Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 12

Trades and the Workers

By

“ARBITER”

UNION MEETING DATES Boilermakers January 12 Brickworkers *• 13 Freezing Workers 14 Hairdressers 1$ Butchers IS

Mr. T. Bloodworth, secretary of the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union, has not returned from holiday, but will be seen on the job again on Monday. • • • Union affairs are quiet and have hardly settled to the “business as usual” stage after the holidays. Some of the secretaries are still away on the short vacations, but with the first meetings of the year things will work into their old routine, and the wheels of labour organisation revolve evenly again. Inspectors Bifsy The Labour inspectors, who, like many others, desire to make hay while the sun shines, are doing the rounds of the northern country districts, and factories, machinery, scales and scaffolding will be displayed Tor their edification during the coming week. The most is made of the summer, because the roads ar« in better condition, and transport makes the lot of the inspector easier. Standard Packets The new regulations under the Weights and Measures Act are now in force and it is unlawful to sell certain commodities retail except in specified lots. This standardisation affects goods like sugar, coffee, cocoa, chocolate powder, treacle, golden syrup, pepper and mustard. Tea, butter and milk were in this category before the advent of the new regulations. Honey is exempted because the beekeepers requested an additional 12 months before the enforcement of the standard sizes, on account of the fact that they have a great stock of pots on hand. This request was supported by the Department of Agriculture, and the authorities have decided that the regulations shall not be enforced till July 10, 1929. This is another method of protecting the public from assorted lots of assorted sizes, which tend- to puzzle rather than satisfy the purchaser. Boys For Trades The Labour Department has become discouraged in its endeavours to assist employers to find boys for the trades and assist boys to find jobs for themselves, and in future no circulars will be sent to the school authorities seek-

:ng the names of those who wish t# enter specified callings. The poor mponse from employers themselves h responsible for this, only two or three having inquired for boys from the hundreds of applications that were re- J ceived and waiting for them. Official* of the department themselves are is- i| dined to believe that the system not a success, and the raising of fata* hopes in the hearts of the boys is cossidered to be harmful to character and to the general outlook. The who,e prenticeship position is not in the b«t working order and many doubtless welcome the change that will -be made in the Apprentices Act at the beginning of next month, when the district quota will be abolished and the individual quota retained. Many Men Still Out “Arbiter’s” first impression in New Year was disconcerting and forcible. The first round of the trade* unions since the year opened rw** the unfortunate state into whim tne labour market has developed, bnemployment of a greater or less decree * expected during the post-holiday JP* in trade, but never at this time of tw year have the figures on the awo books been so discomforting to tnos* who have the interests of their me®* heart. Apart altogether from the co - sideration that a man out of won means a subscription lost to secretaries confess to anxiety J°r of their members. Over 1,000 tun workers seek jobs, 200 men a something to turn up in the carpen* and joinery, over 400 genera’ latour*” haunt every possible avenue for tions, while the heads in other unl display similarly heavy lists in P ‘ portion, and frankly admit » prospects are not good. ‘Atdi • therefore, wonders if the Prime Minis ter. when he declined with empns gesture to have out of work men ing round the neck of the State. ised just how iar the situation had veloped in this city. Did it °® cur -. r Mr. Coates that Auckland’s of relief brought thousands of from other centres and from coub . districts, and shouldered this city a greater burden than it deservedganisation, commenced without a - at this period of the year, seem be the only method of preventing precedented hardship during the cu_ ing winter. It is said authoritative* that some men on the union s ._ D L r . have not done three months’ worh ing the past year. j