World of Work

NZ Truth, Issue 579, 22 July 1916, Page 8

World of Work

— Pithy Points for Proletarian Plugs — — BY "HONEBTAB." — —

Sometimes "Hoheataa" drops Into the Talk Exchange for the purpose of observing how the Labor members comport themselves. He confesses to experiencing a feeling of grave disappointment at the miserable "show" made by the workers' reps, when the Labor Department vote came up for discussion. He mentioned his disappointment to Labor Member Webb," who readily admitted the soft impeachment, but said that he and his colleagues weren't altogether to blame: The Labor Party had written, he said, to the Trades Councils asking them to report any abuses by or complaints against the Labor Department, but no complaint of any kind had been received. In fact, he believed the only reply that had come to hand had come from the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council, and that reply waa to the effect that they had nothing to complain of! If this is so, then those who are m control of our various Trades Councils are not gifted ' with much discernment, and one need wonder little that, as • a consequence, the Labor movement m Gorzone is In parlous, case. Yet "Honestas" does not agree that the failure on the >part of the Trades Councils to report complaints absolves the Labor members entirely from all guilt. Report or no report, they themselves ought to make it their business to seek out all the ramifications of the Labor Department and if they cannot find abuses or complaints, they surely can find, from a democratic poin^t of view, some serious shortcoming m that Tory- controlled and Torybossed establishment For, instance: How are the appointments to positions m the, Department • made? Recently three vacancies occurred m the Labor Department staff. Immediately on tho vacancies occurring "Honestas" was supplied with a list of three names which, he was told, had the jobs for the taking. A day or two subsequently the positions were advertised and applications called for, but the men whose names had been supplied to "Honestas," prior to the vacancies being advertised, "got there" all right Of course these are strange coincidences — only that and nothing more! •\ • • And there are other positions which, If all stories are true, are filled up m ways and by means not according to the rule laid down m the regulations governing such appointments'. Frnsts: Labor Member Walker asked the following questions one day last week: (1) The extent of the experience of the successful applicant for the position of inspector of military boots, applications for which were called for at the beginning of May last; (2) whether the successful applicant was a returned soldier or not; and (3) whether a returned soldier having twenty months' experience m the Main Expeditionary Force, and having, immediately previous to his enlisting, been foreman m a large boot factory m Dunedin for some years, was amongst the unsuccessful applicants? If there is one thing the National Government, individually and collectively, have learned to do well, it Ib the replying to questions without answering them. Question time In the House never passes without several members drawing attention to the subtle evasion practised by Ministers m replying to questions. And the Hon. Mr. Myers isn't the most awkward at the game, as witness his reply to Labor Member Walker: The applications received were submitted to an expert, who considered that the person selected was tho most suitable for the position. It was independently verified that tho selected applicant was specially qualified for tlie" duties required. Ho was accordingly appointed. Tho appointment Is a temporary ono only. Now. It will be observed that Mr. Walker, M.P., did not ask whether the person selected was considered by an export as the "roost suitable," but (1) the extent of tho successful applicant's "experience"? He diu> not oak whother tho successful applicant's qualifications had boon "Independently verified," but (2) whothor the Appointee was a "returned soldier"? He did not ask whether tho appointment was a temporary or a permanant one, but (3) whether a roturned soldier, having the necessary qualifications, was "amongst the unsuccessful applicants"? Why this studied evasion ? • • • Tho required knowledge of the applicants for tho position under review was stated thus: Applicants must bo oxperlencod tradesmen, and havo had factory experience In tho manufacture of heavy footwear, preferably military boots. Preference will be given to applicants having experlonco m more than ono department of factory work. It )s an understood thing thai instructions havo been issued to all Government Departments thut "returned «olUlorn" applying for billets aro to have "proferenco" whoro their qualification* tiro equal to those of other applicants. Was this dono m tho upp >intir>K of n military boot Inspector?/ Why did the combined f-'tbor push m the Mouse tako mien an ev/ijtlvc unawer? Why didn't they cxhuuttt llio rules of the House In an ojvJeavor to get a fltrnJifhtforwnrd answer to Mr. Walker's question. Who wan tho expert that chose the Inspoc-

