THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 3

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD

N£WS AND NOTES

By J. T. Paul.

Liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of life. . Without it the world ie a prison, and the universe an indefinite dungeon. —lngersoll. WAGES ON FARMS. ■ln view of the recent controversy regarding wages' of farm labourers and conditions of work (says Chris'tchurch StarSun) it is interesting to note the rates which were taken as the standard in the Hllesmere farm-management competition for 1934-35,-the results of winch are announced in the latest issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. In the judging of profit and loss any possibility of individual bias was eliminated, it w stated, by basing the results entirely on returns such as were required for proper accounting.' Irrespective of whether or not wages were actually paid, wages rates ior permanent labour were standardised on the basis of: 10s a week for each boy working between 15 and 17 years of age; 15s a week for boys between 17 and 19; 20s a week for boys between 19 anu 21; and 25s a week for each man over 21 years of age. In each case the "keep" for both boy and man was estimated to be worth 15s a week. SKILLED LABOUR. A controversy is proceeding in Christ-i-hurch on the question of the available supply of skilled labour. Disclaiming any wish to prolong it, Mr L. L. Cordery, ot the firm of P. and D. Duncan. Ltd.. said that some reply was necessary to the .statements made by Mr G. T. Thurston, secretary of the Canterbury branch ol lhe Amalgamated Engrneers r Union, lie reiterated his statement that there was /i shortage of satisfactory skilled workera in the engineering trade. Since Mr Cordery's statement that Up had places, which ho could not fill, tor men in the fitting and moulding shops, several men have applied for positions with the firm. Mr Thurston had said Hint these men had been refused work. Mr Cordery's answer is that the men were sent to .his works manager to be interviewed. They were:—A moulder who Das not worked at his trade ior tour rears and a-half, an elderly man workin" for one of the firm's customers as a uightwatchman, a caller who. came on behalf of a friend living 20 miles inland in the Waitaki County; a man who has not worked at his trade for five years; a man who is working at his trade with one ot the firm's customers; a moulder who nas not worked at his trade for seven years; t.wo others who were quite obviously un satisfactory on several grounds. That morning, Mr Cordery added, a young man was put on for a weeks trial. If he proved satisfactory, which it was hoped lie would be, there would be a permanent job for him. Another man from Dunedin wa 8 coming in on Monday, and it was intended to give him a trialif he appeared to be a likely man. Mr Cordery pointed out that the tirm had a reputation for quality work which it could not risk by employing men who had not worked at their trade for many years and who needed a period of training. This had been done in the past witn disastrous results. "If I could get two good machine moulders, a first-grade carpenter, and a really first-grade fitter, I would be pleased to put them on," Mr Cordery added. Mr Cordery said that all the records and information concerning the men who had applied to the firm for work were available for Mr Thurston's inspection had he made an inquiry. He would be only too pleased to have Mr Thurston s co-operation in finding the men he required. He was always inquiring from the hands in the shops if they knew ot other skilled men lookiug for work, but they very rarely did. PROTECTED INDUSTRIES. The Government's intentions in regard to assisting and developing secondary industries in New Zealand were the subject of a lengthy discussion at the last meeting Of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce,-: --- , ,„ The discussion arose when acknowledgments were read to a communication from the Auckland Chamber which urged other chambers of commerce to be vigilant in the matter of assistance to industries. It the recently-published statement of the Minister •of Industries, Mr D. G. bumvan, was to be credited it would seem that help was contemplated for enterprises of doubtful economic value. Mr W. A. Boucher said that many Mew Zealand industries which were receiving si ureat deal of protection were definitely uneconomic. That assistance was never originally intended and the public was paying a great penalty. The president, Mr A. A. Ross, said there had been a proposal to establish some new industries. That, however, was different to industries already established. Mr J. A. C Allum said no one had su"gested starting uneconomic industries, although there might be differences of opinion as to what constituted such enterprises. The Government was going to assist secondary industries, but 'he had heard nothing about the development of those that were uneconomic The chamber should assist the Government in every way possible, esnecially in determining the industries that were not economic. " I am impressed by Mr Sullivan s plan as it provides for private enterprise, Mr Allum said. The Minister had asked for assistance in order that there should be a proper state of affairs, and that a maximum number of people were employed. No one wanted unnecessary protection, said Mr Allum. If, however, there was an industry competing against conditions that New Zealand would not tolerate then there should be more protection The Government should be given a chance, lie added, and the chamber should not make a noise until something had none wrong. ... „ ~ Mr A. G. Lunn said that all they wanted to see was that uneconomic interests were not protected. , They were justified in placing their views before the Government. ~ , There were dozens of industries witn 100 per cent, protection to-day, said Mr Boucher. Selfish interests were using the politicians to gain their own-ends, and were penalising the public. The manufacturers were out to get more protection nnd the public did not know what was going on. . . Mr Allum said that if it were necessary to'protect the standard of living of the worker's in New Zealand against competition in other countries, then more protection might be necessary. Mr Boucher referred to a particu ar industry, which, he said, had persuaded the previous Government to reverse, _in its favour, the recommendations of the Tariff Commission. If the meeting would go into committee he would prove his statement. • This step was taken. The discussion lapsed soon aftcrwaijl and, when open meeting was resumed, the letters from other chambers were received. PROSPECTS OF 19315. "What conclusions can we draw about our economic prospects in 1936.' We may predict with reasonable confidence that while ' recovery ' will spread over a wide, and wider range of consumers trades and industries, the pace of recovery in the capital goods' industries will slow down. After all, one cannot expect tins country to pile up capital equipment ad in rinilum at the 1933-35 rate. I here may .still be some leeway to make up, but the c ire limits to capital extension inside the country as long as world trade remains at a low ebb. All the indications at present are that 'recovery' in this country is likely to become wider in extent but slower in momentum during J9.5b. But this conclusion is only possible on certain important assumptions, and it must lie qualified by-reference to certain dangers them dangers arise in the foreign as well as in the domestic .field.— -London Economist." SHIFT WORKERS. In a judgment fiven recently the Full Bench of the Australian Arbitration Court made the 44-hour week the genera] .standard for the electrical trades section ol the metal trades award. To allow time for necessary adjustments, the court has ordered that the variation be timed with the beginning of the first pay period to start this month. The court said that in February, 1934, it granted the 44-hour week to come workers under the metal trades award, but did not grant it to men in 15 classifications, who would now receive it.