LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170467, 17 March 1921, Page 7

LABOUR.

WAGES PROBLEM. AT HOME,

By Electric Telegraph—-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Ca'ole Association LONDON, March 15.

A Trade Union Congress official informs the Australian Press Association that a special sub-coniniitt'ee is considering the unemployment and wag© reduction problems. He states that one of the most serious features is utteinpfa to abolish the Wage Boards, aifocting 3,000,000 workers, who are Labour’s bottom dogs. A large body of workers recognise that tho present rates, fixed in wartime, are artificial, and not based oil the industries’ ability to pay. He views gravely the recent closings of factories, due to international competition and the exchange problems. Nevertheless there is strong opposition to reductions based on the recent decline of living costs, which are regarded as ephemeral.

GUILD SOCIALISAI.

SYDNEY, March 16. The proposal based on Guild Socialism has advanced a further stage. The idea is to establish woollen and worsted mills on the site of the Parramatta gaol, to bo conducted by members of the Textile Workers’ Union on cooperative lines, dealing directly with tho consumer. The "Union is endeavouring to raise £200,000, and lias * approached tho Government for a twelve months’ option over tho property.

WATERSIDERS’ BALLOT.

Par Press Association

WELLINGTON, March 16._ A special stop-work meeting of the Watersiders’ Union considered tho A'cderationV recommendations in _eonnection wit’ll the recent waterfront trouble, and decided to take a ballot on Friday and Saturday on the wages, question. It is presumed that this course -mil be followed at all ports. ! MORE TROUBLE WITH COAL MINERS. Claims for a new agreement covering tho mining industry in New Zealand were recently received by the Aline Owners’ Association from the Aliners’ Federation, which asked for a conference for their consideration. The employers resolved that they could not agree to meet tho Federation’s representatives until certain far-fetched demands were withdrawn. This decision was communicated to the Federation, and was discussed at a meeting of the executive some days ago.. Air Arbucltle to-day forwarded a. letter to Air Pryor, secretary to the Coalmine Owners’ Association. Air Arbuclcle contends that the agreement having expired, tho Federation is justified in submitting fresh proposals for a now one. Ho says: “If the Owners’ Association insists on the withdrawal of tlio proposals there must certainly be a fight for tho right to a conference to discuss proposals adopted by the whole of tho miners’ unions. Seeing that your organisation is delaying the bringing about a new agreement by refusing a conference, wo must insist that any agreement arrived at must date back to the end of February, 1921.”

S.S. WAHINE TIED UP.

250 PASSENGERS DISAPPOINTED

Haying given the necessary notice, tlio firemen and trimmers of the ferry steamer Waliino signed off the vessel’s articles at Wellington to-day, and tho vessel was unable to sail for Lyttelton this evening. The only clue to tho cause of the men’s action is contained in a letter kroin the secretary of tho Seamen’s "Union received by tho local manager of tho Union Company, which states that the men had corp.plained of insufficiency of food. The matter had not been mentioned by the men to the captain of the Wahine. About 250 passengers had booked by the vessel.

DROP IN FARM WAGES.

ASHBURTON, March 16. A definite tendency towards reduction of wages for agricultural labour in Ashburton County is said to liavo set in, according to local registry agents. Whoroas before the harvest a weekly wage of £3 and found was offered, a six-horse teamster has now been obtained for £2 10s. Farmers are showing a leaning towards getting on with less labour, saying that they cannot afford to, pay out so much ready money when so little is coming in, and the attitude of the farm worker had been at first not to take iwork at the lessened remuneration, but in many cases billets were finally accepted at the lower rates. It is recognised that at the end of a few weeks, when threshing mills are paid off, labour will probably bo in oversupply. This fact, more "than anything else, makes the farm worker billing to accept the wages offering before the anticipated shortage of employment in winter.