THE World of Labour

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 764, 22 July 1916, Page 12

THE World of Labour

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL HALL. MEETINGS FOR WEEK. SATURDAY—Trades and Labour Council. SUNDAY—Christadelphians' Mission, 11 a.m.; Public Lectures in Social Hall, .'! and 7 p.m. MONDAY—Amalgamated Society of Engineers, No. 1 Branch; Painters* Union.; TUESDAY—Grocers' Assistants' Committee; Coach workers' Union. WEDNESDAY Canterbury Carpenters' Union; Bootmakers' Union; Cycle Workers' Union; Brickmakcrs and Clayworkers' Union; Public Lecture ill Social Hall, 8 p.m. THURSDAY—Trades Council Executive Com mittee; Dancing Class in Social Hall, « p.m. \ FRlDAY—General Labourers" Finance Committee, 7 to 8.;!0 p.m. TO VISIT AMERICA. AUSTRALIAN WORKERS AND CAPITALISTS. The Federal Government has derided to appoint a commission consisting of six representatives of the manufacturers of Australia, and an ecpial number of workers' representatives to visit the United States to investigate and report upon methods of production and manufacture in that country, and the conditions of employment in general. The decision follows upon the suggestion made by Mr Herbert Brookes, president of the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures, in ;. soeceh which he delivered at a recent meeting of that body, and published in this column. The Act-ing-Prime Minister, Senator Pearce, was present at the meeting, and was so impressed by Mr Brookcs's proposal that he referred the matter.to the Government, with a recommendation that it should be acted upon. At the last meeting of the Federal Cabinet the recommendation wits approved, and a' scheme drawn up for a thorough investigation of industrial matters in America. The main object of the commission's tour is to secure an insight into manufacturing methods in the large industrial centres of the United Stales, and to study relations between employers and employees. It is thought that the commission on its return will be in a position to suggest a solution of the existing problems affecting capital and labour. The Acting-Prime Minister, in making the announcement of the Cabinet's decision, slated thai the commission would consist of six representatives of the manufacturers in Australia, one from each Stale, with six representatives of the workers, one also from each St ate. The chambers of manufactures in each capital city would be asked to submit three nominations, and the central labour organisation in each Slate similarly to nominate three. The selection would then be made by the Commonwealth Government. Industries to be Investigated. The following industries were to be investigated by the commission:— (a) Iron trades, engineering, etc; (b) timber trades and building material, etc.; (c) leather trades; (d) textile trades; (e) paper trades; (f) trades engaged in the preparation of foodstuffs. Representation would be arranged accordingly, i.e., the manufacturers' representatives would be gentlemen having special knowledge of the above-mentioned industries, and would be appointed from the several States, as follow:—Iron trades, New South Wales; textile trades, Victoria; leather trades, South Australia; trades engaged in the preparation of foodstuffs, Queensland; timber and building material trades, Western Australia; paper trades, Tasmania. The same principle would apply in the selection of the representatives of the Labour organisations. Each section of the commission would furnish a report on the industry it represented, separate reports being furnished by the representatives of the manufacturers, and the representatives of the workers. The commission was expected to return not later than six months from the date of departure from Australia. The Acting-Prime Minister added that a secretary would be appointed, and in addition the commission would be accompanied by a journalist chosen by the Government from three nominations to be made by the Australian Journalists' Association. His duties would be to prepare reports and supply news relating to the commission and its work for publication in the Australian Press. The reports of the press representative would be made available to newspapers published in the Goinmon-

A Column for Workers

Conducted by D. G. SULLIVAN

wealth free of cosl. The whole costj of the expenses would be borne by the Commonwealth Government. . Approval of Manufacturers. Mr Herbert Brookes, president of i the Chamber of Manufactures, ex-1 pressed pleasure at the decision of j the Commonwealth Government to j send a representative party of; manufacturers and trade unionists to study industrial conditions in America. "Members of the Chamber of Manufacturers and myself are delighted at the decision," he said, "and, personally, 1 feel confident j that good will accrue from the visit. I may add that it seems to me to be very important, however, that both i sides should keep free from biassed i influences. It is important, for instance, that the manufacturers should not be welcomed solely by j the National Association of Mann- j facturcrs in America, which is a 1 partisan body, and that, in the same ! way, the union representatives should not be welcomed solely by the Independent Workers of the World, or some such organisation. All must go with open minds if the! visit is to be of use." He added that, the study of the wage systems ofj America would be a most important i branch of the deputation's investigations. . ; It may be pointed out that the decision of the Government to send j the representatives to America ori- j ginated from a suggestion made by Mr Herbert Brookes, in his presidential address to the Chamber of Manufactures, delivered recently, to j which the Acting-Prime Minister,

