UNION NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 3 July 1909, Page 4

UNION NOTES.

[This column is edited by the Fluxmills Employees’'Union Executive. All matters lor publication uqderdhiß head must be forwarded to the Secretary of the Union.! •

AN APPRECIATION.

At a meeting held on Saturday last, it was unanimously decided tp; forward to Mr A; W. Hogg, M.P., a formal resolution, voicing the Union’s hearty appreciation of his action, in turning in: his portfolios. ; When one considers the mob of sycophantic office-seekers , which has been cumbering the ground of, Australasian politics during recent years, the spectacle of a man who places principle before interest, is as delectable as it is rare.

It is pleasing to note that organised labour throughout' the Dominion has indicated with no uncertain voice that Mr Hogg’s attitude in the matter has its entire sympathy and support. AMENDED RUDE 27. One of the delegates from Rangitane present at last week’s meeting, drew our attention to the fact that there appeared to be an impression abroad amongst some of our members that, provided they Could prove that they had been away from the industry for any period, they had no need to trouble about a regular clearance, This is, of course, entirely erroneous. The amended rule reads as follows: Any member of the Union leaving the trade or the industrial district shall give notice of his intention to the Secretary, and if all fees due by him are paid to date, he shall be entitled to a clearance card. Should he return to the trade in the industrial district, he must re-enter from the day of his re-starting in the trade, but no entrance fee will be charged. Any member of^an. Employees’ Union producing his clearance card shall be admitted to membership of this Union, free. That rule appears to us to be fairly clear. If you are leaving the trade for a time (we all come back sooner or later, like the toad to the harrow !) you may either advise the Secretary when you go, cash in and get a clearance, or if you are too tired or too plutocratic to do this, you may remain on the books as an ordinary member all the time you are away. In the latter case, upon your return, we shall extend tp you the “glad hand,” coupled with an invitation to pay up all back dues. Is that clear ? STIDD THEY GROW.

Messrs Coley and Bock have purchased both of Mr Oliver Austin’s mills, and are due to start operations at the little mill very shortly. If they go on at this rate, Miranui will have to look to their laurels, while we shall miss the genial personalities of one or other of the partners during such time as they make world-wide researches into the fibres of Yucatan, Paraquay and Guatemala. THK I/AW OF AVERAGE.

Mr Green is turning out his suction gas plant, and installing a portable. Mr Ross, of this town, is reversing the process, by turning down steam, and giving the glad eye to gas. GOOD MAN, YOUNG.

We have seldom had a more striking instance of the value of Unionism to. the worker than was recently shown in the case of the s.s..lndravelli. This boat was bound tor Singapore, and the skipper proposed to sign on a crew for the run at deep-water rates. The Union objected, and after being bailed up for three days, the captain capitulated and agreed to the following:— (i) Wages to be the same as those prevailing in the intercolonial and coastal trade of New Zealand.

(2) Crew to be discharged at a port in the China Sea. (3) Members Of crew to receive a free passage back to a port in Australia or New Zealand,, at the 0 ption of the man concerned. , ' (4) Crew to be paid 17 days’ wages from the date of discharge. (5) If detained at port of discharge, waiting for vessel to convey crew to* Australia or New Zealand, the expense of such- detention to be borne by the sljip. (6) All men required to Sign articles at the shipping office, and any scabs On board the vessel not on the articles to be put ashore. To those who have tasted to the full the gruesomeness of the life 5 of the average deep-water sailor, those conditions very nearly spell perfection. Only one thing is lacking to complete the mise en scene—a phonographic record (for men only) of the captain’s opinion of Unions in general, and Mir Young in particular. As one who has gone down to the sea in ships, the - writer extends hearty congratulations to the Secretary of the Seamen’s Union on the way in which he handled his men, and the terms he secured tor them. The way in which the Union hung, together in the matter, should be an object lesson to every worker in the cbuntry, : V