Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHEK DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 24th, 1911.

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1911, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHEK DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 24th, 1911.

Aggressive labour appears to be losing- ground in Australia. In -the first place the fundamental conscience of the public is not prepared to accept the ideals of the aggressive section of the Labour Party. In the next place the sense of public responsibility prevents the Labour Ministries from going to the lengths that their most ardent supporters expected them to go, which is regarded as a great di'sap.pointment. While it appears that the pußlic were quite willing to subscribe to the doctrine . of preference to unionists, they object .to the starving out of, non-unionists by refusing " them work' altogether. At • Renmark fhc strike of '. the . men engaged in the fruit industry is considered broken, While the strike of the implement mak- ' ers is in an equally bad way for the . unionists. Theandustry is 'being 1 car« ried on by free • labour, not on " the skme scale as before the strike, but still in such a Way .as to harden the employers' to stand ■ by - their non-un-ionist workers ; and the conditions of the strike ' have ; -become = very . trying on the strikers, who 'are said •to be tired' of idleness. An interesting interview Avas held lately between a~ labour deputation* and the Labour Minister of Agriculture for South Australia. The South Australian Government has a department which off e\ 5 to take charge of .agricultural produce for storage and ; shipment. - Some workers in this department refused to handle the "scab" fruit from :RenmarJc, Jand were discharged. 1 >A 1 deputation from the : union complained, and the Labour Minister of Agriculture said : c 'We accept ' the . responsi- • b.ility. for - any fruit we take" in for storage or. shipment," and:!, will allow nothing in this world to interfere with ,me in carrying out -those responsibilities.- I do not- care' whether all the unions in . the universe are against ni c. ' While we are working at the depot I shall give them the best conditions^ possible; but • if ■ the fruit is to Be removed r.'l will'" remove it, and if a /firm \ ask. us. '..we \ will ". take ' 'their ".. produce.". _..;;..;. ..,,J ,;..';,..:...,

Mr Dale: "And I am prepared to stop any U.L.TJ. men from helping." The Minister:" "You can take up any position you like, tout I repeat that . the men must obey the instructions of the foreman, or I shall get other men to dovthe work. You men can stop out, if you like, but I shall do my level best to carry out my responsibilities." A Worker: "I have never yet 'scabbed.' Tou were a 'good union man before you a Minister." The Minister': "So I am now; as good a unionist ?.s you " The South Australian Ministry evid-. cntly are not prepared to permit a repetition of the carters' strike, and intend' to be guided iby what the good sense of tHe community will uphold/ Tlie Minister" of Works in New South Wales -has taken even a firm ei stand. Although • a representative of Labour, he insists that his labourers must work well for reasonable pay 01 lose their jobs. A- little band of railway labourers tried recently to dictate their own terms, and threatened + o strike. Mr ' Griffith told them thlat their conditions and wages were *air, and they could strike away. They decided not to strike. The fact is that in New South Wales the Labour Ministry has .. realised that if it submits to' be bullied 'by; every little knot of its supporters Ministerial life will not be worth living. . So, relying on the good sense of the- majority, Ministers are "talking, straight" to unimportant minorities. This will be a good thing for tlie- Labour Party ns for the community at large. There is.no reason in the world why the cause of labour should not exercise all the political influence that it? numbers fairly entitle it to ; but ;herc is a vast difference between • fxercisin.t; that power in a reasonable icanr.et and trying to ride rough-shod over the natural rights of the minority, a? has been sought in respect of non-u:-ionists. It was time that' ~xt;.envs!s were taught that the law must be maintained; and Mr Holm and Mr Beeby have been *fying v imprc-^ the miners of Broken Hill that Ministers are in duty bound' to mainiuia as well as admini;t;r the law of the State. If the inplem^it strikm should have to acknowlei-ve defeat — and there is every, probahili'y that : hey will have to do so before long— the result will ibe a very deadly blow at the most "extreme section of unionists who hold that any treatment is justifiable to all who will not" enrol themselves °s " unionists and submit to such. conditions jas may impose, borne of the conditions that the party imposes on individuals are a little extraordinary, to say the least of it. Not long ago the party had a quarrel' on with one of its members ibecause he had s"een iit to act as secretary for a new protectionist association The party claimed that it must have his undivided allegiance, though it was not shown that the office he filled would weaken his allegiance to the Unionist Party. This seemed a little ridiculous as well as despotic, and would imply that all who join the Labour Party must part with every shred of private right and give themselves up body and soul to be dragooned by the party as its members please. Hopeless as the harvester strike seems to be for the. strikers, the leaders are urging the men to persevere. Some of them suggest that if unionists " are compelled 'to work with non-unionists they should hide the tools of' the nonunionists and "kick them out of existen ro .V A conference was held of the employer and of the employees, but it came to nothing because of a new condition insisted upon on behalf of the union. While 'the employers were willing to give increased wages and the men to waive the non-unionist objection, they raised a new i«sue which proved an insurmountable difficulty. . They {insisted that what .they dall a shop stew ard, a union official, should have the free run of the factories in the interes stof the men ; that the shop stew ards of the union should be at liberty to carry out their duties as long 1 as these did not interfere with the work for the employer, and that the employer would" not penalise or dismiss the shop 'stewards for acting as such.. The emploj^ers said that while, they were willing to listen to any properly paid complaints from their men' they objected to this "new. union officer.. Cqnsequerity the dispute is as far from settlirie'nt as eyer,' and : apparently is likely " to"' remain ' so until one side of tlje • other gives way. There, is no "prospect of that at present. For good or evil, as may happen to be. \the result' of' the harvester strike ' will affect 1 the cause of Labour in Australia very, largely. - Either- the very, extreme section of unionists, will have to ; modi-. : fy their, existing pretensions or greater difficulties than anj 1 " yet : experiencr ed are -certain to. arise. But common sense. and the active conscience of the; public,, we make no doubt, are certain; to "come", to-.the. rescue and triumph over all rthe difficulties incidental -to: industrial questions. ■'■■■■• . : . ■■' :•■••■ >■

