LABOUR'S NEEDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 48

LABOUR'S NEEDS.

TRADES COUNCILS’ RESOLUTIONS. ATTITUDE TOWARDS ARBITRATION. “ PATIENCE ALMOST LOST.” A deputation of Wellington Trades and Labour Council delegates, representing the conference of Trades Councils of tho colony, interviewed the Hon. J. A. Miliar (Minister ox Labour) last week night to lay before him lengthy list of resolutions which had been adopted at the last conference in Dunedin. LABOUR AND CONCILIATION.

Mr A. H. Cooper (president of the conference) said tho deputation could claim to voice the opinions of the organised labour -of the colony. They wished to distinctly state that they _ wholeheartedly supported the. principle of conciliation as embodied in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. To some extent the Act had been discredited, and rendered inoperative from various causes, but the fault lay entirely with the Legislature. For instance, in the Wellington furniture trades dispute the Conciliation Board succeeded in bringing all the employers in the district to come to an agreement, but in consequence of a single employer in Wanganui refusing to accede to the arrangement, the case had to go into Court,, the efforts of the Board being entirely wasted. They believed in conciliation, and considered the present Boai'ds quite capable of dealing with disputes. What they asked was that where the employers employing a majority of workmen agreed to the recommendations of the Conciliation Board, this should have the force of an award. The conference also desired that all employers entering business after an award had been made should be at once made parties to it, and that Conciliation Boards should have the power of amending their recommendations just as the Arbitration Court could. As the conference wanted the present Act retained it opposed the proposal to establish Wages Boards. The Labour party had found it absolutely impossible to get men from their own ranks to officer its unions. “ From fear, sir/’ declared the speaker, who went on to say that there was also considerable difficulty in getting men with the courage. to fight their battle in the Arbitration. Court. If this was so, how much more difficult would it be to get men to light,, perhaps, their own employers on Wages Boards, for better wages and conditions. If the proposal was adopted it meant that 50 per cent, of the colony’s unions would be unable to avail themselves of the privileges of tho Act. Experience in Victoria had clearly indicated that men who became prominent in connection with Wages Boards were sacrificed. In regard to enforcement of awards by trades unions, the conference believed that instead of the present intricate and expensive procedure, it would be sufficient if a special meeting of the union could authorise filing a case of alleged breach.. The power possessed by the Court of ordering costs against an unsuccessful party would be an efficient check upon bringing forward, frivolous cases. Another improvement which the conference wished to bring about was that fourteen days’ notice by advertisement should be sufficient intimation that a dispute would be heard on a particular day. An old grievance in regard to the Act had cropped up quite recently. A dispute was filed affecting certain firms, and the managers had gone to their proprietors with a petition signed by all the employees alleging that they were quite satisfied with their conditions. The Minister, as a man of 'the world, would know that if an employer asked Lie employee to sign such a petition what would be the result if there was a refusal. Six petitions of the sort, said to have been spontaneously preoared at half a dozen mills in Taihape, were recently produced in connection with the timber-workers’ dispute. This sort of “ moral coercion ” should, he urged, be put down with a strong hand by making it illegal lor proprietors or managers to take such, a course as he had described,

PREFERENCE—OB, PROTEST. Compulsory preference for unionists was asked lor, said Mr Cooper, it was, lie conceded, a knotty problem, but unionists had a right to protection. They believed they could expect much from the new President of the Court, but the awards of Mr Justice Sim left them worse off in regard to preference than at .any time during the working of the Act. “There are 39,(KK), unionists in the colony/' continued the speaker, “and they are not going to take it lying down. They have tfieir organisation and they are not going to see the ground cut from beneath their feet, and their organisation disbanded, if they cannot get a fair measure of protection by tlie law of the colony they will have to consider their position, i say it advisedly." The organisation of employees should be encouraged, so should the organisation of employers, but unless the Minister gave them encouragement to use the Act it would' be of little use. Rather than lose their organisation, which wa.s the workers' salvation, they would sacrifice their bread and butter. They had almost lost patience with the Act, and they trusted some amendment would be made to- protect unionists, thus making .the Act a benefit to the community. Cases of breaches of award should be dealt with promptly by a Stipendiary Magistrate. .MISCELLANEOUS POINTS. Mr W. lE. -Hampton put forward a suggestion to extend the .d-s-linition of “wwlror” iinder the Arbitration Act.

