World of Work.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 25, 25 August 1911, Page 15

World of Work.

"; The proposed amalgamation■•.'■'■'of the General Federation of Trades Unions" and those unions' affiliated to the Trades Union Congress with the -Britis!h Labor Party, if effected must,have, faivreaching 'results. ' Originally .the three bodies had very little iir com' nioii, but from time to time the constitution of each has been so amended ihat their functions now are overlapping to sxich an extent that ,-v" :gamat ion is but a question of t-ir- = < The amalgamation Avill convert the who l © trades union movement into one huge body, industrially and politically organised. Naturally this is a matter that -will require and receive careful consideration from every unionist. No steps are to be taken this year, bub. tiie proposals'.of amalgamation will, bn submitted. 'to the various bodies at. their annual conferences. The General Federation meets in July, the Trades Qongress meets in September, and the Labor Party in January. ■ '■■'■''' *■■'■..'''■'*".■■. * \ The Labor Party has drafted and Is waiting a favourable; opportunity fur presenting ".in the House of Commons the following..'..resolution -.—-"That all Orientals shall receive, the same rates of pay, and undergo the same examinations" as Britishers; a.lso, that the class known as seamen so largely employed in the mercantile marine shall require to be competent men." If this resolution is accepted and given effect to, it will ring the. death-knoll of Orientals in British ships, for not more than 1 per cent, of "them could'pass an 'examination as qualified seamen. But whether accepted on not, it will be the.'means , -of ■■'■ppening up a,debate which may possibly do .something to put a stop to. the contemptible; slanders circulated :by ship owners concerning British, seamen. , : : ■■■ r -',*\. .■■'. '■'■' ■•'■*'■ ' ■' * •'"'■ ■■' .■ '' ; Tft7day'?lpO. meai make 25Q;QQO bricks in, the.:-s : arrie'!timel as it took^them .to produce 304)00 ' t\Velye years? ago.-! 'To-. day- 850/ ' L 'hands' , .;in one factory: turn": oiit".&&§,p6iJJCjop■ matches per. /day;.;.Seveinteen ' gears':: >g<>.". :SpOO;; ' 'Mii(|s£ ; '; m thirty-siX littjfe mere tiiaii/half^rii^.^mdrtnt'in rfche sam^tinie. "Hprs!;o.g "has ■■^ : stim;at&dj' ? that 5,000,000 people, .help;pl-Tnod- :- &ri\ machinery,'could supp.oTt a p#ulation of 20,000,000 .with all'tHe- n.eces--siarie>s? and\,maiiy" of, trie" .luxtirifs^.._. of life' by woVkiligVone .andper day. 1 "As α-sv ca'i-i : rie'd on iM I>r6fit r and xmi fO'r. us^,' 1 it is hjio'lily improbable r tliat ajs ihdif'•Q\iiXiiied'%j the : Aust¥iajr f-essor will: be put into "opei J atioii : . " ! : ; ■j # . * * «■:-,— An effort is being made by the British National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives to secure, .if possible, the adoption by maiiufactxirers of a. stamp on

their boots and. 'shoes' 'to ' eliow tlnai they bcetfi jirider 4 laii | : conditions. It; r th.at, there is every prospect th&t ; % ulitfrbet' 'of firm.B : wilil adept ■ ; this i'A ;,; ro recent report _of .jji©., TJition. contains a, facsimile of the stamp it is proposed 'to ;U«%i#ndl'#uC^py ■'", of -..■the agreement which r will,. be-. f patered into With the firms who- agree "ttithe pro'pesition, and Cfexisoi4' state* that, it shall be mutually agreed that tho Union will not cause nor sanction any, .strike and that the employer will not lock out his employees whilst tho agreement is in force. The boot and shoe trade has lately been slow from an employment point of view, and the Out-of-work Fund shows heavy payments to the members in sonic parts of the country. It was David Maclaren. M.P., who wrote : — : Oh, .you first disband your army when. you want to go to War. It's the latest thing in tactks, don't , . -ye know ? . ; ... ■; And you leave your gun behind you as the proper thing to do,. For the Union's .not for action —it's ' for show ! : ■ ' : '■"'■ A "supplementary" , dispxite similar to that just settled" at Waihi has occurred on the western- railways of the United States. The; locomotive firemen there are reported.as in conflict with the managers over 'the wages which should be paid on certain classes of engiiiCiS. The managers say that a mistake was made in awarding tho same wages to firemen on engines which have "superheater" attached, as on other large engines, because tho work is much lighter. Tho men. refuse to accept any reduction. Jt may come to a strike yet on some of. the lines. - ' "Poor, dear . children!" exclaimed Lord Shaftesbury to. the' super!ntendent of a ragged school, after-hearing from some of tW"children .;th<?ir taJo of cold, sorrow, and ■hunger, '"What can wo do for tlidin ?"-\. - ,: . . i ''My Gtfd - shalP supply all •' : the*r liieed," replied : tlib :; -'supicrin.teiiderit, with easy faith. ■•■■•■•'• • "Yes," saiditcrd -Shaftrsbury. 'Hβ \tillyi but they must. h#vo, some - directly." ''''\™\.~>.xW<r^\\. i ''"' ' ' "