NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

BX ARTISAN. The Waterside and General Labourers" Union, at West port, are about to establish a. co-operative store.

Mr. .Lis. Purle, secretary to the United Labour Day Celebration Committee, 1911, and secretary of the Tinsmiths' Union, left for Sydney on the 19th inst. His wife and family had preceded him some weeks. His absence has caused delay in getting the balance-sheet presented to the Celebration Committee, but it may be mentioned that the balance on the right side of the ledger gives evidence of being a good one, comparing favourably with former Labour Day celebration demonstrations.

The Ohinemuri branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers file to-day a claim to have wages and conditions of work fixed. Two months ago tho union officials had a conference with the mine managers of the district, but failed to effect a settlement. The engineers in the district were included in tho miners' award until the Miners' Union cancelled its registration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act some months ago. Since (hen matters have not been satisfactory to the union, hence this application.

Mr, C. H. Poole leaves shortly on an extended lecturing tour of the United States. Then he purposes spending a considerable time in Great Britain studying British labour conditions, political, social, and material. It is his intention, thus schooled, to return to New Zealand and contest a seat for Parliament as a Labour candidate. To meet any emergency he is leaving signed nomination papers.

i Mr. Payne, M.P., it must be allowed, I was placed in a delicate position when he had to decide between fulfilling his election pledge to support Mr. Massey, on which pledge he mainly obtained his seat, and the subsequent instructions from a public meeting of his constituents to support the Government on the no-confidence motion. No doubt the temptation to repudiate his pledge was great, as it must be to the other Labour members, remembering the juicy tit-bits offered 'to them in Sir Joseph Ward's new proposals.. Notwithstanding rtiese the honourable fulfilment of their hustings pledges seems to me to be their first duty "in scorn of consequence," whatever subsequent contingencies may have arisen. Having redeemed those pledges then they may, perhaps, without undue strain on "their consciences, vote as they please. Even then the really conscientious man- might appropriately question himself whether his pledge did not by implication mean to convey to the electors, and to himself, at the time, that he purposed not only to oust the Ward Government, but to continue to support the- Massey Government. "Artisan,''' for the lasting credit of Labour, even at the sacrifice of benefits, desires above all that honourable actions should form the ground work of the party's progress.

A deputation, consisting of the officials of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, who act on behalf of the* General Labourers' Union, waited on the Carters' Union to learn what action the carters would take in the event of a strike. In a matter so serious it could not be expected that a definite answer could be. given. Should the transport, service join in a sympathetic strike in aid of the general labourers, it will be a. serious matter, for it is not too much to say that the transport service of any country holds the key to the industrial lock, and the driving wheel of commerce. It is a big power to hold, carrying with if grave responsibilities, which, for the credit and well-being of Labour, will never, let us hope, be abused. If it is never abused it will never be exercised until every other means has been tried and faded to reach a. settlement.

Mr. J. K. Kneen. secretary of the local Seamen's Union, I "am glad to be able to report, has so far recovered that lie is able to walk some distance. He has had a trying time, and has suffered much, but lias borne his trials with smiling fortitude

The contractor for the Trades Hall (Mr. Webster) has promised to have the building finished, except the outside plastering by March 20. At present the basement (containing the social hall), the ground floor (two large offices, ante-rooms, and main hall), and the upper storey (two small rooms for secretaries and large meetingroom) are all completed and ready for occupation, but the second floor, where most of the offices for union secretaries are to be located, is still in the hands of the plasterers. According to contract the hall should have been completed during the early part of January. The contract for supplying 700 chairs for the large hall has been let, but the chairs cannot be supplied until a month after the buildim- is finished. In consequence the formal opening will have to be deferred until that date.

Mr. E. Belcher, genera] secretary of the Seamen's Union and chairman "of the Dunedin Harbour Board, is having a, month's holiday. At piesent he is in Wei", lington, but intends visiting Auckland.