Very little; fell from: of the speafctrs at 'Ulaketown on Friday evening- last'that 'calls for any notice— with -a "single- exception.- Mr • John kicksori, 'who • was Very full ' of the subject of the Greym6uth f Native reserves and ! the lessees, made-a statement'that is so " opposed' to the real -tacts, and reflects so' unfjairly' bn the petitioners" of the", borbugh-^-600 of them— ttiaV it is' not a : little amazing how Mr Jackson coukl allow :hirnself to maike such |a "statement. Amongst a good deal of . loose talk on the subject of leases, -wiienVhe grot fairly going, he said, "The" petitioners did not want the borough -to acquire the ljand, r so .nothing was' heard •of .it.'' What, Aye might asik him, was flic praj^er and. object of* the. petition? Was i£ : not-to try. to get the" reserve municipalised ?. . ythzt -.was " the deputjation sent to f WeJfington.for,,

endeavour to arrange with the Natives through Government, to sell their right to the whole block? When the deputation was asked if the ■Borough Council was prepared to ibuy, the reply wjas in the affirmative, s'l'he Borough Council had previously affirmed the principle of municipalisation, and although no special resolution to that effect, had been. passed regarding the petition by the Council, Mr Carroll was informed thjat he could there and then get a guarantee as' to the readiness of- the Council 'to find the capitjal , f or^ the ; muhicipalisation of the reserve. As Mr Jackson aspires to be a public man, he should He better acquainted with the details of the subject thjan to maCe such a misleading statement regarding the {TOO petitioners the deputa tlon that represented them and the Njative Leases Committee. Mr Jackson's own sense should have saved him from mating so absurd a blunder as to "say that' the ' "petitioners did not want the borough to {acquire the land." That is exactly. what they did want, and nothing else; and that wjas the object of sending the deputation to Wellington. Surely Mr J ackson's wits were wool-gathering when he could so misrepresent the wishes of the people of Greyrriouth. Tt was due to the deputation, the committee, anß tEe 600 petition p"that Mr Jackson should be corrected. Otherwise there w]as nothing in the jumtle of addresses that . called for serious notice of any kind.

