NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15094, 10 September 1912, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS.

' BY ARTISAN.

The ballot for tho election .of officers of tho New Zealand Federation of Labour for the ensuing term is now proceeding, but there does not seem to bo much interest shown by the members in the election. This, it Is stated, is duo to the fact that there is strong opposition to the federation in the unions affiliated to that body in Auckland. i .

Railway employees are dissatisfied with the grading system that obtains in the eervice. A deputation from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants waited upon Mr. A. M. Myers when, ho was Minister for Railways, and it is now intended to approach Hon. W. H. Herrie3, the new Minister for Railways. It is anticipated that an amicable settlement will bo arrived at.

The late secretary of the Waihi Miners' Union, Mr. MacMillan, is at present in Auckland. Mr. MacMillan has been the secretary of tho union for the past two years, but declined to stand for re-election at the recent annual elections. He states that tho worry of the strike has aged him considerably, that he has lost over a stone in weight, and that a rest from office will do him good. It is understood that he intends to stay in Auckland for the time being.

At a recent meeting of the Auckland Amalgamated Society of Engineers it was decided to appoint a new secretary in place of Mr. John Fawcus, who has for many years held that position. __ Tho choice of tho society for the position fell upon Mr. Herbert Rigby, who is at present employed in tho Auckland Electric Tramways 'Company's workshops at the Ponsonby depot. It is understood that the society will at a later date appoint an organiser also, to work in conjunction with tho secretary.

This year's -Hour Demonstration in Sydney is to bo held on Monday, October 7, and will, it is anticipated, bo taken part in by 77 unions. > Invitations to bo present at the official luncheon have been accepted by- the State Governor (Lord Chelmsford), Mr. Fisher (Commonwealth Prime Minister), Mr. McGowen (Stale Prime- Minister), and other Commonwealth and State Ministers. The committee has decided to ask all members of tho Commonwealth and State Parliamentary Labour parties to take part in the procession.

During the hearing of an application for a variation of the award of the Now South Wales Government Railways and Tramways Board, Judge Scholes, in tho Industrial Arbitration Court, said it would be utter waste of time to argue for any lower rates of pay than are awarded to persons doing similar work outside the Government service. Ho stated that section 26 prescribed that the rates of payinside tho service must not bo less than those paid outside, and that no matter how hard it might bo the Commissioner must observe the ruling rates paid for the different classes of work.

There is to be a special general meeting of the Auckland Tramways Union to-day to further discuss the question of the appointment of a permanont secretary to that organisation. About ten days ago a special meeting was convened for the purpose, but it has been contended since that this meeting was not representative enough, and a requisition has been handed in to the president of the union, Mr. Paul Richardson,_ asking that the matter bo further considered by the members. There are a considerable number of applicants from different parts of the Dominion for the post, of secretary to the union. It has been decided that the applications must all be in by to-day, and the committee has been empowered to deal with them and submit the names of the five most suitable candidates to a ballot of the, whole union. The result of to-day's meeting will bo awaited with keen interest in Labour circles, as the Tramways Union is looked upon as one of Auckland's leading unions.

A member of tho executive of the Sydney Tramway Employees' Union, who is at present in Auckland, states that tho Sydney union conductors are determined not to permit passengers to ride on the footboards of tho cars. Efforts are being periodically made by the conductors to secure the removal of passengers from the footboards, where they ride in consequence of the overcrowding of the cars. The police, it is stated, will not assist the tramway men, and it generally happens that after traffic has been delayed tho footboard riders will gain the day. Tho conductors who are nob connected with tho Tramway Union have decided not to take any action in regard to ordering people from the hoards, .stating that they have not received instructions from headquarters to do so. The Chief Commissioner for Railways has agreed to receive a deputation from the Tramway Union to discuss tho question of footboard riding. The principal demands of the men are that where a conductor fads or omits to collect fares from passengers when trams are overcrowded, the Department will extend lenient treatment to the employee' concerned, and also that where accidents occur through footboard riding, duo' to overcrowding 0 the cars, the employee injured shall bo paid his wages in full during tho whole time that he is incapacitated. Iho deputation will also discuss the question as it affects the safety of the general public.