THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 14

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

By J. T. Paul.

NEWS AND NOTES.

-i PREI'ELivXCE CLAUSE CANCELLED. In the New South Wales Industrial Court the Stovemakers’ Union was fined £25, wtiiie tile preference clause in the award was stFuck out, Tlie matter arose out t-f a strike over the re-introduction of the 48hour week at the works of Messrs Matters (i.rtd.), and subsequent action by the Metal Trades Employers’ Association. On behalf of the union it was claimed that, though it did take part in a strike in the first instance, it later set to work to induce the men to return to work. In this it had been successful with the exception of the polishers and grinders, who were still out. It was added that these sections of the union had been called upon to show_ cause why expulsion should not follow their refusal to obey the direction of the union. A UNION PUNISHED. In the Queensland State Arbitration Court the president (Chief Justice M’Cawley) decided that the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners had defied the court in ordering the withdrawal of men irom shops which stopped pay on days on which employees did not work. Ho ordered that the society should bo excluded from the operations of the building trades award for 12 months. In August last the president varied the building trades award bv providing that, in any factory where the em-

ployer is exclusively or mainly engaged in the manufacture of joinery for sale, the employees, while exclusively engaged at or in such factory in the manufacture of joinery for sale, might be paid an hourly rate, and that such hourly rate should be one-forty-fourth of the weekly rate prescribed in the building trades award, o-his variation would absolve the employer from the necessity of paying for any holiday on which the employee ciid not work. Ihe union, however, decided that, on the first stoppage of holiday pay by any firm taking advantage of this new sub-clause, all members should bo immediately withdrawn from shops so acting. Effect was given to this decision in connection with Uio recent St. Andrew’s Day. holiday. When the court adjourned Secretary W. Wright was asked what would bo the effect of the decision. "Wo have all our men pretty well placed,’’ said Wright. “Wo will have to work on without an award. It will make very little difference to us. We can get for our members better wages than the minimum. We are getting better wages now.” LABOUR PROSPECTS. The annual conference of the Watersme Workers’ Federation opens in Auckland on Monday next, and the result of the ballot on the question of accepting or rejecting the award of the Arbitration Court will bo communicated to the delegates. Dealing with the position the Wellington Evening Post, as a result of a general consultation with trade union representatives, said:— “Should the verdict bo against the award, it is felt that no good purpose will bo served by ordering a cessation of work, for the wntorsiders will immediately’ be faced with the formation and registration of new unions. Ample labour is believed to bo easily obtainable for carrying on the waterside industry during the height of tho. export season, and no difficulty is entertained about getting men from the country as in 1913. For the watersiders to take precipitate action in the near future would, it is maintained, lead to the disruption, and disintegration of the Waterside Workers’ Federation as at present constituted. The ease with which labour was secured to man the vessels when the seamen came out is quoted to illustrate the impossibility of the watersiders being successful if they should decide to ‘down dog hooks.’” “As for the Alliance of Labour” (continues the Post), “doubt is entertained as to whether its ballot will e carried on the question of affiliated organisations ceasing work as a protest against reductions in wages. The ballot closes on January 15.” “ ‘They’re mad,’ remarked one prominent unionist this morning, When the subject of the alliance ballot was mentioned. ‘What’s the good of talking about strike now? -no psychological. moment has gone. If they wanted a strike they should nil have gone together with the seamen and have waited for a favourable opportunity. But the way the seamen acted shows that the Labour movement is disorganised, and its lack of, organisation and the want of a concerted plan will moan the failure of any move which the alliance contemplates.” “In Labour circles, generally, there is a disposition to discount the good to bo obtained from what the alliance proposes. Ono section of tho railwaymen belongs to the alliance,' but another, and the most important section —that, of tho enginedrivers and firemen, the men who actually run tho trains—does .not recognise the Alliance of Labour, or believe in its methods. _ It is practically certain, then, that anything the alliance may do in 1923, or ot any other time, will not entail a hold-up on the railway’s. Tho sea transport services are being carried on satisfactorily, despite an attempt at dislocation, and there is enough coal in (ho country to nullify anything tho minors might do. These facts are admitted, even in alliance circles, where there is also a willingness fto grant that plenty of free labour will > : bo forthcoming to carry on tho industries of the country in tho event of an attempt' at a stoppage. For these reasons, then, tho coming ballot of tho Alliance of Labour is not altogether rogardied seriously.” “THE vfcTORT THAT MIGHT X have been.” In an editorial in the Australian Worker on the recent.. Federal elections under tho above heading some interesting comments are made. After expressing satisfaction with the increase in thoyLalxwr vote the article continues:— .. “Nevertheless it ought to have done better. Had every worker realised his duty, a Labour Government was assured. Too many of the working class have stayed away Irom the polls. “The voting has been wretchedly small. Tons ot thousands of tho workers did not trouble lo cast their ballots. “How is this apathy, or this deliberate negTcct, to bo explained? It is due to a regrettable inability to comprehend tho efficacy of political action through the Australian Labour Party, “there arc men in tho ranks of the unions incessantly preaching discontent with the A.L.l*. —disparaging its achievements, sneering uT its platform, casting 'doubts upon the integrity of its leaders. “Is it to bo supposed that this propaganda Ts entirely without effect? "Of course it is not. It has poisoned the minds of very many. It has induced a profound disbelief in politics as a field of beneficial activity for tho working class. “A whole multitude of tho workers have not sufficient faith in the power of tho vote to make use of it. "Yet it is obtrusively evident that m this country progress will never be made in any other way than by political action, backed up by organised industrial strength. "Direct action, as far as immediate aims are concerned, must be written down a failure. Time after time its end has been disaster, disunion, and despair. “Strikes have their value. They are an education in economics. They bring before the worker the grim realities of ins social status. They quicken the intelligence ; through the suffering they inflict the working class advances to a recognition of fundamental truths, and learns to loathe (bo system mat exalts to a position of supreme power au exploiting oligarchy. “And strikes, moreover, act as an undoubted deterrent. Unscrupulous wage-Jords would carry their rapacious despotism further than they do if it were known that the workers would not light, if they could feel assured of a cringing or sullen compliance with their will. "But, when all that is admitted in favour of direct, action, the cruel logic of experience must be granted, thrusting upon us the futility of the .strike as the worker’s only medium of redress. "in a period of intense crisis, of burning indignation against injustice, it could he used with dramatic effect, and its triumph would probably bo complete. “Tho Ono Big Union, when it is formed, must always he prepared for action on the industrial field. "But it would soon exhaust its energies had it no other recourse. Its power will he derived from its political activities; it will bring into parliamentary warfare a treinendotis and determining factor, of which, so far, wo have had no more than tho barest hint. "Even now, before (ho Greater Unionism is consummated, much could he done if only the workers would realise how potent is the vote. With it they could put an end to many at the wrongs by which they are oppressed.” JOTTINGS. The Council of tho Melbourne Working Men’s College has decided to take preliminary stop? for the provision of technical training facilities for youths entering tho textile industry. Tho census taken in France last year actually showed a decrease in population