The number of artisans and labourers emp^'ed under the Public Works Department durin.er February last was fi44o Of these 345 were artisans and 6095 labourers. On May' B the Racing Commissioners will assemble at Wellington, when the momentous report will be drawn up. Already 189 days 'racing have been cut out through the doing away of the bookmaker, while 55 more will have to be lopped off by the Commission. In the summer of 1512 several persons accused of having .bewitched the weather were burnt to death, and it is recorded that after their death the weather changed to sunshine for several weeks. •■■-•■. Dr. Newman has consented to contest the East Wellington seat at the coming general" "election. v The constituency is at. present" represented -by' 1 Mr McLaren (Labour). Mr A. R. Atkinson, wno contested the Wellington East seat againsi Messrs D. McLaren and W. McLean at the last general ..election, heading the first ballot, will again be a candidate. ; Mr William Hanna, of the Westport Harbour Board staff, died after an illness extending over five months. He leaves a -widow and four daughters to mourn their loss. Correspondence is still proceeding between Captain Knyyett and the Defence Department regarding his application for 'another trial, and the Department is at present waiting for a reply to a letter sent to Captain Knyvett a few days ago. Last month the estates of forty- * three deceased persons were placed with the Public Trustee for management. "■"'. ■ ■"•::.'•■..•.•■ An Order-in-Counc'il appearing jra the latest "Gazette" declares the road between Moana and Ruru, on -the Greymouth-Otira line, and which is situated onjrailwav land, to be a Government road. The tote at the' Hokitika races put through The .business ; was carried on till the last gleam of daylight, so that illuminants were in request. The most was evidently made of the occasion. I; Mr Herbert Perkins, accountant, National Bank, Christchurch, arrived by the -overland express on Saturday evening on a short visit to his par- : . ents who celebrate their igolden wedding to-morrow. ...:■•.;. Written tenders are invited by the Public Works Department for the construction of a wharf at Otamatea in connection, with the North Auckland Trunk Railway. Tenders close on May 31st. For further particulars see advertisement In this issue. The annual election of school committees will be held throughout the Grey district this evening at 8 o - clock. The local election will.be held in the schoolroom. . The Grey District Acclimatisation Society has an advertisement appearing in this issue notifyng that the shooting season commences on. Maoist and ends on Tuly 31st. To-day being St. George's Day. the Magistrate's Court will be closed and police cases will be taken to-morrow and civil and Warden's cases on Wednesday. - Skaters are reminded that .the Star Football Club's Hall will be open for skating to-night. • * Messrs Mark Sprot and Co. will hold their usual . live stock ; sale T .at Preston Yards to-day at 2.30" o'clock. The Railway . Time-table to be observed on. Thursday.' . and Friday . in connection with _ the Reef ton .Races appears in -this issue. There-passed away early on Saturday one of the oldest and' most respected residents of' Westland, in the person of Mr Patrick Ward, of Arahura. The late Mr.Ward was one 6f those pioneers who helped tb'^rhake the West -Coast what it is He followed agricultural and pastoral pursuits with more than ordinary _ sue: CCSS. j > The "election of -School . Committee will take place in the School 'to-night; . The following are the members of the old .Coniimittee who , will , stand.-for reelection: Messrs Jackson, Johnston, Williams, Morris, ' Eeddell; - Forsyth, Russell, Bignell and Dr. Morice. For making offensive remarks and ''throwing- off" at passers-by, in a public street; a number, of able" youths, ? were - each" fined by a Sydney Magistrate : £sCand costs,, or three- months- imprisonment, and •^ordered :to find sureties ;-tojbe of good behaviour for 12- monthTs, the.Magis-ti-ate: sajanig-- he hoped it would be a lesson to them. Time to- pay was refused. . r . .. . r . v

