TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2057, 27 July 1893, Page 17

TRADES AND LABOUR.

(Tee Pjjess Association.) London, July 20. The Times says that experiments on a large scale in Australia towards the solution of labour problems have done the world great service. . Miss Shaw, the travelling correspondent of The Times, in reviewing the four great strikes in Australia, emphasises the limitation of unionism, and state that a prominent labour leaguer, speaking of the maritime strike of 1890, assured her that the day of strikes was over, and predicted a general decline. The Miners' Federation Council by four to one refused to accede to the proposed reduction in wages, and declined to submit the matter to arbitration. It was resolved that a reply be sent declining to accept the terms The Miners' Federation have resolved to expel all districts not accepting their decision respecting the proposed reduotion in wages. The Miners' Federation have called out all the miners. July 22. Mr Pickard, on behalf of the miners, has declined to submit the difference to arbitration. Abundant coal stocks strengthen the employers in their attitude towards employes.

I Nearly half a million of miners cease work on Friday. SXDNEr, July 22. There is great distress among the northern colliers, and the various lodges propose to levy from those in employment to assist those out of work. Brisbane, July 22. It is expected that a bill will shortly be introduced to establish labour settlements, in order to relieve the unemployed. At a meeting of boot operatives at Wellington on Friday night the Industrial Conciliation and ■ Arbitration Bill was discussed. The speakers expressed themselves adverse to lawyers or paid agents appearing in the Arbitration Court, as provided in certain clauses, but all the general principles of the bill were approved. It was agreed to forwatd a resolution to this effect to Mr Reeves, to thank him for introducing the measure, and to urge the Government to push the bill through. The position of the men in Auckland compared with those in the south was referred to, and figures quoted from Mr Tregear's report to show that the Auckland factories were over-run with boy labour. A perusal of the thirty-third annual report of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners is apt to suggest a comparison between the new and. old unionism. The society is a notable instance of a union "based on the broadest and most liberal principles of selfhelp." The secretary claims that not a single opportunity has been missed of helping to improve the material welfare of members. The unemployed, sick, and superannuated have received assistance week by week, losses of tools by fire in workshops^ ve been made good, serious cases of accident have been met with liberal assistance, every deserving ' cage of distress has .been afforded relief, and numerous widows and orphans' can testify to the fact that in their hour of need their homes have been brightened by the timely help given by the society. The report speaks of progress during the year, 44- branches having been opened and 6334 members admitted, making a total at the end of the year of 579 branches and 37,588 members. The receipts were £98,823 and the expenditure £90,844 ; the cash balance, which now stands at £72,639, having been added to by £7978. The assets at the end of the year were equal to £2 4s Id per member. Unemployed benefit was given to the extent of £24,449, sick benefit cost £23,332, accident benefit £1050, superannuation benefit £6861, .funeral benefit £3990, and benevolent grants £1239. .The only strike of any magnitude was at Belfast, which cost the society £6000. Mr Chandler, the secretary, furnishes a table which shows that since the formation of the society in 1860 with 618 members, the sum of £1,012,524 has been paid away in benefits, of which £405,660 was given to the unemployed. Turning to the New Zealand portion of the report, which is a volume of 478 pages, it appears there are 53 members in Auckland, 51 in Christchurch, 71 in Dunedin, 65 in Wellington, six in Invercargill, and 12 in Timaru.