Annals of Toil

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 51, 1 March 1912, Page 6

Annals of Toil

i It is estimated that in England oe# I woman in six earns her own living. * * # The N.S.W. Fire Brigade Board ha» granted an increase in wages of Is. per day to the Broken Hill firemen, axd tljat disturbed feeling which led to an ultimatum from the men is now at an end. * # * The total gold output of the Domin* ion for last year is put down at £1,----129,672. * * # The Victorian State brickworks employees have been paid off, and it it understood that the works, which ha*« resulted in a heavy loss, will be closed. * * * According to the reports from the Labor Department's different local branches unskilled labor is well employed at this time practically throughout the Dominion. In the South Island there is generally a good demand for unskilled labor, especially at Chrutchurch. * * * The report of the N.S.W. Royal Commission on female and juvenile labor in shops and factories recommends a 44----hour week, spread over sis days. It opposes the five-day veek proposal. * # * "Broken Hill is the rock-ribbed Labor centre of Australia; it leads the way in unionism and eifective organisation to the whole Commonwealth.''—■ "Barrier Daily Truth." Cincinnati, U.S.A., has recently opened a municipal domestic laundry, where poor women of the tenement districts may take the family clothing and do their own washing with the aid of the most up-to-date machinery. * * Twenty thousand women in Birmingham, England, it is stated, are working at carding hooks and eyes at an average from 2s. Gd. to 4s. a week. * * * Owing to the dearth of labor, the Bluff Corporation is encountering a great deal of difficulty in running its stone quarry. Men cannot be procured at the port, where there is plenty ct ship work going, or sufficient, anyway, to allow of a couple of days' clear holiday, while full money is made by means of overtime. Instead of the quarry output averaging 60 tons per day, only, some 30 or 40 tons are being treated, and the plant is lying idle for a long period each day. * * # The scarcity of barmaids, as the result of recent legislation, is being felt at Christchurch. Several hotelkeepc-rs there aro protesting that the law has given the barmaids "the greatest menopoly in tho world." * * * Surfacemen employed by the Masterton County Council have been granted an increase of 6d. per day, from Ss. to Ss. Od. * * # Considerable unrest exists an.if.ng the co-operative workers on tho Cass railway works. It is reported that a Ministerial promise to the effect that tho contract price would bo raised has not been carried out, and tho men are naturally icbellious in consequence!, » « » A special meeting of tho Canterbury Drivers' Union was held at the Trade* Hall, Christchurch, recently, Mr. T. Green presiding over a large attendance. A motion to cancel the Union's registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was carried by a largo majority, and a ballot! of the members will be taken on the point. » • • Several thousand coal miners in Alberta and British Columbia have recently closed an agreement with their employers in which an increase of wages running from 5 to 10 per cent, is incorporated. « * # The contractors for the Arthnr'i Pass tunnel at Otira are reported to be advertising for 200 men. "Don't write, but come right along," is tha suggestion. This continual shortage of men on these works tells its own story, and is one that will be a factor in making men hesitate before turning them steps Otira-wards. * « j Mr. W. G. Spcmce, M.H.H.. in his history of tho Australian Workers'Union,"states that during tho past 24 years the entrance fees and contributions have amounted to £357,084 loy.i Bd.; levies, £19,789 2s. 6d.; donations* £20,385 3s. 5d.; tho total income beans £408,005 '10s. sd. Tho principal itema of expenditure have been: Salaries, £69,373; organisers' wages and expenses, £19,143; strike expenditure; £54,533; printing, advertising, fortnge and telegrams, over £40,000; 'ftbflf Worker" and other co-operative worfc i £75,648; donations to hospitals and 'other unions, £38,979; thus leaving a credit balance of £16,545 on Juno 1, 1910.