Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 500, 1 November 1928, Page 7

Trades and the Workers

_+ By

" ARBITER "

UNION MEETING DATES

Thursday, November 1 (to-night) Thursday, November 1 (to-night) Thursday, November 1 (to-night) Monday, November 5 Monday, November 5 Tuesday, November 6 Tuesday, November 6 All is Quiet

Although perhaps not as peaceful as the grave, all is quiet at the Trades Hall, and there is simply nothing doing among the trade unions. Everyone is interested in the progress of general politics, and local questions have been shelved in the meantime. The secretaries are only indirect factors in the election campaign, -however, and the business of the unions must go on. This it is doing with exceeding smoothness and quiet. * * « Labour Going Well Labour is going well in the election fight. The rank and file members of the party have rallied around splendidly, and are assisting their individual candidates as well as the general objects of the party. As the leader of the party, Mr. H. E. Holland, said on arrival at Auckland yesterday: If he be as well received here as elsewhere in New Zealand, Labour will be gratified at the result. • * * The Right Spirit

It has been discovered that at least one man at the Trades Hall has displayed the right spirit in his desire to assist the unemployed. This man, although not broadcasting his generosity, has been for some time paying the wages of a typiste to accomplish

organisation work for the unemployed committee. This is the spirit which is the most commendable of all, but which —even among the workers —is all too rare. • * * The Court’s Work The Arbitration Court has decided to clean up several disputes of an urgent character before the judge, Mr. Justice Frazer, goes on to the Supreme Court Bench to relieve. Among the cases to be dealt with are those of the motor mechanics and the general engineers, of whom Mr. R. 4P. Barter, of Auckland, is the secretary. He will leave for Christchurch for the hearing of these somewhere about November 9, as the original date for the bearing was November 12. * * * Keep It Going

The unemployment committee which has been operating at the Trades Hall for some time past has been doing some splendid organisation work among those who are put out of work, and a thorough canvass has been made through the city and district for practical assistance for their fellows. This has been forthcoming in many cases, and it is understood that the eye of the authorities look with favour upon its activities. There is a fly in the amber at the moment, however. The committee members themselves are unable to carry on, because they themselves are members of this great unemployed army, and their personal funds will carry them no further. A meeting is being held to-day to discuss the situation. Trade unions have been circularised, but in the main they are in a position equally impecunious as that of the committee itself. Seeing that the good organisation work of this unemployment cpmmittee has been recognised by the Prime Minister, perhaps some financial assistance might be forthcoming from the Mayor’s unemployment fund. Its allocation to the relief of expenses of the committee would be reproductive in the gradual guidance of men into jobs. It would be too bad to see the committee go out at stage. Unions Grow in Russia A message received here recently from Moscow says that the Soviet labour bureau recently published figures showing that membership in HOLY TRINITY CLUB FINAL SOCIAL OF SEASON There was a large attendance of members and friends of the Otahuhu Holy Trinity Social Club at the final night of the session, which was held in the Otahuhu Public Hall on Tuesday

evening. Mr. Harley Lovell was M.C. and a delightful programme of dance music was supplied by the club’s orchestra, under the leadership of Mrs. F. Andrew. For the non-dancers, a very enjoyable progressive 500 tournament was held and excited keen interest. During the evening Mrs. Andrew was the recipient of a dainty silver rose bowl, in recognition of the valuable services rendered as leader of the club’s orchestra. Mrs. Hart, who has acted as instructress to the learners of the club, also received a dainty gift in appreciation of her valuable services.

