NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13766, 3 June 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

~' BT ARTISAN. Tkk Arbitration Court delivered awards in the Plasterers', Plumbers', and Tinsmiths' cases on Monday. • At the usual meeting of the Carters' Union held on Monday evening 25 > new members were elected, making a total of over 80 for the past quarter. , The South Australian Labour party has selected Mr. E. A. Roberts, a member for Adelaide in the House of Assembly, to contest the seat in the Federal rendered vacant by the death of Mr. C. O. Kingston. An unusual increase in the number of Chinese seamen shipped in British vessels at ports in the United Kingdom is causing much indignation among unemployed British seamen. As a remedy for headaches, resultant from handling nitro-glycerine, the drinking of strong black coffee" and the application of cold wet- bandages to the neck and forehead is recommended to miners in the Mining Review. The general labourers held a meeting on Friday evening last, when it was unanimously decided to join the Builders and Contractors' Labourers' -Union. This union is altering its constitution to permit the general labourers to join, and at their next meeting the alterations will be confirmed, and a large access of membership is anticipated. . Mr. Watson, the ex-Leader of the Federal Labour party, has indicated that his political life is rapidly drawing to a close. He states that, while he is not anxious to resign at the end of the current session, it is practically certain that he will net seek reelection for South Sydney by the time the next appeal to the electors comes round. He anticipates that his private business will be sufficient to occupy all his time. Out of 8000 members of the Miners' Federation (Australian), 6000 took part in the "ballot on the disciplinary resolutions adopted bv the miners' executive. The resolutions have for their object, the prevention of strikes at isolated collieries. ' The resolutions have been agreed to by a majority of 1000 votes, and an endeavour will now be made to bring about a resumption of the Special Coal Court. The conditions under which the hospital nurses are working at the present time is the subject of adverse comment in union, circles. If there is one class of labour that ought not to be overworked, and should have the very best conditions available, it isthe hospital" nurses. 'x hey give the best years of their lives to tending of the sick and helpless for very little monetary recompense, and it is not at all creditable to the authorities that they should be kept in insanitary and rat-infested surroundings. Speaking at the Central Methodist Mission on a recent Sunday at Melbourne on the subject of " Industrial • Legislation," Senator Trenwith said that it should be determined by law that industries ' should maintain the labour necessary for their continuance during the period of the labourers' enforced idleness. The lives of bank clerks were rapidly becoming intoleraable. Recently a. young man was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for having done to his employers what. his employers had done to him for years. The employers had robbed the man of his time, and the employee lutd in turn robbed his employers of their money. Work that used to be especially skilled, and paid at high prices, was now done at low wages by men who had to keep up good appearances. The powers of wage?; boards were far too restricted, and he believed that the people should, insist on an alteration of the Constitution, which would place all industrial legislation in the hands of the Federal Par-' liament. '-,'• ; .

The annual conference of the Trades Councils will be held .shortly, and the usual long and unwieldy agenda, paper is set down for consideration. The Wellington Council has set down only one item, and perhaps it would be as well if it was the only- item considered by the conference.. Iturges the conference to deal with the federation of all labour within the Dominion. This federation is of more importance than anything else, and the replies received by the Waikato Miners' Union on this question show that the majority of unions ate favourable to the idea. These annual conferences of labour do not- seem to have the weight or influence that they used to have some years ago. Why, it is hard to tell, unless it is that- the conference meets, discusses various topics, passes resolutions, and goes to sleep for a year after, appointing an executive which does nothing outside of getting the repoit of the late conference printed. The idea, of holding an annual conference of labour is a good one, but. as carried out in New Zealand to-day it, is only a farce.

The continued low price of gum has been the cause of considerable dissatisfaction among the diggers, both Austrian and British. At various times proposals have been mooted for the diggers handle their gum on a co-operative system. This idea is again brought forward, this time by Mr. M. A. Fern, on behalf of the Austrian diggers. Mr. Feni has written to the, secretary of the Gnmdiggers' Union at Waipu, urging the union to co-operate with his fellowcountrymen. He says:—"l wish to make a suggestion, which you will kindly read at your next meeting, that the British and Austrian gumdiggers .should unite and open up » central place, in Auckland, where all gum could be deposited for the merchants' inspection; that is to .say, that the diggers should be their own gum brokers. This could be easily done by the diggers having so many shares each, and a large buildingcould be erected in Auckland with a rental, and two men appointed, the one being British and the other Austrian, to look after the interests of their fellow workmen. These two men could have a salary, and each digger when he sends his gum down, after it is sold could pay the same commission as he does to other gum brokers. If my suggestion is carried out, it will, no doubt, be, not only a. great benefit to the diggers, but it will also keep the market to better prices than are now obtainable. As you are well aware all gum brokers are not quite honest in their dealings, and someone is sure to suffer." Who is suffering now but the poor gumdigger? I will, on my part, get as many Auslrians to join, and through our newspaper I will enter largely into the subject, and if all the Austrians do not join. I am certain a good fewwill fall in with the idea."

"Just for the day I'll be away." Remarked his wife last Saturday. "If every dog must have his day. Then why not every cat her day? I'll take Woods' Groat Peppermint Cure, Because that's indispensable, And mil will go with me, I'm sure You .ought to think that's sensible!'' (He did!) Mr. A. K. Inder, it mining engineer, of Duuedin, has received information from his brother, Mr. C. J. Inder, who is in French West Africa, that he and two other New Zealanders have recently executed a commission to examine,, prospect, and report on the potentialities of a gold-bearing field on the Gambia River, where, if conditions are favourable, dredging . will be introduced. The three New Zealahders traversed much virgin country, and in the course of their adventurous travels they had the rare pleasure of testing their shooting skill on elephants. Dredging continues to make progress on the Gold Const, where several Now Zealanders are engaged. SAFE AND SURE FOR BRONCHITIS PATIENTS. TUSSICURA (Wild Cherry Balm) is an exceedingly successful remedy for Bronchitis, Asthma. Lung and Throat troubles. Says a well-known medical man to-day in speaking to the proprietor.—" think most highly of your TUSSICURA, and may add that leading analysts look upon it as a very valuable discovery. TUSSICURA cures coughs and colds at once. Stops the tickle and affords easy expectoration. All stores.