THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 16

THE LABOUR WORLD.

Consequent upon the now method of allocating Factory Inspectors to the North and Middle Islands respectively instead of defining separate districts for them another batch of inspectors—l4l strong—is to be gazetted this week. There are no new appointments however. The time within which trades societies and unions may register under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act has been extended till the 2nd ot April so as to afford amplo time for the election of the various boards and for associations of employers or employees to register. The current number of the Journal of the Department of Labour contains the following report upon trade in Wellington Building trade : Carpentors dull. During the first part of the month painters wore busy, but now the work is again slacking off. Engineering, &c.: Dull, with no immediate sign of improvement. Boot trade : Very dull. Clothing trade : Fairly good business done. Retail trade (general) : Brisk. Unskilled labour: Previous to the holidays there were not many applicants for employment, but since there has been quite a number applying. Many of them are men who have come down from tho country after finishing contracts, and now wish to return. Several cases of men who are making an effort to help themsolves by taking grass-seed-cutting on shares from, owners of land have come under our notice j these have boon assisted with passages to as near as possible to the scene of operations. At a spocial mooting of the Operative Tailors’ Society last week, it was unanimously decided to register under tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

Tho usual weekly meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last Aveek, Mr A. Ward (president) in the chair. An application irom the Boilermakers’ Society for affiliation with the Council was gran tod, and tho Society’s delegates took their seats. It was decided to have 2000 handbills printed and distributed calling attention to tho meeting to be addressed by the Hon W. P. Reeves in the Skating Rink next evening-. The secrotary distributed rough i)roofs of tho rulos which had been drawn up in viow of registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and it was decided to. considor them at tho next meeting of the Council. Tho Council approved of the protest passed by the Australasian Seamen's Conference against subsidising any mail contractor who employs coolie labour on his vessels. The Inspector of Factories in Auckland finds that the law giving assistants in hotel bars a weekly half-holiday is being ignored. He threatens proceedings. The casual labour required at the Lyttelton Railway Station, and hitherto employed by the Stevedores’ Association at that port, will in future be engaged by the local railway officials, subject to the supervision of the Christchurch agent of the Labour Bureau. A new paper in the interests of labour has been started in Sydney. It is called tho Daily Post.] Sydney, January 24. Tho Newcastle miners’ funds are exhausted. The secretary states that after tho payment of strike allowance to-morrow nothing will be left. Sydney, January 24. The Seamen’s Conference has decided to recommend the branches in Victoria, Now South Wales and Queensland to agitate for the extension of the franchise to seamen on the lines of the best points in tho New Zealand and South Australian Acts. Tho Seamen's Conference has decided to bring tho question of the assimilation of I the Australian shipping laws before tho Conference) of Premiers at Hobart. Sydney, January 20.

In connection with the working of the Labour Bureau, tho Hon J. Garrard said ho would sooner assimilate our system in somo of its details to that of Now Zealand, as it would bo better to have the whole work centralised. From what ho saw in Now Zealand, he in-

clinos to tho opinion that there is a lower class of men hero, but that fact he thinks is accounted for by tho unemployed congregating in the capital, while in New Zealand they are more distributed. Sydney, January 29.

Tho Labour Electoral League Conference has excised a portion 'of the Federation plank demanding tho abolition of tho present dofonce force and its reconstruction on a purely voluntary basis. The abolition of tho Upper House has been made tho first plank in the place of land value taxation.

Planks havo boon added in favour of vesting tho railways and other public works in tho State or the local government bodies, tho exclusion of inferior alien races, a graduated income tax, and tho vesting of tho liquor traffic in the State. Sydney, January 30. Two non-unionists at Soahara Colliery have been brutally assaulted by Unionists, and their tents, tools and clothes destroyed. Tho minors’ delegate of tho Seaham Lodge has been arrested for participation in tho assault.

Owing to the exhaustion of the funds the officors of tho Northern Miners’ Association havo found it necessary to raise the strike levy from 5 to 10 per cent, on tho gross earnings of all men in employment.

The Greta miners are appealing to tho labour organisations in the colonies, England and America for assistance.

New York, January 24. Tho Militia fired on rioters in connection with the tram strike at Brooklyn, killing several of them.

Washing ton, January 29. The Loops have been withdrawn from New York, as the Brooklyn tram strike is collapsing,

KNIGHTS OF LABOUR.

Hawera, January 23. The session of the: Wellington District Assembly of tho Knights of Labour opened at Eltham last night. Fourteen delegates were present, from places as far away as Westport. District Master Workman Tempei’ly presided. Tho Eltham Assembly will entertain tho visitors at a banquet tonight. V,

Hawera, January 24,

At tho meeting of the District Assembly of tho Knights of Labour, the following resolutions were passed : That it is to the interest of tho Colony that no person financially interested in the liquor traffic should be appointed to any judicial position on the Bench. That the Government bo urged to have introduced a uniform series of school books for use in the State schools.