bringing in persons wno were contractors for labour only. He also said it was desired that an age limit should be imposed in regard to apprentices, quoting a case in which a man 37 years of age was getting 25s per week as an “apprentice.” ("The conference had, he informed the Minister, _ approved of the Government'? progressive laud and lie wished to emphatically protest* agfiinst the further sale of Crown lands. It also desired public defenders to bo appointed for pensions charged with, indictable offences, and legal bureaux established. 'ho conference wished to sen the Government adopt a self-reliant policy and cease borrowing. THE TARIFF. Mr W. H. Westbrooke addressed the Minister upon the tariff question. Coach bull tiers had suffered severely from the competition of imported vehicles cf the better class, and had turned their attention to building the bodies of motor-cars. He suggested that a heavy duty should be imjiosed upon all bin; the engine and carriage-work of imported motor-cars. The imposition of a heavier duty upon low-class imported boots did not seem to him to be desirable, as it would force colonial factories to do more of the inferior class of work. As to the Chinese question, the Labour party was#? in favour of something stronger and more stringent than ail education test. It had been the practice to admit Chinese women without the poll-tax. The Minister: It had been the practice for some years to remit the tax, but I saw it- was increasing and brought it before Cabinet, which stopped the remission.

Mr Westbrooke: If Imperialism was going to take away from New Zealand the right to choose its own population, the workers would have none of it. Finally Mr Westbrooke brought under the Minister's notice the need for bettor accommodation for fia-xmill hands and other country workers. Recently he saw a hut 12 feet' by 14 feet, with a roof only 7 feet high, a ground floor, and no ventilation, but twelve men had to sleep in it. OTHER RESOLUTIONS. Mr D. McLaren put forward the proposal that the Parliamentary franchise should be applied to all elections for local bodies, and the conference resolution m favour of State clothing, book, and woollen factories, flour mills, bakeries, iron-works, iron shipbuilding yards, and a nationised coastal and intercolonial shipping service. He contended that by adopting this policy New Zealand would be saved from the conflict with organised capital which was to be seen in America. The conference also urged the abolition of the Legislative Council, and wished the Compensation Act extended to include all hazardous trades and the domestic servant. It did not favour assisted immigration, which had a tendency to overcrowd the towns, but believed the best way of inducing population to come here would be to open up the land. Mr C. Fosier (secretary ot the Lnginedrivers’ Union) urged the inadequacy of a <£lo penalty for increasing boiler pressure to a dangerous degree. It should, he suggested, be made a criminal offence. He hoped the Minister would make further amendments m the inspection o? unaohiuf ry r igulations. Mr Carey (secretary of the C ooks and Waiters’ Union) supported Mr Cooper s remarks in favour of amendments m the Arbitration Act, and strongly advocated a six-clay week for hotel and restaurant employees, and the provision of a regular half-holiday. Mr W. Teece (secretary of the Bootmakers’ Union) informed the Minister that the boot trade was not altogether satisfied with the revised tariff. .it would result in slipper factories being established in the colony, and he favoured a duty of a shilling per pair, so as to keep the low grade article from competing, against local products. It had been stated that there was a scarcity ot labour in the boot trade. Seventy men had left the local union during the last few years, ancl they were to be found on the wharves, on the trams, and elsewhere, where the conditions of work were better than iff. the boot factories. Mr W. T. Young (secretary of tlie Seamen’s Union) advocated the removal of a maximum which was imposed in regard to crew space upon vessels, and tlie general improvement of seamen’s quarters. THE REPLY

