THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14465, 6 March 1909, Page 14

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES. Br the Hon. ,1. T. Pali,, AI.L.C. Hems of information cjid brief comments »« questions coining under ibis heading are always welcome. Books, pamphlets, etc., Milt to the editor of this column will also be noticed. MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. The following unions will meet dnriiw the week at the Trades Hall: — Monday—Painters, Butchers, Waterside Workers, Tuesday—Plumbers, Gas Stokers. Thursday—Furniture Trade. Friday—Carpenters, Carters. Saturday—Bakers. TO correspondents: A. H. A., Cliristchurch.—Will answer by letter as early as possible. M. S. 11., Dmicdin.-Many thanks lor information.

THE CONTRACT SYSTEM IN MIXES?. .The Commonwealth Arbitration Court lias been engaged in an attempt to adjust the Barrier mining trouble m Xew South Wales Air Justice Iliggins (the president) was Attorney-general in die short-lived Watson Labour Government. He still calls a. spade by iis name, displays « keen insight into industrial problems, and makes publ'io bis opinions. Counsel for both sides bad during the bearing of the case discussed lb-; possibility of abolishing the system of contracting work in mines. Mr Justice Higgins' (hen gave his opinion in these words:-" 1 feel (bat if i, a very serious tli inir w sanction, or to face I lie possibility of sanctioning, an arrangement which contains in itself the germs of future trouble. Tho men, apparently, have been used lo the contract system, and there is perpetual fretting over'it. The man says: ' 1 woolwork in tho. mine.' The Imss says: 'What i s it worth':' The man says: 'Five shillings.' 'No/ says (lie boss, 'l"will give you four shillings.' Well, then they bargain ever it. The man lias to face the prospect of no work on the one side, and tho chance of not earning 12s per shift on the other, and il is a case or 'Needs must when the devil drives.' It brings into unfair competition the man who has to look for work and for food, as against the man who can get sotnelxidy else to do (lie work if ho won't do it. Of course the man then goes on. Ho must do work of some sort, and when lio finds that 4s |>er ton docs not l»y ho gets discontented, and lie begins to quarrel, and ho pulls out of tho contract. I am asked by the claimant (o sanction a I'lwrpethiaHy recurring cause of dispute. 1 have my own ideas of what can be done— that is, if I do not interfere with the arrangemonfs between the companies." His Honor eventually decided to adhere to the contract system for want, under the circumstances, of a. better plan.

PROGRESSIVE 'SWEDEN. The cablo flashed the news the other day that adult .suffrage and pro|»rtional representation had been won in Sweden. The Labour movement varies in all countries. Progress is often greatest where least likely. It is claimed, for instance, that "in iio country in Europe can you find a- more educated and more conscious working class than in Sweden." The Continental Labour movement is essentially moro Socialistic than the English; tho colonial Labour movement differs from both. I had many interesting chats, with Air Hansen, Ihe Swedish journalist, who visited New Zealand la.st year. He was inquiring into our social legislation and conditions. He prophesied great strides in social progiess in his country Some of his prophesies are boing fulfilled. The first trade union was formed in Sweden in 18E0. The Social Democratic Labour partv was bom in 1839. In 1900 it numbered 45,000 members; in 190S its membership was 133,388. It increa-sed bv over 30,000 from January 1. 1907, to January 1, 1908. ■Sweden has it population of about six millions. Great Britain has almost 45.000,000. _ Great Britain has not one labour daily newspaper. Sweden has seven daily papers; in a few months' time if will have nine! Sweden also has six Labour papers published three or four times a week; Great Britain has none.

At. (he elections in October 33 Social Democrats were returned to Parliament. Under a. system of proportional representation they would have gained 57. The Swedish Riksdag consists of 230 members. Sweden has an organised Labour force in trade unions of about, 260,000 —40 per cent, of the working population.

THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY. My next Britsh Labour papers by the mail will contain reports of the annual conference of tho Labour party. During the last six months there liavo been' esrions internal troubles within the ranks. Doubtless much would be said at the conference onent, these troubles. Party policy of late has' hee.n a vexed question. Sixteen resolutions appeared on the order paper on this problem. Seven resolutions also appeared w.hieh had for their object either the entiro exclusion of members of Parliament from the executive or a limitation of their numbers. Then there was the decision of the English courts, which prohibited trade unions striking a levy to pay tbo salaries of members of Parliament.

In a pre-eonferenco editorial the London Labour Leader expected that a dearer and justcr appreciation of purpose, and responsibility of election warfare, as well cs tho necessity for bold tactics, would emerge from the discussion on election policy. The Leader also thought, that tho debate on the question of Socialism would giVe opportunity for clarifying the subject. On tins, as on previous occasions, tho LLP. will givo no countenance to the Paper Stainers' resolution, which seeks to impose Socialism ns a condition of trade union membership, but will support, the Battersea. Labour party resolution, as it did the Engineers' resolution last year, which declares in fa.vonr of Socialism as an cx-pi«-sion of tin views of tho majority of the Conference."

A brisk discussion will no doubt arise (continued the 1-cader) on the subject of the adoption of a programme. " The view always taken by the I.L.P. is that, the Labour party is not, in its present stage in a position to formulate an effective programme. The Socialist members ami organisations on their purl cannot diminish their special Socialist demands; while on the other hand tho trade uninists who arc not Socialists cannot ho asked to support a Socialist programme of which they do not approve. A programme would- ill no degree, so far «.s wo can see, arid either to the effectiveness or the unity of the incvomciiit.' 1

THE WOMEN'S TRADE UNION LKAGUK. Through, the courtesy of a friend I am in a position to supplement the short note on this American organisation, published last week. It will be remembered that the New Zealand Tailoresses' Federation agreed to co-ojierate with their American sisters. Tlie, reason for approaching New /cala-ud women is to comiilote a plan decided on last September to weld together the women of different nationalities at present in the Slates, anil io absorb .and assist working women who go lo*America. The fact that a woman arrives in' America looking for work is sufficient to enlist the support and assistance of this league. The jiamphlets brought under my notice reveal a host of activities. I found that which dealt with immigration of great iulerest. Immigrants arriving in America hail from all countries, sm\ thon-:a,nds do not _ speak English. With the rarest exceptions tho ages of female innnigraiUs range from 16 to 30 years. Almost invariably she arrives alone. Arid the Immigration Committee goes on to quote instances where young girls have been literally lest. They came from a foreiiru country, arrived at tho address of friends In the interim liotwccn departure and arrival the friends had moved—New York is a big place, ami the girl of 20 or under starts her battle alone. Many went down in the unequal fight. With the Women's Trade Union League behind her the fight is not so unfar. The league now assists thousands of newcomers per annum. Vigilant- as it is a large number of immigrants have not been located, though the percentage of "lost" is growing less. The organisation proper has the full endorsement of the American Federation of Labour. On the shield in bold relief stands the women's motto: "The Eighthour Day. A Living Wage. To Guard the Home." The platform of this groat women's organisation contains no fancywork, but is practical to a degree: — 1. Organisation of ail workers into trades unions. 2. Equal pay for equal work. 3. Eight-hour day. 4. A minimum wage scale. 5. Full citizenship for women and 6. All principles embodied in the economic programme of the American Federation of Labour. I cannot clcs? without a short reference to an article in one of the' pamphlets written by a glove-worker, Hiss Agnes i ACStor, "A Day's Work Making Gloves," ;

