LABOUR REPORT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 162, 28 March 1918, Page 6

LABOUR REPORT

, THE FEMALE LABOUR INVASION

SERIOUS PROBLEM AHEAD,

In reviewing the work done during the year, which ended on February 28 Inst, tlio Wellington Trades and, Labour Council, in its annual report, states:—"lt may bo truthfully stated that probably in tho whole history of the council a more stronuous period lins rarely been experienced. With the fruition of the Military Service Act it has come about, as the council anticipated, that most of the industries in tho Dominion have been suffering from a shortage of labour. This naturally has reflected itself in higher wages to workers, but in tho towns the increase in prices of commodities has more than swallowed the extra, remuneration ' which the workers received. As tho number of mon returning from the war will, for tho future, be fully equal to the number leaving, it is not likely that the labour market will he materially altered until the bulk of our soldiers arc again in New Zealand. With the return of these men, after having gone through their, trying ordeal, Labour will be faced with a serious problem, as fomalo labour has entered largely into occupations where previous to tho war it was practically unknown. However, if the council acts in conformity with that public spirit which is very generous towards the returned men, it is not likely thnt the 'power of tho purse' will bo able to inflict any serious injury on the working people. But great vigilance on our part will then be even more necessary than has been the case in the immediate past." I Under the heading of Arbitration i nnd Conciliation, the report states that ! on the whole the actions of tho Arbitration Court during the period were j not so sovorely criticised as in the pre- ! ceding year, and owinp- to the fact that ! many cages were settled before the Con'ciliation Councils the Court's t : rno was 'not unduly taken up by industrial disputes. ' "It is better, if possible." snys tho report, "that disputes should be fixed up before the councils, a? the two parties more, nearly concerned know all the details pertaining to tho_ dispute better than any outside part-Vs, nnd it is pleasing to bo able to report that on tho whole emnloyors recently hare shown a moro conciliatory disnoEifa'nn : thiii is usuallv the case. On the whole, the operations under thp Art have gonp on smootlly. but recently tho council criticised the action of the Commissioner in a noi'lh'rn d'=nn t <? pertaining to the Soft Good- TWnn." On tho subiect of the employment of returned ■ poMiers. the report states:— "In contradistinction to the Government's Or<ler-in-Council, making provision for the training of returned partly-incapacitated poldiers in ordinary trades, the council condemned this scheme, and made a counter-proposal that they ought to be trained and their services utilised in new, light inj dustries. This scheme if adopted would help us to develop on the Hues of. making New Zealand a self-suppprt-ing country." During the year an additional three ' organisations became affiliated, namely, ■ the Furniture Trade Union, the Power House Employees' Union, and the Hair:flrefsers' Assistants' Union. During . the period the council extended its rules ,'with a view to dealing.with any posi siblfe industrial trouble in the future. 'The only strike in the district was one .by tho employees of_ the Wellington Gas Company, hut this was satisfactorily overcome. The men formed a union, and an agreement was arrived lat before the Conciliation Council. The i i Trades and Labour Council continued jits affiliation with, the Labour Repre- ■ sentation Committee and also the I Workers' . Educational Association. I "The latter," continues tho report, i "is doing Very important work in offerling education oil very important Mftt- ! ters, and it is cheering to know that : the classes organised by the assoeia- : tion have 'heen well. attended by the : workers." Some of the leading events iof the year past, and the action of I : the council in relation thereto, may be j i summarised. Statements' have been ; iisflicd relating to the Efficiency Board, | i curtailment of railway ;service, strong . protests re inactivity df the Department of Labour, condemnation of pro- ! posed sale of State coal mines, and eoni sideration has been given to the api prenticeship question and municipal ! milk supply. The sum of £530 stands j to tho credit of the New Trades Hall Trust Fund, and it is advisable that a special effort ought to be made during tho year to increase this sum majterially, and then to secure land on I which the new hall may be_ erected. The longer it is delayed the higher the price that will have to he,paid in the I future.