PROMPT ARBITRATION PROMISED. RESTRICTION ON CHINESE. AN EDUCATION TEST. The Minister, who commenced his reply at ten minutes past ten, and concluded at 10.40, reminded the deputation that the speakers had wandered over a very wide area of ground, and questions had been raised which his children would probably not see settled before they died. Mr Cooper lind fully dealt with the deficiencies of the Arbitration Act, and although he favoured very strongly the retention of Conciliation Boards, he (the Minister) did not altogether know whether the amending Act would please him entirely in that respect. He hoped this week, or, at any rate, in the early part of next week, to circulate that Bill among tlio whole of the labour unions of the colony and employers’ federations, lie had endeavoured in it to meet pretty well all the known objections which had arisen. His one object had been to encourage unionism and at the same time to enable facilities to be given to deal with all disputes in a prompt manner. He had also endeavoured to get over the trouble of (TRputes by enabling them to lie dealt with il iitosl as-tlwy occurred, so that when a dispute took place between a union and an employer, the Arbitration Court should within one month finally settle it. In regard to breaches, he hoped the scheme he had devised would enable them to be dealt with within four days of it coming to the notice of the department. He quite realised the annoyance and trouble which had been caused by delays, and knew that tlie longer one brooded over a grievance the worse it became. He could ' hardly gj into details i n regard to the

Act, but it was in print, and as soon as his colleagues had approved of it he would take the earliest opportunity of circulating it among those interested, and giving full opportunity for an expression cf views upon the subject when the measure came before the Labour Bills Committee. The one object of the Government was to put on the statute ■ book a measure which would give the fullest satisfaction to everyone. He felt certain that the common-sense of the workers would assist him in remedying any defects which existed. Every point raised in regard to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act had been brought up previously, lie had noted the whole of them, and endeavoured in some manner or another to deal with those points. It had been remarked that the Labour party objected to borrowing in toto, and wanted tiie colony to go in for a local currency instead. This was the biggest question ever tackled. It was very easy —no had stood outside, as Mr Hampton did, and had given his views clearly and thought the question as clear as dayiiglu—out when one got inside and saw the intricacies of finance he would say it was not so easy, llow could we buy the coastal licet without borrowing? The Loudon money market would only take gold, and, assuming our imports' exceeded our exports, it would not take tlie balance in local currency. A piece of leather would do for legal tender in the colony so long as wo agreed to accept' it, but where it became hopelessly impossible was when they came, to our 64 millions of debt. Everything imported was purchased on a gold value, and this could not be eliminated until the article was finally consumed. The proposal was not practicable unless the State purchased all the gold in the colony and sold it outside. The finances of the world were in the hands of a few people who could cripple any country, and we were too young a colony to tackle anyone in that way. He went ou to deal with tariff matters, stating that the question of motor-cars was still a moot point, and it would be seen from the press that it was not going through as it at present stood. He did not put himself up as infallible, but in forming a tariff dealing with 700 or £OO things it was very difficult to give satisfaction when he found how one trade hedged upon another, one man’s raw material being another man’s product. Consequently the one man wanted it brought in free and tlie other wanted protection. He ohad tried to adjust it &o that no one industry was sacrificed for another. New Zealand was an agricultural country, and that being the primary industry, they could only expect to get reasonable assistance in protecting local industries. The people would not give us protection in this country, and all they could do was to go as far as they possibly could. Touch ng on tho boot question, he e&id liis object in putting on a specific duty per pair was to do away witn the importations of sweated goods ’which weie made in the Old Country. He had seen a specimen of this class of work, a women’s two-strap shoe, wdiich was sold at Is 9d free on'board London. He held the invoice for this and contended that if it was not sweating he did not know what could be. He was prepared to demonstrate that any person who wore an average boot which cost 9s Od to 10s w'ould not pay any more under the new tariff than at present, but it would do away with tlie shoddy stuff imported by people who made large profits, and instead local industries would be encouraged. If it did cost the consumer a shilling more than at present, he would be getting a better article.