That this Assembly urge upon the Government the advisability of distributing among worthy private individuals many of the appointments that local police constables now hold, more especially the appointments connected with tho Labour Bureau. That all locomotive-drivers in Now Zealand should be required to pass a Government examination.

Tliat the District Assembly meet yearly instead of half-yearly. Tho unsatisfactory state of affairs in connection with the Mokihinui Coalmines produced a long discussion, and introduced tho question of Government assuming the control of one or more mines as an experiment in the direction of State ownership. Bros. Hill and Wood were appointed a committee to deal with the question. It was also resolved that a deputation from tho Christchurch local assembly he requested to wait on tho directors of the Cardiff Company to bring before them tho injustices under which the men are alleged to bo suffering.

The following officers were duly elected and installed for the onsuing term: —D.M.W., Bro. W. Hildreth, Wellington; D.F., Bro. R. W. W. C. Wood, Eltham; District Secretary, Bro. W. Welch, Palmerston; P.D.M.W., Bro. G. W. Temperley, Napier; D.S., Bro. S. J. Binning, Eltham ; D.J., Bro. J. Lawson, Mokihinui; D.1.E., Bro. A. Lang, Inglewood; D.0.E.,8r0. J. Mcßean, Pahiatua.

THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

A conference of delegates of the boroughs of Newton, Newmarket and Parnell, presided over by the Mayor of Auckland, has decided on Satui-day for the half-holiday, butchers, photographers and hairdressers being allowed to choose Wednesday, as provided by the Act. The question as to tho validity of the election of Councillor Baylis (Melrose Borough Council) to a seat on tho conference appointed to fix the day for tho weekly half-holiday has been settled. At last weak’s meeting of the Melrose Borough Council it was proposed by Councillor Brown, and seconded by Councillor Key, that Councillor Baylis be elected to represent tho Council on the conference. The motion was carried unanimously without discussion.

Tho conference of Wellington delegates has decided upon Wednesday for the halfholiday. Our Feathorston correspondent writes : A special meeting of the Town Board was held on Wednesday evening to fix the day for tho weekly half-holiday. A petition in favour of Thursday, bearing 15 signatures, was presented by Mr W.Toogood. A petition boaring 35 signatures, asking that Saturday bo tho day, had, unfortunately, been lost. Mr Cox moved that Thursday be tho day for the half-holiday. This was seconded by MrNicols, and carried on the casting vote of the chairman. At a mooting of shopkeepers at Petono it was carried that the weekly half-holi-day should be observed in that borough on the day fixed by the Wellington Conference.

Up till 5 o’clock on Wednesday 45 shopkeepers had given notice to the Inspector of Factories of their intention to closo thoir establishments on Satur-day afternoon instead of Wednesday afternoon,

Twelve of them are situated in Lambton quay, ten in Manners street, nine in Willis street/ three in Molesworth street and only one in Cuba street.

Thursday has been chosen for the halfholiday in Masterton by 6 votes to 4. By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent. Masterton, January 25.

A ballot taken by one of the local papers on the half-holiday question has resulted in a large majority of votes being recorded in favour of Saturday. A petition has also been signed by over two hundred residents, in favour of Saturday. ‘ ' Bg Telegraph.-—Press Association. Palmerston North, January 23. At a meeting of the Borough Council tonight it was decided to observe Wednesday as the half-holiday. New Plymouth, January 28. The Borough Council has appointed Thursday afternoon for the weekly halfholiday. Gisborne, January 30. The Borough Council, on the casting vote of the Mayor, has decided on Saturday as the-day for the half-holiday. The storekeepers petitioned strongly in favour of Thursday, and there was a largely-signed petition from the general public in favour of Saturday. .AT

THE STATE FARM AT LEVIN

The celebration of the first anniversary of the State Farm at Levin passed oil on Thursday last with great eclat. The Ministers of Labour and Lands had intended to be present, but were prevented at the last moment as a Cabinet meeting had been summoned. Addresses of welcome had been prepared for presentation to them and much disappointment was therefore felt at their absence. Mr James Mackay represented the Department of Labour. There was a large number of visitors including many Natives from the neighbouring settlements, and all the visitors both White and coloured were very hospitably entertained. The festivities comprised a programme of athletic sports, and in the evening a social gathering. During the afternoon fully a hundred children sat down to tea in the school-house. Altogether the scene was very bright, animated and interesting, the people in their holiday attire, the long line of saddlehorses tethered to the fences/ the 'gay costumes of the Maori belles, the general bustle and movement combining to form a striking tableau. There was food for thought and cause for congratulation in the reflection that only twelve months ago the forest primeval stood where now a thriving settlement exists. Within that brief time about 350 acres of bush have been felled,' buildings have been erected, lands fenced and planted, and crops are being raised ; all this work being done by men most of whom are past the heyday of life, and who, if left to shift for themselves, would now be-a burden hpon public charity.