\ Alex. Lennie is still at the Club.— A Ivt. . . ; Sewing machines at prices that will heip.you to save money. Twenty macnines just opened ana the prices are tne same, as the last lot which we sold right out. Frister and Kossmanh's are world famed, you cannot get better. Treadle machines .£5 15s upwards. Time payments arranged. W. McKay and Son, Leading Drapers.—Advt. . White Week at the Thomas and Mcßeath State. Sale prices for white blankets, white quilts, hundreds of white articles laid out for white week at sale prices ending April 29th, 1911. The Thomas and Mcßeath Store. — Advt. . "Another shipment of Frister and Rossmann's famous sewing machines just landed. We secured double the quantity this time. Special prices far the next two weeks. Hand machines 655, the good treadle machines from £5 15s. Time payments arranged. W. McKay and Son, Leading Drapers. — Advt. Duke of Edinburgh Hotel— so looms, newly fitted throughout; acrormmodatioin second to none on the Coast; tariff 6s a day; arrangement by the week J. J. O'Brien, propriet or. — Ad vu . " S. I. Beton, to clear his surnmei stock, will offer over 1000 bargains at prices that will surprise everyone. The first that come will secure the pick of this great bargain sale. S I. Beton, Mawhera Quay, Greymouth —Advt. > . : _White Week at the Thomas and Mceßath's Store. Spotless white blankets, white towels, white quilts, and mens' spotless white shirts. The whole of our centre tables set. out with the white bargains for one week only. Wihte week ends on Saturday, April 29th. The Thomas and McBeath Store. — Advt . "Lest you forget," let us remind you that the range 0f ... dress goods which Trathen and Co. are now showing are a sound reality and no fable. Dress tweeds in all colourings from Is 9d to 2s 6d per yard. Navy serges 42m. wide Is 9d to 3s 9d. Navy coatmks 64in. wide 3s 3d, 4s 9d, 5s and lid per yard. Cream radianta, un- i shnnka'ble and splendid washing- material 2s 6d and 2s lid per yard. Also a fine, range of ready-to-wear tweed costumes from 21s to 70s each. Note address: Trathen and Co., Boundary Street. — Advt. The second lot of new Autumn hats just to hand. A special lucky purchase brought by our London buyer. Trimmed Paris models 15s 6d up. Semi trimmed ready to wear hats 4s 6d, 5s 6d, 7s 6d. Children's millinery a special lot 4s 6d, 5s 6d vp -to- 9s 6d. Is in the £ discount. W. McKay and Son, leading- drapers Mawhera Quay, Greymouth and Hokitika. — Advt. The new furs and blouses lor Autumn wear, single furs 2s 6d, 3s 6d up. Fur sets, the new kind from 35s to £12 the set. Blouses in plain and the .new knitted .kind 5s 6d,'6s 6d and 8s" 6d. Is in the £ discount. W." McKay and 'Son, the leading drapers and clothiers, Gr^.y mouth and Hokitika.— Advt. Mrs Van Cottle was fond of tht* bottle, But pray don't imagine that she Was addicted to drink, for I really don't think She imbibed any stronger than tea But the bottle she swore by and set so much store iby, Was one that you value I'm sure, On the label was "Woods' " to distinguish the goods — . 'Twas Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Our new season's ladies paletots' and tweed coats for beauty and style, altogether excell our previous showing dn these goods, which wo always specialise in. We* have just received 1 about ninety or one hundred different coats ta select from, direct f fom the best English manu facturers, bought at bedrock' prices and are' to be sold r - at much lo^r prices than we could do them for ; .i bought in the Dominion. We cords nlly invite inspection of Our new season's importations. Aitken -•■ ' Peters, general drapers, Mackav St. . Advt. The furnishing of a home ccncrailv entails the expenditure of much time and much money. To lessen the '.vi mer, to assist . everyone to make n satisfactory choice and, lo furnish pconumically, Ballantynes hnvn.iie pared a catalogue of picfured carpets, bedsteads and eveiy .^^rttior, of soft quods furnishings. » bis will bo sent you on request, and rr.py be the instrument! which will ive-^o.-time, trouble and money. From it you tell lis what "you like and we buy it • for you; or we send patterns and estimates, taking the whole tj?k. As all purchases are returnable il not approved of, country patrons thus shop with' almost the same fj-rn-.r-ages as, their city neighbours at Ballantvrios. Christchurch. — \Avt. - ■■ ■ The conditions of employment and trade during March, the Greymouth labour agent reports as follows : — "Trade has .been steady during the past month. : In some trades improvement is expected, while in others the position is considered satisfactory for this period of the year.' Of the staple industries, the sawmilling^ is in a very flourishing condition, and is likely, to continue so for somte considerable period, as orders from Australia for both red and white pine are very plentiful The workers in this' industry speak of the tenure of their employment in cheery tones. The coal industry is still , feeling a slight depression, caused by the shortage of . orders ; but hopes are entertained of an improvement in the near future. The engineering trades are busy, and the outlook for the winter is bright, as;,-- contracts '■.now in hand will keep the foundries going for many months. The buildinjr trades are also busy, and several projected new .brick buildink's will shortly be put in hand. The textile 1 trades are experiencing the usual slack period which occurs at this season of the year, but so far the shortage of work has not warranted the closing-down of any of the workrooms. " Retail traders, are . now awaiting signs of winter, and tho attendant increase " "of ' sales consequent on the demand for warmer cinthincr. Th* Inhoiir market.- espeojniiv -for- un- ■ sHllfl labouj. has 'be,eri hiipvant. Tn yofv few instances menli^vri 'h' J -^ T > nr>pble to secure^emnloyn-ienf. nnrMh"^' ; <; always the difficulty. ; bf ; placinc: those who prefer to remain about town in the hope of something turning .up.'*