WORLD of WORK

NZ Truth, Issue 571, 27 May 1916, Page 8

WORLD of WORK

BY "HONESTAS."

"Honestas" has received a communication from Wanganui, which, if true, would have led to the pillorying of the official responsible. Recently a carter m the employment of the State Coal Depot at Wanganui received a week's notice, no reason being given for the ac-r tion taken by th« Department This "man had been five years m the service, the last nine months or so as yard carter. He was often on duty from. 5.30 a.m. to 6,30 p JtL, and his wages were £2 Ss per woek.- Whether casual or permanent he was never late for work, never neglected his duty, and all the five years never was once **on the mat." Suddenly, he received a weekia notice to "quit." It was stated that a Germ- Hun reservist, who had been Interned," was brought from Somes Island and put on his job. Worse still, ■tha dismissed man Is a Briton, and has fought for the Flag. He has the South African medal and first-class discharges. In the absence of tho Minister responsible, "Honestas'' showed the letter containing the above to the Hon. the Prime Minister, who declared that ll.the faots were as stated, the wrong- would be put right with all possible speed. Subsequently the letter was brought under the notice of the Hon. Mr. MacBonald, who kindly permitted "Honestas" to read the departmental correspondence m connection with the case, and this writer is of opinion that the letter of his Wangaaui correspondent" Is woefully inaccurate and incomplete, while the Minister asserts that "the Germ-hun from Somes Island" is a deliberate falsehood. The man m question may have worked as faithfully as he claims to have done, that is not disputed, but it is alleged that he had become mixed up m certain matters which the Department, m consideration for Its own affairs, could not' ignore. He was, therefore, dismissed. What these alleged irregularities were the man m question is aware, and, therefore, he also understands the why and wherefor of his dismissal. If he has any tangible proofs that he Is being wrongly accused of some illegal act or transgression, he ought to place .the matter m the hands of Mr. Veitch, the member for his district, and get him to bring the matter, by petition, before the House. ' > ' ' • • • "Honestas," however, cannot agree with the assumption contained m the letter of Under-Secretaxy Blow (since retired), m reply to this man's query as to why he was dismissed. Under- Secretary Blow said that: The Mines' Department, like any other employer of labor, claims the right to dispense with tho serviced of any of its employees at any time, without being under tho necessity of assigning any reasons m support of its action. Now, one of the demands for State ownership and control of the mines and other industries, is that the workers engaged therein should have a fairer deal than private employers axe In tne habit of giving. Mr. Blow cannot claim that the powers of the State Mines' Department and "any other employer" are synonymous. Tho private employer is the employer and has the legal right to dispense with any worker, even if he objects merely to the color or cut of his hair. But the head official of the State Department is not an employer — be, aJso, is a servant, and cannot dispense with another servant without just cause. The State is tho employer, and the aggrieved servant has a light of appeal to the State. The "Appeal Board," m the Railway service, and other State Departments, la a recognition of this right Owing 'to the unexpected sidelights which have been thrown upon the Broken Hill miners' claims m the Federal Arbitration Court, the case became one of unusual interest to all union organisations. Not the least of the surprises was tho one Introduced by his Honor Judge Biggins, when he made what was practically a demand for the men to agree to send up as much ore during a 44 hours' week, if they got it, as they had sent up for the 48 hours' week. That was to be done for the period of the war, and for three months afterwards. Why, it was not stated, and there is no reason sticking out for it being fixed for that period which, from all appearances, is a very decoptivo one. In any case, the miners having onco committed ttfeniselves to the proposal and doing as' called upon for any particular length of time, would bo | bound to it for ail time. Irrespective i of any provision which called for a •special effort during a special period, I when that period expired the men would still bo expected to do as much. I The mineownors' argument would be, "You have done it for bo long, why can't you keep on doing it," and any plea of the original arrangement being put forward fts r reply would be met with derision. Tho mlnoowners t wonld utart it, and their supporting press and political friends would clamantly endorse their argument. In addition, by the time peace was declared, and three months over had gone by the same sources of support would have evolved other arguments to show why It was more necessary thau over that the same output should b« kept up it the Empire wtia not to fail Into ruins. Tho answer of the miners, however, hud an element of a grimly humorous retort about iL They said they heart-

ily agreed and undertook to produce as much ore per week, per man, as was produced from January 1 to Juno 30, 1914, "other things being 1 equaL" Of course. It raised a protest from the mlneowners' representatives. Batwfcy should It? It was the form of whittling: away and nullifying the whole result of a Federal general election, on the preference to unionists question, which a weak-kneed Federal Labor Ministry conceded to the employers of tho Commonwealth. Why do they want to object to it now when the miners, * sardonically humorous perhaps, return them an answer m their own coin? II they take It one way, and believe It excellent, they must, m common' fairness, be prepared to give it the other way. But they will not,' just the Bame. • • • The explosion m the scoria quarry near Ohakune is another of those terrible accidents which occur from time to time bringing Borrow and suffering into many home* but of which the cause is hard to discover. And one, even where some •vidence exists, Is loth to apportion blame, especially when they who erred are among the victims which their error caused to be swept instantly Into eternity. At the same time "Honestas" thinks that In the interests of those workers who have daily to handle and* use explosives. It would be as well If the Minister would give Instructions that for the future inexperienced young men should be kept away from what they don't understand. According to the evidence at the Inquest, the quarry foreman, tho TT"»n with the "ticket" tho man whose duty it was to handle tho explosive and place it In position, had been ordered away to do a minor Job, If tho Coroner demanded to know what previous experience of big shots the engineer m charge had. It might throw a flood of light on things and be helpful for future guidance. •'Honestaa" has been informed that very often a Orst or second year cadet is placed m chargo of men of from twenty to thirty years' experience. It is only when & serious accident like that of last Tuesday week occurs that ono dare raise a protest against such a practice, and though "IToneslas" has no desire to create unnecessary friction, he cannot refrain from saying that In such circumstances the men would be well advised to send a "Round Robin 1 * protest to tho member for tho district and ask him to take action, or In the case of serious danger to "down tools" until the matter Is rectified.