In regard to the immigration question, he could say that the Government had not encouraged immigration. What was done was that eight or nine months ago the unemployed committee in London started to load up our ships, TJIO being paid by the committee to each immigrant, but it was not paid by the Government at all. The committee got a big fund up, and they got together about in passage money. The High Commissioner got definite instructions not to assist in passage money any persona unless they were agricultural labourers or domestic servants, and these were the only two classes of immigrants we had received during the last six months. Of course, the Government could not stop people paying their own passages to New Zealand —a number of artisans were doing that now —but the Minister of Immigration assured him that none were receiving assisted passages from Home unless they were domestic servants or farm labourers. With respect to machinery inspection, he would meet Mr Poster later on, and he would go into the matter and see what could be done in the way of amending legislation. He hoped to bring down a Bill this session, but whether it would be passed he could not say. Tlie question of half-holiday would be dealt with in the Amending Shops and Offices Bill which the Government proposed to bring down. As for the Shipping and Seamen's Act so far as the 120 ft was concerned, that would be made the minimum quantity. It had been adopted by the Old Country, and he would see that it was made the minimum here. The land question he need not discuss, as they would have all the opinions of members and Ministers recorded in the course of a feiv days, but he thought they woud agree with him that they would not have done badly if they could save nine million acres. Under the law as it stood at present, every acre of Crown land could go under the optional system, but by removing nine million acres they would have made a very big stride, because that area was in addition to the land acquired under the Land for Settlements Act. He did not know whether the conference had done it intentionally or not, but, according to a resolution they had carried, they had constituted themselves a political party. They had no right to do that. No one, of course, denied that to them, but by doing so they placed the Government in this position: They asked the Government to advance money for delegates to a political party. If they granted it to one political party, then why not to the Liberal and Labour Federation, Farmers' Union, National Reform League, and others? That could not be

done under such conditions. The Government had always voted a sum t>o the delegates to the Labour Conference, but not as a political party. The Government desired to continue this vote, but if the party w r as to be a political party, the Government would be simply forced to say no. A voice: The Farmers’ Union is not a political organisation. Hon. Mr Millar: Oh, isn’t it? But it doesn’t matter whether, a party is working for the Government or the Opposition, the Government cannot pay the expenses of the delegates of any political party. n __ Mr Cooper: Isn’t it a farce? You know we all “barrack” for the same party. It was a Conservative Government which gave us this privilege, before John Ballance came into power. The Hon. T. W. Hislop was Minister at the time. 11 on. Mr Millar: I doubt it. I will go back into the records to find out. What I want to know from your executive is, are you a political party solely . If so, wo are in the unfortunate position of opening the door to every political organisation which asks for the expenses of its delegates to a confeienco. air Westbrooke explained that the resolution bearing on this point was only passed by tho conference, and had yet to bo adopted by the affiliated unions. Dealing with the Asiatic question, Mi Millar said it was proposed to meet the difficulty by applying an education test under which very few r Chinese would be able to arrive in this country—a test by which an Asiatic would have to pass n one or more European languages. As to protecting country workers, the Government was taking action, but in this respect it had been somewhat forestalled by the member for Geraldine, who bad introduced a Bill oil the subject. But agricultural labourers would be protected under legislation similar to that of the Shearers* Accommodation Act, with one or two inspectors to look after their interests —one for the 'North Island and another for the South. The question of nationalisation of their industries the Premier was more entitled to reply to, but he had a distinct recollection that not many years ago a howl of indignation was raised from Dunedin girls wdien it was suggested that a clothing factory should be established by the Government in Wellington to manufacture the whole of the clothing for the Government employees. That, however, w r as only a detail, and did not apply to the principle, but lie could not commit Cabinet to an opinion on this question of nationalising the industries of the country. It was no use the deputation suggesting tlie abolition of the Legislative Council, because the Government had just appointed fourteen members to strengthen it. Ilis answer was that the Government did not see its way clear to abolish tho Council. The question of workers’ compensation was now in the hands of the department, and he hoped to bring down a Bill to enable workers to get the full benefit. lie was endeavouring to keep lawyers out of it, so that a man would know exactly wliat lie w'as entitled to. This had taken a lot of work, and lie had had very valuable assistance from Mr Richardson, Government insurance Commissioner, in regard to it. He hoped to be able lo place useful information before the Labour .Bills Committee dealing .with the matter. In regard to first aid, they could not make a hard and fast rule to meet the conditions of town and country. He promised, in conclusion, to carefully go into all the matters that had been brought before him by the deputation. (Hear, hear.) The deputation thanked the Minister for giving them such a lengthv and patient hearing.