THE LABOUR WORLD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 43

THE LABOUR WORLD.

UNEMPLOYED PRINTERS.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OP PUBLIC WORKS. A deputation from the Typographical Union, introduced by Mr Vaney, the president, waited on the Minister of Public Works last week to ask him if he could provide any other work for the unemployed printers except bushfelling and road-making at Taihape and Waikaremoana as suggested. Mr Vaney pointed out that there were only three months to pass .before the next session, and it was considered that it would take that time for them to reach the places named and accustom themselves to that class of work. He pointed out that several of the men were married, and that it was improbable that they, never having been used to hard manual work, would be able to earn enough to support themselves and provide food for their wives and families, who would consequently have to go to the charitable aid authorities for assistance. Be asked Mr Hall-Jones if it would be possible to find work for the men nearer the city of a much lighter description than bushfelling and road-making ? The Minister : What does light work mean P that’s the trouble ! Mr Vaney said there was a good deal of building going on just now, and some work might be. found for the men breaking up bricks for mortar or stacking timber. the Minister said as a matter of fact there was not much building work going on just now, but he reminded the deputation that there was an art even in stacking timber. It was mentioned that at a meeting of unemployed printers on the previous night somebody had stated that he had been employed on co-operative works and could hardly make “ tucker.”

The Minister : You know some men would make a living while others would sit down and starve. Do I understand that there is not one man came to tackle this work ? Adeputationist pointed out-again that the work was so far away. The Minister : Why, you could leave here to-morrow morning and get there at mid-day next day. It was again pointed out that bushfelling was too arduous for men who had been at sedentary employment all their lives. The Minister said that it was not intended that all the men should go into the bush, only those who were fitted for it. Others, again, could go on the railway works, but the labour there was harder than road work. He regretted to have found out that in the list that had been handed him the other day as of men unemployed five names were included, without their consent, of men who were earning good wages as printers. Several of those who went to the interview representing themselves as unemployed had gone to work the very next morning. Mr Vaney said the compiler of the list did not include the names with any bad intention. The mistake had occurred owing to the

hurry. The Minister said he was surprised and grieved to see the names of men being put down as unemployed who were really at work. It was not a fair course to take, as it caused exaggerated statements to be circulated as to the unemployed, made a bad impression throughout the colony, and en couraged agitation in other centres. A deputationist: Could you state what a man physically strong could earn at Taihape ? The Minister said he ought <"0 be able to earn 7s a day. He pointed out that the average earnings of the co-operatives at Makohine were 7s 7d a day. Members of the deputation said they had to believe that the average on works of the kind was lower than that. Mr Hall-Jones : If I were some of these ohaps doing nothing I would much rather tackle this work and give it a trial than hang about the streets here. A member of the deputation : What are their wives and families going to do while they'Sire away'? Mr Hall-Jones : What are their wives and families going to do while they are here ?

Mr McGirr said the executive officers had pointed out in tneir reports that it would be better for the single men to go out into the country in the slack season and not hang about the city. Many of them just waited about and ran into debt, and all the money they earned during session was devoted to working off “ dead-horse” debts. Mr Hall-Jones said it was bad for th'em, and must hamper the funds of the Society. A member of the deputation said that that was the case. The unemployed Unionists drew 10s a week.

The Minister said that now the linotypes were being introduced, it behoved the younger men to look round for something else besides printing. He recognised that the men who were getting on in years could not be expected to tackle outside work. Those present agreed with these remarks, and Mr McGirr said that the Union in its reports urged the younger and more robust men to find more promising avocations. After some further conversation Mr Vaney asked the Minister if there were any hopes of getting employment for men nearer the town.

The Minister said there were not. He could only advise them to accept what was offered. They would soon become seasoned to the work, and, if they had any grit in them, would make a living. A deputationist asked if the evidenco of the private benefit society enquiry was available for the printer Mr Hall-Jones said it was being printed already, otherwise a large number of men would be disengaged. He mentioned that he had heard from the secretary of the Union that, only 14 bona fide unemployed were present at the meeting on the previous night Mr Vaney acknowledged that that was so. The Minister promised to let the secretary of the Union know if he heard anything further, and the deputation thanked him and withdrew.

It is the intention of the Furniture Trade Union to apply to the employers for new conditions of labour. Some dissatisfaction prevails as to the existing conditions retarding wages, the proportion of apprentices to adult labour, and the question of overtime. At last week's meeting of the Union a committee was appointed to interview the masters and ask for a conference to consider a set of conditions which the Union has drawn up. These conditions fix a minimum rate of wage, stipulate that the proportion of boys to adults shall be as one to five, and regulate overtime. It is also proposed that boys shall serve an apprenticeship of five years, and bo paid as follows • —First year, ss; second, 10s ; third, 15s; fourth, ' «£1 ; fifth, 255.

The weekly meeting of the Trades Council was held last week, Mr A. Collins in the chair. It was decided to ask the Government to amend the Shops and Shop Assistants Act in the direction of making all shopkeepers close at 6 o'clock five nights in the weak. Mr < harles Wilson, M.H.K., wrote accepting the Council's invitation to deliver the next, of the series of winter lectures. Mr J Thompson wrote offering to read a paper on *" i siw Reform." It was decide Ito accept the oft', r.