LABOR MATTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1918, Page 3

LABOR MATTERS

lUK 11 PUESB ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.) IVELLINGTON, This Day. Wellington Trades and Labour Coutill as thq result of a letter from the sew Zealand Locomotivo,Knginecrs and Bremen’s Association has decided to convene a conference of trade union representatives next week, to discuss the question of the cost of living. Ihe locomotive men point out the necessity o ask Government to check the evil >f the increasing cost of necessaries of ife. New Zealand Freezers’ Union views unfavourably the advent of Australians q take the place of conscripted New Zcalanders in slaughtering or other branches of the freezing industry. The Union resolutioned that the Australians should not be employed in future in freezing works while New Zoalandeis have to leave their families and take up military service, their places often being filled by single men from Australia under a safe conduct and guarantee’ that they will be exempt from military law for six months. A case is cited of an Australian having a contract in a fellmongery earning £22 fortnightly. A man he brought with him earned £l2 a fortnight, and when his permitwas nearly expired the first man sent for a relative in Australia and the latter came and carried on the work while the man went back to Australia, so avoiding the liability to militaiy service. Now be is coming back at tlic beginning of the new season to take up the job kept warm by a relative on a C months permit. Thus no New Zealander is able to secure this profitable job.