who was present, replied. In the course of this address, Mr Brookes drew comparisons between the results obtained in various industries in America, where the piecework system or the bonus system were the rule, and the results obtained in Australia under the daily-wage system. He quoted exhaustive figures, showing the immensely greater production in America, and the prosperity of the workers there, and threw out the suggestion that it would be an admirable thing if ! the Commonwealth Government ] were to appoint representatives of j Australian industry to visit the United States, and to make a thor- J ough and unbiassed enquiry into every phase of industrial conditions there. The Acting-Prime Minister j stated, in reply, that the idea seemed i to him to be a good one, and it has now been officially adopted. T rades Hall View. When the Federal Government's proposal was brought under the notice of Mr C. Gray, secretary of the Trades Hall Council, at Melbourne, he said he would like to have time to study the details before lie expressed a definite opinion upon it. Generally, he said, anything which would benefit Australia should certainly be availed of. The idea seemed lo him to be a good one. Industrially in some things Australia was ahead of the world, but then, on the other hand, there was much to be learnt from other countries. If any good points could be gleaned from America—and he had no doubt there were many that could be gathered or modified lo suit Australian circumstances—it was right that we should take advantage of them. Generally he approved of the object of the commission, and while waiting for full details" as to its scope he would say for unionists:—"We are not too proud to learn, nor too old to learn, and have much to learn from other progressive countries." Will the j New Zealand Government take no- i tiee'?— D.G.S. |

Necessity for Action. The necessity for some such action is indicated in the report of the Victorian Secretary for Labour (Mr Murphy) for the year 1915. The report states that during the year 1915 there was a decrease of 46t in the number of factories in the State. By the way, a manufacturer who has investigated the matter assures me that a similar decline is taking place, and the position ought to be investigated. The Victorian figures are as follow:

.difficulty in obtaining work for reI turned soldiers, and this is a matter I that should engage the attention of ! all responsible people in the com- ; munity, including those of the Laibour world. It is very trite to say i that the problem is a difficult one: everybody knows thai. Although ! sentiment is a mighty factor in war lime, there is little of it in business, and all arc anxious to get the most j they can for their money in regard 'to labour as to everything else. There are various lines of industry ; for which the life lived by the soldier unfits him; he cannot settle clown to the hum-drum routine, and ■ his restlessness creates impatience |in Hie mind of the employer, with j the result that the latter, unless he I has a strong business and can stand j 1 he loss, seizes upon various excuses for not giving work to soldiers. So j much was said to me by a representative Christchurch employer. One lof the difficulties alleged is that of I awards, and many unkind things 'have been said concerting unions and union secretaries in regard to I this matter that are really insincere l because, as a matter of fact, there is ; no hostility whatever in the minds lof union officials towards the idea iof making special arrangements in j the soldiers' interests. There is a i movement on foot now in the city to j enlist the co-operation of the union 'secretaries, and I feel sure that that 1 co-operation will be granted wholeheartedly. Certainly it ought to be, | because, apart altogether from the national obligation to these men, [which is binding on all of us, Labour I has a special interest in the probIlem, inasmuch as these men are our ! brothers, and fellow-workers. A feature of the situation that perhaps j has not been considered is the spirit lof camaraderie that now exists bei tween the returned soldiers and the j natural disposition which they have to be together. This is a very real i thing, and a scheme which would give employment to them in groups lif such can be devised, would be I more satisfactory, and consequently oiler better chances of success than any other. Since writing the above II have been informed that a meeting has been arranged to consider this matter, in which the representatives of Labour will take part, and I feel sure that a part of the problem, anyi how, will be solved at that meeting.

Year. I-actoric: 1!)11 .. 5.(138 1012 .. 7,75(1 IOCS . . 8,08'.l 191-1 .. 8,117 1915 .. 7,18« Iv niployecs. 88,694 104,746 110,187 110,660 91,888 Work for Soldiers 1'hcre apueaYs lo be eonsiderabi