compared with 1911. In the latter year the population of Franco was 39,600,C00. In 1921 it was officially returned as 55.081.C00, a decennial decrease of 8.8 per cent. These figures might well provide food for serious thought on (lie part of French statesmen. “In less Ilian two years the Building Guild has made a good 'name for itself, has completed over a million pounds’ worth of work, mid has still to complete over two million pounds’ worth more” (says (lie Manchester Guardian). “It has acquired £70.000 worth of plant, and a surplus of £35.C00. These results, though they do not make any visible impression on the national housing shortage, reflect great credit upon the pioneers of a now movement.” The British Labour Leader, organ of the Independent Labour Party of Britain for the oast 53 years, has been supplanted by the Now Leader. The editor of flu’s latest Labour organ is Mr 11. N. Brails ford, a British journalist, who has been successively loader writer to the Manchester Guardian, the Tribune, iho Daily News, ami the Nation, lie was a Labour candidate for Montrose Burghs in 1918, and lias been a member of the I.L.P. for 16 years. The American Federation of Labour is preparing to launch a national Labour weekly, and a circulation of 500.009 is aimed at. The council has come to (bo conclusion that a chain of Labour dailies, which has been suggested, is at present bevond their resources. Mr Chester M. Wright, head of the publicity,department of the A.F. of L., will probably edit (ho new weekly.