THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1169, 27 July 1894, Page 36

THE LABOUR WORLD.

The annual report of the Department of Labour Avas submitted to Parliament last Aveek. The report states that the working classes in New Zealand have had, on the whole, little cause to complain during the past year. Towards the end of 1893, the AvaA'e of commercial depression which has had such calamitous consequences olseAvhere touched us in passing ; but had local causes not tended to accentuate for a time this depression, it would scarcely have been felt in this Colony at all. These reverses Avere by no means of a kind to induce despondency ; on the contrary, they Avere of a temporary character. There Avere indications that the condition of things would improve. According to the general reports of officers and men, the co-operative contracts had proved an effective and satisfactory means of employing labour. The rash and misleading statements as to the earnings of the men had proved self-contra-dictory. A fairly good Avage was earned on the contracts. With regard to other matters, the Department reports that a system closely resembling “sAveating” is groAving up in the i owns. The provisions of the Truck Act, which prevents Avages being paid in goods or truck, could be applied to other forms of payment besides wages. The general condition of NeAv Zealand factories during the year has been one of high efficiency. In the July number of the Labour Journal, the editor refers to the attacks recently made on that publication “by means of circulars widely distributed, and by comments in a section of the public press.” The editor says: “We do not advocate any opinions on socialism, land nationalisation, old age pensions, communal marriage, or any other subject, because Ave have no opinions.” “ What we do,” he continues, “is to set before the readers of the journal the thoughts of intelligent men and women in all parts of the world regarding the labour and social problems of the day. The editorial comment on Henry George’s article in favour of land nationalisation was misquoted hy most of the assailants, and that ou the Peruvian colony was misunderstood. It Avas a scientific addendum, not a note of approval. It merely pointed out that this scheme prevented accunmlation of Avealth in families, “ precisely as though,” the editor humorously adds, “to an article ou cannibalism we had added, ‘This practice disposes of funeral expenses.’ ” The writer goes on to say: “We believe in allowing thought to be free, .... therefore Ave alloAv free

expression in our columns to articles printed in magazines within ea,sy reach of the rich, but, on account of their expense, denied to the thinkers among the poor if we do not republish them.” The July number of the Labour Journal is to hand, and contains an unusually large amount of matter of an interesting and useful description. These include an article by Stanton Coit in the Forum on “ Necessity of State Aid to the Unemployed,” with an article in reply, entitled “ The Dangerous Absurdity of State Aid,” written by D. McG. Means in the same journal. A very interesting article by Charles Eolleston on “ The Victims of Industry ” is reprinted from the Westminster Review, and there are also articles on “ The Labour Commission —lts Two Beports,” “Home Selfishness,” notes on labour in the Australian colonies, Ac., together with some useful hints on lioav to select Crown lands.

The half-yearly report of the Board of Management of the Wellington Typographical Society makes reference to the conference recently held, and expresses tne opinion that not only was it a success, but that great good will result from it. The evils resulting from the employment of boy labour, the importation of printing, matrices and stereotypes is referred to, and it is hoped that fitting legislation will be passed that will deal with those evils. The balance - sheet slioavs that the expenses are greater than the receipts, Avhich is due to the slack times, expenses of the conference, various deputations, extra printing and other causes. The report states that there is a busy time for the trade during the ensuing three month at least. The Board requested the secretary of the Benevolent Trustees to send all printers in destitute condition applying for relief to the Society, but only tAvo applicants put in an appearance. These Avere not, however, assisted as they were regarded as undeserving cases for pecuniary assistance. Ten neAV members bave been elected, and the rules of the Society registered under the Trades Union Act 1878.

Washington, July 20. Over one hundred leaders of the recent strike Avill be indicted for conspiracy. Sydney, July 20. A hundred shearers at Wagga have refused to sign an agreement, and have formed a camp. Bouseabouts at Coonamble have refused to work for less than 35s per Aveek. Shearers are working under the old agreement. Brisbane, July 20. While the roll Avas being called at Wellshot station, a shearer named Ashton drcAv a revolver while another shearer was going to sign an agreement. Sub-Inspector Carr thinking Ashton was about to shoot, fired, Avounding Ashton, it is believed, fatally. Carr has been arrested. Brisbane, July 23. Conflicting accounts are given of the shooting of the sheares Ashton. SubInspector Carr states that a man named Prior fired the shot, which accidentally Avounded Ashton. Carr thereupon snatchedtho revolver from Prior and arrested him. Ashton, seeing the revolver in Carr’s hand, accused him of shooting him. Prior is alleged to have confessed that he fired the shot. Christchurch, July 22. At a meeting of the Knights of Labour at Lyttelton, the following resolution was carried:—“ That this meeting desires to

express its earnest hope that Mr Joyce, M.H.R., will follow up his questions in Parliament on the sweating system now in vogue in the Lyttelton Railway Department, by demanding a searching enquiry into the whole matter in the interests of every worker in the Colony." At a mass meeting of the unemployed held in Cathedral square on Saturday night, several hundred people, including about 150 unemployed, were present. The following resolutions were carried: —That the Mayor be requested to at once open up work for urgent cases, and use the funds he has in hand, and further, if necessary, to make an appeal to the citizens for funds for employing urgent cases; that this meeting is of opinion that the Government should at once move to grapple with the question of unused labour, and views with distrust the Government's inaction, and looks upon such as a breach of the many promises made to the working men, upon the strength of which their votes wero obtained; further, that this meeting respectfully calls upon Government to be true to those who placed them in power, and meet them by opening up some reproductive employment at once.