NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

: BY ARTISAN. _ _;- . Waterside workers are holding a conference at Wellington this week. The New South Wales United Clerks* Union is making great progress with organisation. Steps are now being taken by organised Labour in Melbourne to form a trades union brass band. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers has opened a branch, at Petone and also one at Invercargill. " >, The waterside workers' dispute has been practically settled, only three items being referred to the Arbitration Court for settlement.

Mr. Will Crooks, M.P. for Woolwich, and a prominent member of the British Labour party, purposes taking a trip through Australia shortly, and will probably visit New Zealand.

The, death of Mr. S. Brown removes a strong individuality from the Bench of the Arbitration Court. Mr. Brown has been the employers' representative, for a number of years, and was well respected by all unionists, who extend their sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

Mr. Will Thome, M.P., leaves England for New Zealand in September. Mr. Thome, who is a well-known Labour member, is taking the trip for the purpose of benefiting his health, and will at the same time inquire into social and labour conditions in the Dominion, and also the Commonwealth. , .■ .:"'.

It may not be generally known t that there is a society in Auckland composed of ordinary workers and wage-earners, who give-their time and talents in providing benefit concerts and performances for deserving cases of distress and unemployment. This society is now known as the Auckland Benefit Concert Company, and has during the last three years distributed no less than £800.

The record put up in the discharging of the Walkure last. week is not by any means an isolated one for the port. It is generally conceded that the local waterside workers are in the front rank of their calling, as with the primitive appliances used in the port for the discharge of vessels it speaks volumes for the men that vessels can get a quicker discharge in Auckland than in any other New Zealand port.

From the last report of the New South Wales Department of ? Labour: " For strong, healthy lads and girls of such an age there would always be a demand in the factories, but it is a matter for regret when some children who, through circumstances, have not been properly nourished, are compelled to seek employment at such a tende* age as 13 years." This,'too, at a time, when the fathers of children are clamouring at the doors of Parliament for work, adds «. Labour exchange.'■' "

The Southland sawmill workers intend asking the 1 Government \\ to introduce -a. • Sawmill * Workers' ' Accommodation ' Act. Mr. O'Byrne, the secretary of;the Southland Union, states thafc most of the 'complaints about the lack apd poor* quality of the accommodation provided are directed ; against one mill. In that ,case the accommodation provided for 15 den was really only sufficient for four. Mr:'O'Byrne gives many instances to the Southland Daily News of the extreme hardships suffered! by some of the sawmill workers. * It is urged that no unnecessary Hardship should be added to those peculiar to tH«f falling] and with this view an attempt jb&;' made for statutory accormhodatiorr being provided.' ,* ' •' % ' ; ;■•- ■, '

Bishop Mercer, Anglican: Bishop of 'Tasmania, is known throughout Australasia) as holding. advanced .views on the rights of the people. He recently gave an address before a meeting of a • Tasxnanian> branch of the Workers' Political League, faking as his theme, "A Few Thoughts on Wages.", ;■ He said: "I cannot see the fairness of the idea of all-getting the same. My basis of fairness is that wages should be according to: the ■value of j the work, and what is done in ;': the hours of work. Wages are not paid out ;of capital; "'■ but are paid out of the product of labour. Why does a Chinaman take less than a European? i Because his standard of life is lower. Arid, it proves \ that if the workers decide . they' Want 'a.'higher standard they can, if they organise, demand a higher wage than is determined by competition in the 'labour market. Unless organised the wage of the whole family tends to the came level as if there were only one member of the family working. The only hope for the workers under the competitive system is that .thej shall combine. . i The women in

some of the English' unions get the' same wage as men for; the same work, but only because they are in the unions. -As a rule, women are. underpaid, only because theydemand a lower ; standard of life than! a man. , But it is montrouflly unfair. - Why should a widow, ; be compelled to;,mayage, with 'less than ,a. widower? Universal unionism' Wouldvbe the greatest reform. Some people say .. that the Government : should give everybody a, job. But I don't know how it would work out. It < would demoralise everybody. Borne say. 'Put we socialists in "and you will see heaven.' . But I don't trust socialists., for being better than anybody else. I wouldn't like* to be in the power of a Socialist Government. Think of the bully-ing-up of Government bosses."