THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 22

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

. NEWS AND NOTES. By J, 1. Paul. FEDERAL BASIC WAGE. Adjustments of the basic wage covering Federal awards, based on the cost of living figures of goods, groceries, and rent, for the quarter ended September 30, show that for the nest quarter the basic rates for Melbourne, Queensland, and South Australia will remain unaltered. In Sydney the basic wage will be increased by 6d a week to £4 15s, and increases of 6d a week will also operate at Hobart and Launceston. At Perth there will be a decrease of Is a week. RURAL MINIMUM WAGE IN GREAT BRITAIN. During 1928 the average weekly minimum wage of adult male agricultural workers, apart from special classes, was 31s Bd. This figure does not include special harvest payments, which vary from county to county. The average inclusive wage for horsemen is about 36s 9d a week, and the average for stockmen about 38s |>d. according to information available, but this is said to be possibly too restricted to make the figures given really representative. There is considerable variation in these wages between county and county. The figure of 31s 8d as the average minimum for the ordinary adult male worker is the same as that for the year 1027. THE NEW FEDERAL LABOUR GOVERNMENT. General satisfaction was expressed by the Labourites that in the selection oi the Federal Labour Government the claims of the older members of the party had received due consideration (says the Australian Worker). Three of the new Ministers entered the Federal Parliament m the same year (1910), namely. Messrs i'enton, Anstey, and Parker Moloney, while Mi I rank Brennan took his seat in the following year as the result of a byelection for Batman. The quartet are all brilliant debaters, and their long experience of Federal affairs should be of the greatest assistance in enabling them to cope with the demands of their respective departments. In view of his ’ong parliamentary service and loyal ability, Mr Brennan Was regarded as almost sure to Position of Attorney -general. In tariff matters, Mr -Fenton has always championed the claims of Australian industry, and for this reason alone his appointment as Minister of Trade and Customs is a happy one. Mr Parker Moloney has represented country seats all the time he has been in the Federal Parliament, and those who have closely followed his caieer are satisfied he has been rightly pol-t ed a 8 Mimster of Markets and TransWHY TRADES UNIONS HELP TRUSTS. “ I would support 100 per cent, trustification of industry,” declared Mr Walter Oitnne, secretary of the Trades Union Congress at the London Labour Women’s Summer School. " I take no notice,” h e said. “ of those who say that collaboration with employers will stabilise capitalism. That is fuddled speaking. Our idea of collective bargaining has hitherto stopped at wages and hours, but that is only a minor portion ox collective bargaining. “The trade unions must turn their attention to making industry more and more efficient, so that it will be capable of giving them a higher standard of living. _ I would, support 100 per cent, trustification . of industry, , because I believe that unless the control of industry is in as few hands as possible trade union control is impossible. How can you control the policy, of firms that are fighting one another? • "At present the law of industry is the 1u W j. l c 6 j uil s' e - I say quite frankly that before you can arrive at the point of the socialisation of industry it must be preceded by the economic co-ordination of capitalism.” CANADA AND CONTRACT LABOUR. The Canadian Government has issued an Order-in-Council. prohibiting the importation of contract labour, except where it is an absolute necessity. This action is a blow at employers who import labourers into Canada at a wage rate below the prevailing standard. The regulation is the outcome of the action of some employers in going outside Canada to recruit labourers on contract, at .wage rates below, the standard prevailing-in the dominion, stipulating that the men must not join a trade union. Provision has been made, however, for the Minister of Immigration, Mr Forke, to admit any contract labourer into Canada when he is satisfied that the worker’s service is required in the country. ANOTHER STRIKE.' The building of the Sydney harbour bridge has been prolific of strikes. When the last mail left painters had ceased work following a dispute between the Painters’ Union and the Ironworkers’ Association concerning the painting of the bridge. During September an award was issued ■ by the New South Wales Industrial Commission, giving joint preference of the work to both unions, but the Labour Council of New South Wales ruled that the ironworkers' should do the cleaning down, scraping, and first coating, leaving the second and third coats for the painters. The bridge contractors refused to agree to this allocation of the work, and set out to carry out the provisions of the- award. The painters then ceased work. . The dispute was discussed at a meeting. of the Labour Council, and it was decided to inform the bridge contractors that unless the ruling laid down by the council was observed, all labour would be withdrawn from the bridge, and the job declared “ black.” The bridge contractors stated that they intended to stand by the award made by the Industrial Commission. The boilermakers and crane-drivers then decided to cease work, and when the ironworkers turned up for work on the fol’ou’ing morning they were unable to start. All work on the bridge came to a standstill, and about ,200 men were involved. The 600 men in the workshops were not affected, but unless an early settlement was reached they would be drawn in. GERMAN TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP. The total membership of the German National Trade Union Centre increased from 4,415,673 at the end of 1927 to 4.866,926 on December 31, 1928—a gain of 451.253 members, or slightly over 10 per cent. A feature which was especially satisfactory was that the decline in the women membership, which began some years ago, was arrested, and an increase during 1928 was noted. The finances of the unions were also consolidated during 1928. Revenues rose considerably, especially those .derived from contributions. The total income of the unions in the year was nearly 221.700.000 marks, against a little over 182.000. marks in 1927. The total expenditure in 1928 was nearly 189,400,000 marks as against about 120,500,000 marks in 1927. The expenditure in benefits in 1928 was about 62,540.000 marks, against 41.000. in 1927, and for strikes was 32.224.000 in 1928 against 11,360,000 in 1927. The great bulk of the benefits took the form of unemployment and sickness benefits. INDUSTRY AND ITS SOUL. Professor E. T. Campagnac, of Liverpool University, speaking at the Industrial Welfare. Conference on “ The Growth of Ethical Values in Industry,” said that the great majority of people had to live their lives without having time for serious thought (reports The Times. “ Most of us,” he said, “ have less time than we could make use of for resorting to the wilderness, the place where the human mind can engage itself in making terms of peace with the supreme soul of the world. The problem will not be solved by finding people better houses, food, and clothes. “I believe that the salvation of the world and the solution of the industrial problem in which, we are engaged will come, if it comes at all. through the deliberate acceptance of pain and suffering by people to whom suffering will be the more acute because they know something of joy and freedom. The chief thing yon can do in your welfare work, and the only thing which really matters, ia to

