THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 5

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES.

By the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.

MEETINGS FOll THE WEEK Secretaries are requested to forward dates of union meetings. The following unions will meet during tho week at the Trades Hail; — To-night (Saturday),— Engine-drivers. Butchers, Tailors, TramTuowJay.—Political Labour League, Metalworkers' Assistants. Wednesday.—Labourers. Thursday.—Furniture Trade. atui'day.—Carpenters.

THE END OF OUR LABOUR. CRISIS. The end of the slaughtermen's trouble was like he beginning. The general public knew -jiothmjf of tho coining storm, nor fk I C!t ' )Crt tjlc 011(1 q»ite so soon. Nevertheless, it was welcome arid bciieficiuj to all concerned. The slaughtermen rightly iiad some of tlicir grievances adjusted. Ccr. ta-inlj- new points have since arisen, but a little comnioiisen.w will adjust- minor differences. Tho strike has been productive of two desirable things-it lias proved (1) that, tlio Arbitration Act is not a tov, but rather a weapon which can be turned 011 either employer or employed who hrcak the law, and (2) the immediate necessity for preventing any delay in adjusting (lisputes. The crisis lias ■•stronjt.lii.ncd die Arbitration Act, and for this benefit alone much may be forgiven. A point of some interest was raised iust before the end of the 6trike. The companies wero reported to have filed a ease against the union for a now award. As is well known, tho Arbitration Act is based 011 unionism. If one or both tho companies had previously registered as a union of employers such an application could succeed. The 6tep was hailed as something quite new in our industrial history. As a matter of fact, however, employers' unions have previously filed .references in the court against-unions of workers. The closcsfc j lMlallel to the ease o£ the meat companies was tho action of the Union Steam Ship Company before the Otngo Conciliation Board m December of 1901. Tlio company is registered as an Industrial Union of timployeis. At the hearing before the board the representative of the Seamen's Lnion endeavoured to persuade tho board to throw out tho demands filed by the company, and raised several points lo prove his ca6e. The Chairman (then Mr Chapman) over-ruled all tho objections, and the union Company's demands were considered by the board. Other unions of employers in Dunedin have also filed disputes against unions of employees. Labour loaders and students of industrial questions generally have been keenly interested in this conflict. I have found it helpful to look up industrial history and comparc notes, I have also read with interest a recent book by A. G. Pigou, M.A., F.S.S.—•"Principles and Methods of Industrial Pcaoe." The question is treated broadly and with a real insight into the problems. The author shows a complete grasp of this complex subject, and a perusal of his book will repay labour men especially. Nicholson's '"'Strikes and Social Problems" might also be read with profit in the light of recent events. A passage in the_ first-mentioned volume struck me as being singularly anroncs of our recent trouble. The author points out that the movement towards industrial peace does not advance continuously. Ho is speaking of the settlement of disputes by Conciliation Boards in the Old Country, and shows that aftc; - a time these methods fall into disuse. He then continues: — This tendency,—which can bo observed in many concrete rases [the author here cites cases],—always, in seeking to realise itself, lets loose force; of an opposing character. The mere feci that woges have for a. long time been adjusted without a conflict leads to a gradually enfeebled tense of tho evils of strikes and lockouts. Therefore, (lie enthusiasm far preventatives dwindles, and men grudge the sacrifices required to ensure that these shall bj effective. They become less willing to confcr fu 1 ! powers upon their lenders, and limit their right of matin* small concessions. Even when the authority of the executive is not. in this w.iy, formally reduced, tliev grow restive under an essentially and accord it a ioss ready obedience.. It is to be hoped that the recent trouble will awaken aiiy " gradually enfeebled senso of the evil of strikes and lock-outs" we may have had.

OF BOOKS. I am lc<l to write a note on books becauu! of a new development in publishing and the interest manifested in my previous refe'rcnocs to the best books on the Labour movement. Cheap books, provided, of course, they arc also good books, are one of tho priceless boons. Manv earnest men long .in vain to own certain books unfortunately beyond the rcaoh of their limited purses. The best boob are essential to a full life. The man or woman who does not read and own books is not :i- fully-developed being. For books are among the faithful companions of manKind, and this world never gives its dwellers too many faithful friends. Therefore, books must be within the reach of allthc silent friends which beckon onward and upward, which preach to us and teach us, never thrust themselves forward at inconvenient seasons, and never arguol And beyond all this they arc essential to a proper understanding of the problems which perplex. The man who wishes lo benefit his fellows cannot possibly do 60 to the full it ho does not understand past attempts in that, direction. To get that knowledge books are the only source. Tho man with a knowledge of humanity and history is always doubly armed. This new development in publishing is not a sudden one. It is a gradual cheapening; of good literature. In instances it is amazing certainly. To be able to buy lluskin at 4d per volume is surely good business. A few years ago no book of his could tic purchased under 5s 6d, and it is not long sincc that Ruskin could not be bought undbr 7s 6d per volume. During last year several o£ his books wore put on tho market at Is net (cloth). 'And now conies the intimation that some of the books by Ruskin can bo bought at 3d net. Lack of space prevents me writing of the quality of Ruskin. His books are delicious. He was neither liberal, Conservative, Radical nor Socialist. He was not oven a Democrat. But he Was all these. In some of his choicest studies of art and architecture will bo found n delightfully refreshing page or two on political economy in the inimitable stylo of Ruskin. And Huskin was only like Ruskin after all. Ho is said to have avowed himself a Tory, but dcclaied that he had never voted for a member of Parliament in his life, and never meant to. But there is one thing I earnestly enjoin 011 my readers to do at once —Buy Buskin's "Unto This Last" and "Time and Tide." And if any reader is dissatisfied with his purchase, I give him leave to write me and to say things. "Unto This Last" consists of " Four Essays on the First Principles of Political Economy," and "Time and Tide" contains "Twenty-five Letters to a Working Man of Sunderland 011 the Laws of Work." I had a mjnd to compile a short- list of clleap good lwoks 011 political and social economy in this note, but next week must suffice for that.

' INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION IN AUSTRALIA. All the Australian Labour parties and press support arbitration as against the strike. The New South Wales act. has now broken down, and the Sydney Worker has a trenchant leading article on the defeat of industrial arbitration in that. State. It accuses the judges of being false lo their trust, of putting themselves up to undo the work of Parliament. The act has never had a chance. The full text o' Judge Hoydon's remarks on the act are also to hand. In delivering an award lie rehearsed the reasons why the act had failed. His concluding, words are worthy of quotation, and amplify in important- particulars what the cables omitted: — The principle cf settling industrial troubles by a Iribinia' may bo very mischievous and quite impracticable—as to that I say nothing whatever—but if it is necessary to try it before condemning it, then I think it is not condemned by anything that has happened since I have bean here, for it has net been tried. It has not been possible to try it. Th? barque of the Industrial Arbitration Act inada a bravo show with sails awl bunting at its launching, and when directed by my predecesor. His captaincy speaks for itself ; but since I took the helm the act has been riddled, shelled, broken fore and aft, and reduced to a sinking hulk. Xo pilot could navigate such a crafi. Do not- say, however, that no ship can sail the sea? l>ec&uso this one has been so badly buitt. When an act is passed which really means what it seems to k«hi—in which "industrial &?pnte" means

industrial dispute; in which a dispute "arising between'! certain persons' does not mean a dispute which must arise between totally different persons; in which legal rights such a-? the rights to strike arid Jockonts are not taken away .without anything being given in tLc-ir p.acera, then, aud onlv then, can the principle of industrial arbitration bo reailv a and tt it breaks down, be fairly pro-' nffimced to have broken down. JOTTINGS. The annual conference of New Zealand trades and Labour Councils will open 011 Saturday morning next. m.^ r who was selected by t.he utitgO .trades Council for recommendation to the conference and the unions as workers representative on the Arbitration Unit, is so far the third nomination, inree councils have chosen, and each n different man. Auckland nominated w„- . ator , (" 10 l )rcsent representative) Wellington selected Mr J. A. M'C.illough the well-known Christ church Labour Jcader), and Duncdm has nominated Mr Jirccn. Ihe last-named gentleman nas 0011. ducted a larger number of cases before tho Arbitration Court than any other Dinicdin unionist, and therefore has a special knowledge of procedure and an intimate, if not arways pleasant, acquaintance with the court. The most the coming confcrencn (an do i.s to recommend a suitable candidate to the unions for sclccticni n$ workers' representative on the court. The clect.ion takes place at tho end of the present year, and the end in view is to secure a stra'iehtout contest, if thought desirable, between Mr Slater and another candidate. ; It is unfortunate that the unions have not boon given the opportunity of nominating candidate for the consideration of the conference. As the matter stands there may be possible candidates outside the abovementioned namos. It is probable and desirable that the unions will yet bo approached on tho matter of nominatiii"candidates. *

An appeal is being made to workers on behalf of Mr Ben Tillclt, the English Labour loader. His work is of v.-ido reputation. He visited the colonics some years ago, and will bo romomborcd as flic mmi who organised the doctors. 111-health is !" ak , m £ hl , s sh '"SB lp doubly severe, and the local Trades Council has dccidcd to appeal to the unions for financial assistance. In addition to about 50 cases for enfovcoment. of awards to come before the Arbitration Court at Auckland, there is the cafjc arising out of tho tramway strike ' last November. The Tramway Company lias been cited to appear before -the court, as well as two of the tramwsv men, J Mr T. Benston, who represented New Zealand at the Federal Labour Congress, ban •returned to the colony. He was olocted a vice-president, and moved n. vote of regret oi the death of tho late Eight Hon. Jl. ,T. ueddon. On his rrrival in Auckland Mr "oaston will submit a report of his visit to the Conference Executive, for consideration at tile Easter Conference. Every _ workman in Japan wears on his rap an inscription stating his business and nis employer's name. Cecil Hnloigh. the well-known English dramatist and theatrical manager, strongly advocates the formation of a trade union for actors. I fancy provision will need to bo mado for "undcr-ratc workers!" Queensland Worker, says that a machine lias been recently imported from America in connection with bootmaking that will do tho work of 24- men. Trade unions in Paris aro carrying on an agitation for one day's vest in seven. At the amalgamate! Minors' Association's annual conference, held in Victoria recently. a motion to permit the association to take up political work was defeated, tlw voting being 21 votes for and 41 against. J.IIO Federated Painters' Association will ? ICe ™" lc on Easter Tuesday, April . . 1110 questions of apprenticeships, provincial awards, preference, and industrial agreements would bo among the snbiect? considered, as well as matters doaW directly with the association. Is is reported that all the affiliated unions would be sending delegates.