Notes from Nightcaps.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 19

Notes from Nightcaps.

Dear Editor, —This is a small mining township of about 300 inhabitants, situated some sixty miles by rail from the nearest seaport town, which is the Bluff We have here a branch of the Otago and Southland Coal Miners' Industrial Union of Workers, which is part of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The coal here is of a brown class, eery . useful for household purposes, and light steam work, such as mills, dairy factories, dredges, etc. Perhaps a bit late in the day, but nevertheless we congratulate you, Dear Editor, on the quality and tone of your paper, and hope you may long De spared to carry on the work you have so ably done up till the present. We have for shears felt the need of such a paper, more so here than at a good many of the larger collieries, which have the advantage of greater numbers and, consequently, a more up-to-date knowledge of the things transpiring in different parts of the Dominion. We feel sure that the circulation of "The Maoriland Worker" amongst us is letting us into the light of things, and giving us the whole truth of matters which we could not get elsewhere. For instance, I see by the American letter of Labour Notes, by "Sojourner," in the January issue, the amazing difference between the rate of wages paid to unorganised workers compared with organised workers. The difference is from sd. per hour to 3s. lid. According to "Sojourner's" letter they are as far back—that is, the unorganised workers —as they were in the Old Country fifty or sixty years ago, when the miners' wives and daughters used to work in the mines for as long as twelve to fourteen hours per day, and then not make half wages. These are what we call iC the good old days!" But, thank God—and Unionism—that state of things has passed, even in the Old Land.

I was quite prepared to believe almost anything from America after reading Upton Sinclair's book, entitled "The Jungle." This is a book, I consider, every worker should read.

I see by the Detroit letter, written by F.O.S.C, dated November 11th, that our American cousins have been either too wise or too suspicious to trust themselves to the tender mercies of a judge of an Arbitration Coiirt. Judging from their views of the Conciliation and Arbitration Court, one is apt to think their methods are far in advance of ours, in spite of our boasted Labour laws. There is not the slightest doubt that the awards we get. although they prevent strikes to _a great extent, still they do to a certain extent, leg-rope us workers for the term of such award, inasmuch as they bind us down, and prevent our making any improvement or alteration during such award. This is a position of which our American cousins have shied clear, and quite right, too. I will try and send more news next time, Dear Editor, and meantime we all send our best wishes.—Yours, etc., C. F. QUESTED.