gives an insight into llio conditions under which American women work. The whistle blows at 7 am., but the pieceworkers have until 7.30 a.m. to come to work. If they arrive a minute late they lose half a day. Miss Nestor tolls how the old day when a woman made a glove is past: now she makes a part only, and the glove goes through several hands. She draws a hateful picture of driving the girls al an oxerosive speed. A sight never scon in a t-olonial workroom is the number of 65uent alarm clock., on Iho walls al short distances. The clocks aro bought- by the girls, and in' their work thev literally race the clocks. Says Jlija Nestor:-" f have iieanl and read criticisms of the men who work watching the clock, ready to drop their tools on the minute of quit ting time, bur. the reason our girls buy and wateh the docks is not to foe how soon they can quit, work, but, to see that they do not lose time. It. is easy to lo?e a. few minutes anj not notice it until the end of the day, when we count up our work and pay. Every girls knows just, how long it takes her to make tiny part of the glove. Wo figure that, we can make a pair in a oartain millibar of minutes, so we watch the clock to see that wo will come out on lime with our dozen." I have no doubt that this piecework system of high prossure at low rata* means cheap production; but a larger proportion of Ihe»e girls aro to be mothers.of the nation. The price paid for cheap production might, therefore, easily he too dear. At half-past 9 the whistle blows, and the girls have five minutes for a light lurtch. For this boon they work until 5.35. At, noon they have half an hour, and this means u co-Id lunch. They out their lunch in their seats, and Miss Nestor thinks the girls ought to have a lunchroom. " whore we could eat witliout the t%hi of gloves and the smell of leather." At 5.35 the girl glove-worker is free—her day's confinement witliin the factory walls of over' 10 hours is at an end.

JOTTINGS. The- Typographical Federation is laking a ballot on the question of establishing a monthly journal. Mr James Young succeeds Mr R. T. Bailey as secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council. Mr I'. F. Darcy is the new assistant secretary. '

The ballot, for the election of secretaries for the Duneiliu and Wellington sections of tiro Seamen's Union closes at 8 o'clock to-night. Julia Dawson, of the Clarion, is now editing the Woman Worker, the vigorous Lyndon weekly of recent birth.

I'p to the present 24 wages hoards have been established in Queensland. ,

Canadian immigration figures still show a decline. The numbnr entering Canada for tho early part of 1908. was 46 per cent. Ixdow previous figures.

Mr Y. li, J. Lesma, a Queensland Labour member of Parliament, is to visit New Zealand to "study the social legislation of the Dominion " (says the Worker) His Honor Judgo lliggins (president .Commonwealth Arbitration Court): The old idea is exploded that there can be any freedom of contract when one side has to fight for a living, and the other side has only to fight for prolit. I must secure the men a living wage, at all costs.

At the recent annual conference of the Scottish Miners' Federation, a resolution was carried that female labour on mines should be abolished. During tho discussion it was pointed out that tho number had actually increased by 180 for the year, there being 5650 now employed in this manner.

Tno chairman of the Sydney Harbour Trust, speaking at the employees' annual picnic, said that after 40 years' experience of both contract, and day labour, he was perfectly satisfied that, properly arranged, tho latter was the better. This opinion was endorsed by the other commissioners present, Messrs T. \V. Keele and C. C. Lance

Last year was the worst for a decade in the United Kingdom so far as tho intensity of industrial disputes was concerned. There wero 357 trade disputes, involving 297,85+ workers, and resulting in a loss of 10,506,000 working days, as compared with 508 disputes iu J.feOV, involving 137,142 workers, and a loss of 1,987,100 working days. At the end of December last, according to the Board of Trade Labour Gazette, 9.1 per cent, of trade unionists were unemployed, as compared with 5.6 per cent, at the end of December, 1907. Although the avorag-3 number of unemployed trade unionists for each month last year Was 7.8 per .cent, in the metal, engineering, anil shipbuilding trades, the average was as high as 12.6 per cent. Employment was woiss at the end of last year than in any year since 1652.

A deputation recently informed the Yictoriaii Premier that waitresses were being paid as low as 6s per week. They were compelled to wear a certain style of dress, and even stockings. "How in"God's namo do these girls manage lo exist at all—<ind dregs';" asked the Premier. This was not all. If a girl broke a cup or saucer the value of it. was deducted. "Then how much is she in debt at the end of fhe week?'' queried Mr Murray. The answers to these questions would interest the public.

-J ho largest painting in. the world, exclusive of panoramas and cycloramas, is in the gran:l saloon of the Doge's Palace at Venice. The painting is E4ft wide by 34ft high. J