take your share of the hardship and troubles of other people.” “ Vast changes arc coming over industry at the present time,” said Mr Seebohm Rowntree at the same conference, and there is grave danger of industry losing its soul. If we are to have industrial peace and harmony between employer and employed, if we are to bring the whole conception of the framework of industry into harmony with modern thought with regard to the development of the national life, then we must give move prominence to industry as a service and enter upon it in that spirit. The duty of welfare workers is to help employers and workers to keep this soul of service before them. It is not their duty to become agitators but to seek to create a right spirit and atmosphere in industry." WAGES IN NEW'SOUTH WALES. Consternation was created by the judgment of the Industrial Commission which reduced the basic wage from £4 5s to £3 12s Cd. Mr T. R. Bavin announced in the State Parliament that the Government did not intend to allow the new basic wage of £3 12s 6d to come into operation. The Industrial Commission would be directed to fix a .new basic wage suited to the requirements of a man, wife, and average number ,of childuen ‘ Family Endowment Act would be abolished and the new wage to be fixed would be equivalent to the existing basic wage, plus the cost of child endowment. The question of providing for children in excess of the average number would be a matter for further consideration, Pending the fixing of the new wage the present wage of £4 5s per week would be maintained. In outlining the Government’s proposals the Premier said that-the Government was anxious to prevent an economic crisis. The present position had “risen out of legislation passed in April, ix ’ .by le Lang (Labour) Government altering the basis on which the living wage was to be computed. Previously tho wage was computed on the basis of the requirements of a man. wife, and two children, but the amended legislation set out that it was to be calculated on the requirements of a man and his wife, without children, which were to be covered by the lannly Endowment Act, passed at the same tune. In October, 1928, the Industrial Commission, pointed out that on the new basis which they were then corfsidenng there would have to be a reauction in the new basic wape. The <iederation made by the commission was a perfectly logical one, and in strict accordance with the law passed by Parliament. The commission recognised that it was a decision without any consideratmn. of the economic consequences and invited the attention of Parliament to that phase of the matter. ho shared the view that a sudden reduction in the living wage was a v ® r y serious matter, and the Government aid not propose to allow the new declaration to come into operation. The Government had come to the conclusion that under the present condition of implicate control of the industrial field by the Commonwealth and the State it was impossible to continue the system of ciiiicl endowment as an adjunct of the basic wage. It had worked in a way that no one had contemplated, and its continued working was quite impossible, there must be a single control of the industrial field before child endowment or any other industrial measure could be satisfactorily administered. It was now proposed to abolish the child endowment and ,, co "fer with the Commonwealth authorities to. ascertain their views on the matter.

THE CONQUEST OF RUST. A few years ago a development in alloy steels awakened interest—ft e production ot alloys of chromium and iron which are markedly resistant not only to ordinary corrosion, but to deterioration at niga temperatures and under severe conditions. Addition of nickel to the chrome iron compositions influences these Qualities decidedly. The products have since become known under the general names of stainless steel and “ rustless iron.” A large industrial demand was foreseen and recent developments are bearing out these predictions (says the Journal of Commerce. New York). “A week or so ago (says the. Journal) it was etated_ in the public press that rustless iron is to be used in the construction of the new 68-storey Chrysler building m New York—the large- -tructure of the kind. This mst-resisti , alloy will be used in the five-storey dome of the building and in the trimmings of many of the rooms—casements, window frames, and so on. All ventilators will also be fabricated of this alloy. The decision to use this metal is based on extensive researches by those interested the building. “ In Chicago another use for the allov has been found. It has been incorporated in the building of a connecting bridge between two structures. The sides and root as well as the railings are made of this rustless iron. It takes a high polish, needs only light rubbing now and then, and presents a beautiful appearance. Its ' en « itu ll ®’ 6 ua ltt' ea are its mair asset. These two developments are regarded as but the beginning of an extensive use of this material in architecture. It has already found _ a wide application in the synthetic nitric acid industry. Chrome iron or rustless iron is now being extensively adopted for large towers, 50 feet high and 10 feet in diameter, for the manufacture of nitric acid from the air. The acid does not affect the metal, and the towers will last indefinitely. The use _of these alloys means ranch to certain industries and to consumers in .particular. Companies producing chromium and nickel will benefit by a wider use for these metals, and consumers will have found a product which does not deteriorate or waste, away, meaning a saving in repairs and carrying with it _ other advantages which are plainly evident. This important development is perhaps but another step in the rapidly approaching ‘rustless age.’”