mr. McCullough had a irajority of unions, Mr. Slater hud a majority of unionists. This is unsatisfactory, and the feeling is expressed thai the authoritative figures should he given by the Government, and several Labourites are going to try to secure, through some of the M.P.'s a "return showing the actual figures of the voles recorded. The Wellington Gas Stokers and (Jokers' Union is at present taking a ballot to refer its dispute to the Conciliation Board for settlement. The present rate of pay is 9fi 3d per day for ordinary stokers, and 10s per day for leading stokers. T;ic union is asking that these amount* be increased to lis and 12s per day, and that double time bo paid for Sundays, which, under the present, agreement, is paid at ordinary rates. The men say, in support of.their claims, that their work is of so arduous a nature that very few can follow it up for any length of time, and that the company has always a difficulty in getting men to do the work.

/ "Clio Patents Act, which came into force in England on January 1, is proving beneficial to the workers, inasmuch as it in the means of providing a largo amount of work. The principle contained in the Act is that before any patent is granted to foreign residents," the patented article must ho manufactured in Britain, and provision is made so that undue restrictions cannot be placed on British manufacturers in obtaining the right to manufacture the patented article. .Recent cables state that already a large number of foreign manufacturers are establishing factories in Britain. Such an Act would materially foster the industries of New Zealand if it were brought into force.

When the Christchurch Trades Council built its own hall it raised £1157 10s by issuing share certificates to affiliated unions and £99 10s from individuals who had faith in the project. The unions took 2315 shares and the individuals 199. Afterwards the Hall Committee borrowed £1400 from the Government Life Insurance. The building is now worth £2550 and the ground £660, and there is over £500 worth of furniture on the premises. The net pro. fit on the letting of rooms last year was £110. These results should encourage our local unions to go on with the building of the local hall. There is a -good sum already in hand, and no doubt sufficient could be raised by debenture or share certificate to enable the work to proceed. The Wellington Trades Council is making an endeavour to acquire u hall and rooms on lines similar to Christchurch. It is anticipated that the building will cost £7000.

Federation has of late been discussed by a number of unions, and in many trades it has become an accomplished fact, and lias proved beneficial in its working to the unions. _At Easter conferences of engine-drivers and general labourers, representing unions in different parts of the Dominion, meet to endeavour to form federal councils in their respective industries. As a natural corollary, the respective federal councils will form in time a grand' federation of all the unions, irrespective of trade, and the power they will then-have will go far to correct the many shortcomings of the present Arbitration Act from the unionists' point of view. The Waikato Miners' Union is working hard to form this federation, and the replies so far are sufficiently encouraging for the union to continue the work already started in this direction. The whole question is, J understand, coming up at the annual conference of the trades' councils at Easter.

Trouble still continues at the Blackball mine at West-port. The mine is still closed, and the nun refuse to turn to. Last week if was announced that a working agreement "had been amicably arranged, but apparently it is now off, and the deadlock continues. The present situation is one of extreme interest to all unionists. The Miners' Union was cited for a, breach of award and lined', but the situation is no better now than before the Court proceedings, and the men have no present intention of returning to work. The sum total of the trouble is, so far as can be. ganged from a distance, that the management refuse to shorten the hours, on the plea that the output will be curtailed, while the men wish to avail themselves of the bank-to-bank clause of the Coal Mines Act. One thing the management might remember is that the curtailing of working hours does not always mean a corresponding decrease in the output. The whole situation may bo said to try the efficacy of the Arbitration. Court in compelling men to work when they have no desire to do so.

in the. South active preparations' are being made by the unionists, socialists, and members of the Political Labour League to contest various seats in the coming Parliamentary elections. In Wellington a Labour Representation Committee is getting underway. In Ohristohurch the Political Labour League will contest throe seats and the .socialists two scuts. The likely candidates for a plebiscite are "Messrs". Cooke, Hartrum, andEckioyd for the socialists, and Messrs. Thorn, Sullivan, Howard', and Patterson for the league. In Duncdin the three sitting members, Messrs. Arnold, Sidey, and Barclay, were recently approached by the Political Labour League, with the request that they should join the league, and run in its interests at next election. . Messrs. Arnold and Sidey are reported to have demurred, hut Mr." Barclay is. .so rumour stales, coming right out as the endorsed candidate of not only the league, but also of Die. socialists. In Auckland it has nob as yet been decided what steps will be taken. The Trades Council has approached the Political Labour League, asking the eo-o]>aratibn of the League during the. campaign, but. the question has been adjourned to the end of the month by the league, when a decision will bo arrived at. Though the Labour party may not he .successful in any of the electorates next December, if is certain to improve on past, results, and thus obtain greater recognition of its- claims at the hands of the Government in the future.