tor? Was he a man who is engaged m manufacturing boots, tor the troops? What qualifications has the appointee for the judging of military boots? Is he a civilian, and are his qualifications and experience equal to those of a returned soldier who applied for the job, which, if "Honestas" may judge from the position he held before going forth to fight for the flag, were of the highest? Really, the Labor members must wake up and get at the bottom of this appointment .• - ' ' • ■ • ' • During the past few years great strides have been, made m New Zealand m the matter of public laundries. Time was when the bulk of this work was left to the almond-eyed "Chow." To-day, and competing against the chinks and his little tub and hand iron, are a great number of machines embodying some very advanced mechanical thought and skill and fairly costly. These have tended to bring back into European hands this class*, of work, and the firms engaged m the business are doing better than well. This ' last is evidenced by the rapid progress these public laundries have made recently. Where formerly an old crock and a small van could collect the family washings of the patrons of one such, to-day a large well-appointed motor-van calls round. "Honestas" m no way grudges any one of these firms a decent return for their enterprise, but when an attempt is made to add to that decent return, excessive profits at the expense of the workers In the industry, then he is going to kick, and kick hard. "* ■ • • • Up to October of last year there was no union . of laundry workers m Wellington, or, so far as "Honestas" is aware, m any other part of New Zealand. At that time, Mr. J. Read, secretary to the Engine Drivers' Union, took the matter m hand and organised a union m the Empire City. On May 22 an award was made by the Arbitration Court, plus a frro per cent war bonus, which was added on the request V)f Mr. Read, who acted as the union's agent before the Court, and advanced cogent reasons why such should be conceded. A reading of this award shows that wages m this industry are far from exorbitant A girl starting work m a laundry is entitled to be, paid a weekly wage of 15s for the {first six months, 18s for the second six months, 21s for the second twelve months, and thereafter' 25s per week to be the minimum wage, plus, m all instances, a five per cent, bonus.. Though these are wretched wages for women of the physical fitness to do laundry work, they, nevertheless, represent an all-round increase m wages, and m one particular laundry of no less than from 6s 3d to 8s 6d per week. Despite the fact that an Industry so well organised ought to be able, and its managers, without demur, willing to pay such modest wages, it was found that certain employers did not look with favor upon their employees Joining the union, and this attitude of their "bosses" was made very palpable to the women and girl employees. Obviously the object was to prevent their giving information to the union secretary which would be the means of securing them their rights under the award. One laundry m particular went to great pains to block the progress of the union. First it tried to get an under-rate permit for a woman working on the wash-tub, who though entitled to £ 1 11s. 6d. per week had bean receiving only 235. 6d. The union took up her case and secured her her legal wage. The under-rate permit was refused nnd the woman got another job at the full rate. In one case the president and secretary of the union bad arranged to interview the workers of a particular laundry at stopping »time, and had given due notice of such intention. On their arrival at the firm's place of business thoy found that tho workers had been allowed to knock off work a half-an-hour earlier than usual. Tho same laundry workers were invited to attend a meeting of the union on its usual meeting night, and, 10, and behold, on that night overtime suddenly became necessary. Evidently In the opinion of the management it was not thought advisable m the interests of the firm that their employees should come Into contact with cither the officers or members of tho Laundry Workers' Union. • • • But there is ono laundry which is tho brightest star In tho employers' firmament At this place an understrapper seems to have acqulredUhe art of wilfully or witlesaly scaring the women and girls ngalnst joining tho union. Whether thia bo tho reason or not, it Ih a fact that many of tho employees m this particular show are of the j opinion that to say you have joined the i union is tantamount to asking for tho sack. Several members of tho union working In thu* shop have had cause to complain of a shortness m tho wuffea paid. Tho secretary haa reported tho matter to the Labor Department (md reparation has been ordered and tho firm has had to pay "back pay." It Is said that the workers who received such "back pay" subsequently found that tho atmosphere of that pnrtlculnr laundry waa not conducive, and sought "fresh woods nnd pastures now." Only last week, v irirl who had been receiving 22/- por week Instead of 20/3, had her cave InvwiUgruod by tho Labor Department and retaUutlaM wiw ordered. She duly received her ''held back" wages from May 22, and aUio a lUU<» "scrap of pnper" bearing a legend which road, "Your eervlees will not bo rcquirotl aftor tho week-end." Will th« Labor members plcuao taka note unU tako action. "Honestmi" may have something further to say on this subject next week.