The Labour World.

Southland Times, Issue 18840, 5 June 1920, Page 10

The Labour World.

(Conducted by D. Scott)

W.E.A. Notes. —A considerable amount of enthusiasm is being shown in the work of the different classes this vear, due no doubt to the excellent tutors provided and the interesting manner in which they handle their subjects, but why is it that the fair sex predominates in the class for literature? More male students are wanted for the class which meets every Tuesday. The class for Economics incels every Friday. Here is a ground where the trade unionist and capitalist can meet to thrash out their common problems. The average man thinks .hat a good many of the dilhculties that confront him just happen along, but if he joins the class in Psychology he will find that a great deal of our thinking, if along right lines can be mafic profit bearing. Join up and make the most of your chance in life. The class meets every Monday. The class in Modern History meets every Wednesday. If you want to know the story of our -own times now is your chance: make the most of it. Mr Whelan, care of Mcl.ean and Thompson, will give all particulars. In his circular to the various unions he says: “We are particularly desirous of ootaining u greater number of students from the labour unions, as the Invercargill classes appear to be deficient in this re-, pect when compared with classes in finer centres. We would be pleased if you could induce a number of your fellow unionists to enrol as W.E.A. students.” SOME GOOD LAROLTI THOUGHTS. There is no tonic like trying. Ideal and real cannot i held apart. Every moral good is n common good. The destiny of nations lies in their ideals. Work for what yon want, instead of wishing it. There are things in life which are greater than life.

Trade Unionism in Russia. —ln his book, "Bolshevism at Work," Professor W. T. Goode, M.A., special coire-.-pondent of the Manchester Guardian in Finland in 1918 and Russia in 1919, says that the Trades Unions are called Proh ssional Alliances. They embrace whole industries. The Labour Temple in Moscow was formerly the palace for the meetings of the nobility. It is an immense building having a vast marble staircase leading up to a gallery surrounding two side* of a magnifitent hall. Where formerly the escutcheons of nobility hung there are now shields bearing the emblems of the Republic, the Professional Alliances, and various trades, modelled in plaster. The Russian worker is organised by industries, metal, wood, etc. The metal workers' union takes in some 290 different trades, but all are united in one central organisation. There are 30 Professional Alliances, which unite all the trades by the industries in which they are employed. In most of the cities they are organised by localities, and these are then united by Provincial Councils, which are connected by National Councils. There are thirty National Councils, which are united by the All Russian Council of Professional Alliances. A question regarding rates of pay brought information regarding strikes. These art not recognised by the worker, who does i.et strike against himself. Formerly strike breakers were considered as traitors to the cause of the workers; but now it is strikers or people wishing to strike who are the traitors! In other countries strikes were and are (he only weapon in the workers’ hands for securing a change of conditions. In Russia, on the contrary, the various alliances have Tariff Committees, which follow the movement of prices, and, where neeessary, work out plans for changing the rate of wages. These plans are passed through the central council, thence through the Soviet, and so become law. Unemployment and sickness pay is paid out of a fund levied on the employers, equal to 14 per cent, of the total wages paid by them. If a stoppage of work occurs as a result of the act of the employers, the unemployment pay is paid by the State. Freedom for meetings of workers is an integral pait of the system, but not during working hours. If a meeting must be held it niU't be outside the time allotted to work and in the workers’ own time. Mclnichnnsky, the labour secretary, says: ' You see, \vr are not the monsters the Wrafceru world persists in describing us. In U.S.A. my home was in the Bronx, and in spite of the violent illuminations of New York, I never went hj (me from a meeting in the Bowen.’ without keeping a watchful eye in case of attack. Here in Moscow we have -n lights at night, yet you can cross the city in any direction at any Cnie of the night in perfect safety." He further said that only a revolutionary government could have produced that effect. Its drastic measures, shooting at sight, were directed against the hooligans and bandits who came out in the social chaos to tob and kill. He declared that the bulk of the shooting, of which the world had heard so much, was of people of that kind.

Children’s Charter. —Some of our Labour ideals are slowly but surely arriving. Here j? what they are doing in England:•- The new Children’s Charter came into force on April 1 ; and it should mark a new era for our young folks. Under the Charter, no child under 12 years of age can be employed at, all. No child between the ages of 12 and 14 can be employed for more than two hours on Sunday or school days except after school hours an.! before S p.tn. nor on other days except between ti a.m. and 8 p.m. The local authorities have certain permissive options. They may, for instance, allow' the employment of children on a school day before 9 a.m. provider! the employment is not. for more than an hour and that the rhild shall not he employed for more than an hour in the afternoon. Child performers trill not he allowed to appear after 8 p.m. and the permissible age is between 11 and T2 years. The Charter also provides for the medical inspection and treatment of pupils in elementary and secondary schools. It. is not too soon to begin to take an interest in child life; but the permissive clauses show how needful it is that people with a sane outlook should be elected to the local education authorities.

A Generous Act.—The generous action of the New Zealaand Refrigerating Company in purchasing a sports ground for its employees at a cost of over £IOOO was warmly commended by Mr W. A. Vcitch, M.?., speaking as a representative of Labour at a social gathering in Wanganui. Mr Vpiw.h said he felt, convinced that the company was really trying to develop good feeling with its staff. He contended that the thing required in New Zealand to-day above all else was a better understanding between employers and employees. Until employers placed the position of their men on a sound and satisfactory footing, there could he no confidence between Capital and Labour. Proceeding, the speaker declared that the action of the company in purchasing a cricket ground for its employees was going to do good and promote an excellent feeling amongst the men. ”1 am afraid,” continued Mr Veitch, "that we do not attach sufficient importance to the social side of life. We want to get together more and I believe it is a really wise action on behalf of the company to spend this considerable sum of money in the manner it proposes doing. This action will he highly appreciated by all sports. The sporting spirit does more good than all the howling in the world.”

Profit Sharing.—ls profit sharing a delusion and a snare? If looks like it. Read this:—“ Those among our friends who pin their faith to profit sharing as a solution of labour unrest, will not find very much comfort from a report just issued by the Ministry of Labour, in which it is shown that out of 380 profit sharing schemes started since 1805, there were, on October 31 last, only LS't still in existence, or-a recorded failure of over 50 per cent. In an analysis of the causes of failure, 49 of these were due to want, of financial success, losses, diminution of profits, liquidation or dissolution; facta which show that profit sharing in itself is no guarantee of profit making. Nor, from the fact that in 91 cases, profit sharing schemes were abandoned because of dissatisfaction amongst either employers or employees, can we otherwise than conclude that profit sharin itself is no absolute remedy for the

prevailing antagonism between Capital and Labour. Taken as a whole, the gas companies have been most succeasftil in the sphere of profit sharing, but it must be remembered iu their case that, in a sense, gas companies are public bodies, the price of their product being regulated by law and their stability due to the fact that they are legalised- monopolies.”