INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23718, 27 January 1939, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES By J. T. Paul No matter whose the tips that would speak, they must be free and ungagged. Let us always remember that he really does not believe his own opinions who dares not give free scope to his opponent. Persecution is really want of faith in our creed.—Wendell Phillips. LABOUR PROSPECTS IN BRITAIN Speaking in reply to a civic welcome in Christchurch this week Lord Strabolgi prophesied a victory for Labour at the next general election in Britain. When it came to power in 1931, the British Labour Party had been unlucky to strike the beginning of the depression for which it had been blamed. In 1935 there had been another misfortune with a party split. Founded on radical liberalism, the Labour Party had stood for peace before all else. World conditions had changed, and faced with threats from aggressive Powers and attempts to turn back the clock of civilisation views had now also to be changed. The Civil War in England had been fought in defence of Parliament and democracy, and the British Labour Party would now stand behind any government which stood for the rights of .humanity. If there was to be a war it would be a war for principles and ideas.

“At the next general election we shall see a small Labour majority," Lord Strabolgi prophesied. “ Today the great spokesman of the English is <he Labour Party.” Again and again the Labour Party had been approached to form a “ popular front,” but there had been little progress with that idea, and the party would fight the next election as a separate entity. Indications were that it would meet with a great deal of success. . In view of the cablegram this week regarding the effort of Sir Stafford Cripps and others to form a “ popular front a working alliance with groups outside the Labour Party— Lord Strabolgi’s observations are interesting. It appears' unlikely, however, that anything approaching unanimity can be achieved along the “popular front” line. There would doubtless be strong - opposition to a close association for political purposes with those outside of and opposed to the Labour Party. Lord Strabolgi warned New Zealanders not to be alarmed at criticisms of their country expressed in England. All political parties had a warm regard for New Zealand, and the criticisms were all made by one quarter tor obvious reasons. MACHINES AND LABOUR "In South Wales and Monmouthshire the mining industry, the industry in that district, is, because of its improved methods of production, putting more men on the road than the other industries, even the new ones, can absorb.” said Mr Dagger. M.P.. in a recent speech. , . . . “Let me give one example of what I mean. In 1931 in South Wales and Monmouthshire there were 37,084.000 tons of saleable coal produced by 158,162 miners: last year the amount of coal produced was 37.773.000 tons, and that was produced by 135,901 miners. ' f .. “To take a comparison with the year 1931; that means that 68 ?. 00( J I( more tons of coal A'ere produced in 1937 by 22,161 fewer mine workers, and you can compare that with the establishment of a trading estate in the same period which only gives employment to 720 men. That is the problem, or a part of it, as we see it in South Wales and Monmouthshire ”

HOURS OF WORK IN AUSTRALIA At a conference of officers of the Metal Trades Council, which is representative of all metal trade unions in New South Wales, held at the Sydney Trades Hall, it was decided to launch a campaign to secure a shortening ol the working week to 40 hours. The view was expressed that the 40-hour week could be _ won within a short period by combined political and industrial action.

Resolving itself into a campaign committee, the conference decided to recommend to the Labour Council that similar committees be formed representative of other trade union groups to carry on activity for the 40-hour week. It was also resolved that the Labour .Council should set up a coordinating cdmmittee to lead the campaign. The 40-hour week was an urgent necessity because of rationalisation brought about by mechanisation The machine had operated to the detriment of the working class instead of being utilised in their interests by shortening the working week. A feature of the campaign will be lunch-hour meetings at all shops and factories. In addition to trade union officers. Labour parliamentarians ana other speakers prominent in the working class movement will be asked to speak. PAID HOLIDAY MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN Over 250.000 workers benefit as the result of an agreement for an annual week’s holiday with pay covering employees in the tailoring trade. The terms of an agreement reached between the Executive Council of the Clothing Manufacturers’ Federation and the Executive Board of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers provide: A week’s holiday with pay for workers in the ready-made and wholesale bespoke tailoring trade, the rate to be the general minimum time rate applicable to the various classes of workers in the industry. Provision for workers to receive one day’s holiday in respect of each two months’ complete service, up to one week. Where workers have qualified for the full week’s holiday, a week’s holiday shall be given in consecutive days The period May 1 to September 30 to be the period during which the holiday shall be arranged. It was agreed that arrangements should be made for the holiday provisions to operate in 1939 THE BALMAIN BY-ELECTION RESULT Although the by-election for the Balmain seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, which took place last Saturday (says the Australian Worker of January 18). resulted in Labour retaining the seat, an analysis of the voting reveals that the victory, from a Labour point of view is bv no means a satisfactory one.

Mrs Quirk, who was elected to succeed her late husband (Mr John Quirk), polled a total of 7650 votes, as against a total of 7289 polled by two independent candidates. There were nearly 800 informal votes! As the Labour vote polled at the general elections in. March last year totalled 11,763 the vote polled for Labour last Saturday showed a slump of about 4000 or approximately 35 oer cent in 10 months'

There can be no disguising the fact that the Balmain result discloses an alarming deterioration of Labour’s position in New South Wales. For if Labour’s vote can slump 35 per cent in 10 months in a working-class stronghold like Balmain, it docs not hold out much hope of a Labour victory at the next State elections, or of Labour’s chances of winning enough seats in New South Wales to secure control in the Federal Parliament. It is no good shutting oui eyes to obvious facts. In the 1930 elections Labour polled 12.403 votes in Balmain as against 3924 for all other parties In 1932 the voting was 9591 for Lang Labour, 5329 for Federal Labour, and 1115 for others. In 1935 the voting was 10.417 for Lang Labour. 5046 for Federal Labour, and 849 for a third candidate. In the elections of March last year Labour’s vote was 11,763, as against a combined vote of 4548 for two other candidates. And now Labour’s vote has fallen to 7650. as again 7289 votes polled by two opposing independent candidates)

Look at the position another way; In 1930 Labour's absolute majority was 8484. In 1932 it fell to 3147, but

increased to 4522 in 1935, and further increased to 7215 at the general election 10 months ago. But at the byelection Labour’s majority slumped from 7215 to a bare 361.

What makes the position all the worse is the fact that the maximum of effort was thrown behind Mrs Quirk to secure an increased Labour majority. On the other hand, the two Independent candidates had no organisation worth speaking of. Indeed, their campaign efforts were not taken seriously by the press. When we remember that over in South Australia, five weeks previously, Labour won a smashing victory at Wakefield and defeated the ex-Premier of South Australia in a Nationalist stronghold, while in ’New South Wales Labour suffered a decided setback, it must be obvious that intervention by the Federal Labour Executive is urgently needed to discove what is wrong.

As long as the position remains as u is in New South Wales, the key State in Federal politics, Labour’s chances of victory in the next Federal and State elections are by no means promising. The matter is one that demands the attention of the Federal Labour Executive without delay

SHORTER WORKING WEEK IN LUXEMBURG

A Grand Ducal order provides for the progressive reduction of actual hours of work in Luxemburg to 40 per week for workers employed in industries, sections of industry, and categories or parts of establishments in which work is carried on under dangerous, unhealthy or particularly arduous conditions.

The reduction in working hours may be effected by means either of administrative orders or of collective agreements drawn up by the National Labour Council. If the latter method is used the reductions may be applied to the whole of the trade concerned If it is proposed to reduce hours of work directly by means of administrative order, the Government must first consult the occupational chambers concerned, and. in the case of compulsory reduction, the National Labour Council.

The Government points out that special attention will be given to the iron mining industry, which is among the Luxemburg industries conducted under unhealthy daneerous or particularly arduous conditions, and that hours of work in this industry will be reduced by means of an administrative order.