NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14005, 10 March 1909, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

BY ARTISAN. The organising of clerks is not yet an accomplished fact.

The Queensland Worker predicts a mild —not in land —during the present •year.

Workmen in the building trade have been departing for Queensland during the last fortnight.

The General Labourers' Union is considering the terms of their claims to present to Council and Court.

Mr. George Davis has announced himself as a candidate for civic honours at the by-election on the 24th inst.

In spite of considerable numbers of men having been found work, the meetings of unemployed at the Grand Old Man's statue still continue.

The ballot for the three secretaryships of the Seamen's —Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland—resulted in the return of Messrs. Belcher (general secretary), and Young and Kneen (local secre : taries). ,

In connection with, the commission of inquiry set up by the Government to inquire into methods of management and the alleged Government stroke*' of the men at Addington workshops, a hitch has occurred about the appointment of an advocate to conduct the men's case before the commission.

It is the expressed opinion of several recent arrivals from the Old Country connected with the engineering trade, of which John Burne was formerly a member, that he has "ratted" on labour since he be:ame a Minister. They hold the opinion that if he again stands for Battersea he will meet his Waterloo.

The New Zealand Railway Review of March 5 publishes the balance-sheet of the A.S.R'.S. for 1908. The best indication of the society's progress is shown by the net receipts.' They totalled £2538 lis, or £47 10s 9d in excess of the previous year. The funds to credit amount to over £4000. The increase of membership during the year was 327.

At the quarterly meeting of the Huntly miners strong comment was made at the action of employers in presenting £200 to the four men who, in unionist parlance, "scabbed" during the recent trouble. If, say the miners, the recent Act penalises unionists for giving assistance to each other, why should employers be permitted to make .cash gifts to non-unionist employees for opposing union principles?

The result of the two cases which have gone before the Conciliation Council does not augur well for the future usefulness of the Council. Remembering the resolution passed by the great majority of the unions at the time of the appointment of the Commissioner, that they would only appear before the Council pro forma, so as to conform with the provisions of the Act, matters conciliatory do not look too roseate in Auckland district.