WORK AND WAGES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6625, 15 September 1908, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

THE EXERTION J.llC W A HD. VIEWS OF A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR. One of the nu hers of tho Legislative Council who has been a keen student of the industrial conditions of the Dominion is the Hon. .1. Sinclair. He is largely interested in the Laliour question.'being a director of tho Westport Coni Company, the Mosgicl Wool• ion Company and the Milbnrn Lime and (Valient Company, all employing consider 1 Lie.! numbers of men and has looted at the question from every point of view. Mr .Sinclair expressed his opinion upon the much vexed question of the exertion wage yesterday to a “Times” Tnpn sonlative as follows : “i am strongly in favour of an effort being made to provide for the payment of an exertion wage. It appear.-; 1.0 me Unit in no other way can the pernicious effects of a ca’ canny system, which is gradually being introduced, he counteracted. Permission for the payment of an exertion wage was designed by its framer, as I believe, primarily in the interests of the worker, with tho conviction, on his part, that it- must necessarily benefit them, and in tho belief, in which I share, that it would .suit our industries too. Exertion ought to bo encouraged, always subject to tho sanction of tile Arbitration Court. Wo know what is taking place in England—disloyal service. It is gradually driving industry after industry to other countries. Wo ought not to hesitate to have a system by which reasonable exertion will bo encouraged merely because there are difficulties in applying it to some classes of work. The Arbitration Court’s sanction would always have to ho obtained, but thoro should he some opportunity given to tho individual —both worker and employer—to apply the system to work to ’which it could he applied. This would always leave the poorest worker with tho certainty of getting tho needs wage, which would not likely ho less in any industry than the minimum we had fixed by tho Arbitration Court This must necessarily, I think, benefit tho worker.”

SOUTHLAND SAWMILLERS. THE ANTI-STRIKE CLAUSE DISCUSSED. PRESS ASSOCIATION. INVERCARGILL, September 14. Tho Southland Sawmillcrs* Union on Saturday night declined to endorse the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council’s resolution calling for tho removal of Judge Sim from the Arbitration Court bench, but expressed sympathy with tho farm labourers, approved Mr McCullough’s minority report, and passed a resolution favouring legislation to compel tho Court to make an award in any dispute before it. Tho anti-strike clause in the sawmillers’ award was strongly ' resented and it was resolved to urge the Government to take from > the Court power to insert a provision not asked for by either party to a dispute.

NOT WANTED ON THE VOYAGE. NAPIER, September 14. At a mooting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board to-night it was resolved to return to the Painters’ Union of Workers a letter in which objection was taken to tho Board appointing an instructor in painting without consulting the Union. NO FAITH IN THE COURT. DUNEDIN, September 14. At a meeting of the Waterside Workers' Union, to-night a resolution was passed to the effect that the union has no faith in tho Arbitration Court as at prosent constituted, and asks for the removal of Judge Sitn. A motion was carried sympathising with the Canterbury farm labourers fn not receiving an award from the Court, and congratulating Mr McCullough on the stand ho took.