SOCIALIST PARTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14703, 10 December 1909, Page 7

SOCIALIST PARTY.

At the fortnightly meeting of tho Socialist Parly (held in the Trades Hull on Wednesday evening, the following resolutions were earned:-(l) "That tho secretary be instructed to write to tho Minister for Labour urging Jiim to introduce legislation to provide for a minimum wage for all adult workers who havo roadbed tho age of 21 years that will secure a decent standard" of living. It was pointed out at the meeting that though tho Arbitration Act, provided machinery for this purpose, tho machinery was defective and mado it impossible to organise the workers to embrace a industries and secure awards governing all classes of labour. Tho decision of Judge Sim in Auckland mndo it clear that such a union as the labourers' had to bring every dispute separately so as to represent every different industry, which was costly. The difficulty of extending awards and the legal flaws that led to the minimum wage being undermined were detailed. It was explained that, sweating was rampant in Dunedin, and that men capable of earning union wages ,if they could secure it wero working for as low as £1 a- week in breweries and many of our factories which wore unorganised. (2) That the secretary write urging the Government to introduce legislation to provide for men working in wot. places being found in gum boots." It was explained that men were suffering from rheumatism and sciatica because they were net provided with gum boots, anil when unable to work through these complaints to satisfaction were discharged and left helpless to struggle as best they might. A notice of motion,was given to consider Iho advisability of introducing legislation to provido for tho safe working of quarries.