Annals of Toil

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 44, 12 January 1912, Page 13

Annals of Toil

A conference between representatives of the N.Z.F.L., Wharf Laborers' Unions, and the shipping companies will lie held in Wellington, commencing on January 10. The ballot taken to de<-id:> whether the terms submitted to the Mt. Lyell 'miners shonH In- accepted was agreed to by 190 to one. * • The recently-formed Nelbon Watei -ide Worker's linion is represented . the cotii'erenoe betuttoi the N.Z.i'.L and the shipping companies. » « • The West Coast W<irkers' Union has submitte<l to the eonlmotors of Arthur's Pass tunnel a schedule of prices for a new agreement. During the pasi three years the men have alternately foiled, sweat and trow under an abortion of an award meted out by Judge Sim. On this occasion the jjien are free From the influence of that peculiar tribunal, and are relying upon their organised strength for a readjustment of their conditions. • i There is every possibility of the name of the Westport Laborers' Union being changed shortly that it injiy embrace all classes of labor. The idea is a good one, and should be acted upon as ea-ri. as possible. « » » The unionists of Lithgow are now ir. iho twenty-fifth week of their revolt .igainst scabbery.

The rank and file of the British railway workers are up in arms against the.executive of their organisation. At a mass meeting of the men, held

Swaimea-last v\wk, they called upon i heir officials to resign.

At the end of the year there were 194' trades unions in New South Wales with a membership of 140,000. Thirtyone new unions were established and 14 disbanded.

A movement is on foot te amalgamate the railway workers of Great Britain. The new organisation wii have a membership of 180,000.

* * • The Actors' Union of Victoria is claiming a minimum salary of £5 weekly, the management to provide all wardrobes and paj' for rehearsals.

Tho dockyard workers on the Thames (England) arc making a vigorous priest against the attempt made to increase the hours of work in the shipbuilding yards in that locality. * » *

There are at least two more Auckland unions taking a ballot to decide whether they shall cancel their registration under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It is their intention also in the event of the proposal being cartied, to join the N.Z.F.L.

AH the .Melbourne and many of the suburban hairdressers have increased ;he price of a haircut to one shilling. The shaving tariff still remains at threepence. The Hairdressers' Association has an reed to pay a minimum wage of £3.

One out of every 251 British seamen employed lost his life last year.

A recent case in which a servant was awarded £50 damages against her mistress for libel obtained in a reference —it having been stated that the girl was very' untruthful and deceitful and bad given a great deal of trouble—has created alarm among mistresses generally (says an English exchange}. • • •

The traniwavmen of Auckland are not altogether satisfied with the recent agreement, bulging by reports from that quarter." The cause of dissatisfaction is the regulations re the spare list.

During the year 20 men have been killed in'the mines of Broken Hill. 'Hn values of shares have shown a tendency to rise.

The arbitrator has awarded the railway workshop laborers at Harwich a minimum wage of £1 per week. 1 hose earning more receive an additional sb;lling.

Mr. Tom Mann, in a speech in London, said the time had come, to demand a reduction of hours in the mercantile marine service. Tins v.as only obtainable by action at the ports. The transport workers were already organising.

How trades unionism is growing in Germany is shown by a recent German Labor Gazette. During the year under review, the trades unions increased their membership by 150.000, and now total well over a million members. It is stated also that strike expenses are on the increase, last year close on £300,000 being distributed as strike pay-

A despatch to the general secretary of the General Federation of Trades Unions of Germany announces that the great industrial struggle ir. Norway has been finished with a good su cess for the workmen. The conflict in Norway has been long and stubbornly contested by both sides.

The recent trouble U'twecit the slaughtering hands and the Gear Company at Pet one has lieen definitely settled", and the demands preferred by the slaughtermen at the Wellington Meat Export Company having also been granted, the incident muj be i&id to have cloeod.