PADDY’S MARKET SUCCESSFUL LABOUR EFFORT The Auckland Women’s Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party held a successful Paddy’s Mai-ket last Friday. A large selection of carefully arranged goods was on sale, reflecting credit on the organisers of the fair. A weight-guessing competition for a ham was won by Mr. T. King. The competition for a coatee was won by Mrs. Tozer. and a cake by Mrs. Smith. BAZAAR AT TE PUKE The Presbyterian Ladies’ Guild held its annual bazaar in McDowell’s Hall on Tuesday afternoon. The bazaar proved most successful, the work producing nearly £ 10. In the evening games and competitions amused the large attendance. Stallholders were as follow:—Flowers, Mesdames McNaughton and Wheelan; plain needlework, Mesdames Ryburn and Ross; produce, Mesdames Gill, Graham and Bennett; cakes, Mesdames Mollgaard and Brownlee; sweets, Misses Ryburn and J. McNaughton; bran tub, Mr. and Mrs. F. Palmer; tea room, Mrs. Warnock, Mrs. Jamieson and helpers: fancy needlework, Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Earp. Prizes for plain cake were awarded to Miss Mark, and for fancy cake to Mrs. Brownlee.

Electrical Workers. I Plumbers’ Educational. .. WE. Parry, at Trades Hall. j Drivers. ! Shipwrights. Engineers. 1 Stonemasons. Russian trade union increased more than 100 per cent, in the five-year period beginning October 1, 1922. At that time there were 25_ unions with a total membership of 4,546.100. The total now exceeds 10,000,000, of which over 2,000,000 are in Ukrainia. During the same period the number of women in trade unions rose from 1.356.100 to over 2,000.000. The last figures show 332,000 children the rolls. Fitting for Labour Day An edifying discourse upon the proper observance of Labour Day comes from president Green, of the American Federation erf Labour. “If Labour Day is to serve its highest purpose and aid our movement, it should be a holy day in the original significance of that term,” he said. “It is more than 40 years since the first Labour Day was celebrated, and these years have witnessed revolutions in industry and community life. Our celebration should utilise modern mechanisms and methods. “The automobile and radio probably have altered the habits of life of wageearners more than any other mechanical changes. It would be well to include specifically these two agencies in plans for a Labour Day celebration. “If at all possible, plan out-of-door meetings, with games, sports and contests for all, singing and speaking. “A well planned, well carried out Labour Day celebration will be helpful in awakening interest, inspiring enthusiasm, encouraging the hesitating. It will pave the wajf for a follow-up concerted organising campaign. “To the extent to which emphasis is laid upon Labour Day, the influence of trade unions is extended.” * ♦ * More Like Labour The Liberals at Home grow daily

more like their Labour political contemporaries. Here is what they suggest:

“It is essential that the burden of rates, which weighs unfairly upon industry, upon working-class housing, and upon distressed areas in which unemployment is severe, should be relieved by a transfer from the rates to the Exchequer. But the method of transfer proposed by the Government is unjust and wasteful. The Liberal method of relief is to transfer to the State the whole cost of the relief of unemployment; to restore, the Road Fund, increasing the share of road costs borne by the fund, and ensuring for the community by means of “betterment” taxation a fair share of the increased values created by it through the construction of roads and other improvements; to revise the distribution of the cost of other social services between the State and the local authorities; and to liberate industry and enterprise by the gradual transfer of assessments to site values.” * * » Shorter Week “The trouble at the base of the western farm and the New England factory is overproduction, due to increasing and improved machinery,” said the president of a New York publishing company recently. “Every year since 1923 fewer men have been making larger output. Economic writers now stress the danger of enlarged output with enlarged unemployment reducing

consumption. One man to-day does more in the motor factory than five men could do 15 years ago. The motor industry must be vitally interested in this economic problem. Its solution may underlie a world progress. There can be little uplift or social progress in the Orient, with wages at 10 cents a day.” His suggestion was for “the capitalists to take a hand and reduce the work week by cutting off the half Saturday,” which he said spoiled the day for production and consumption. . * * * Competition in Machines

The enormous activity in the aircraft industry has provoked comment from industrial heads on the other side of the world, who say this constitutes a serious challenge to railroads. “The aircraft industry cannot be stopped,” said one man. “Aviatiop is transportation, just the same as boats are, and the railways must co-operate or suffer. The accident record of last year for planes operating on a fixed schedule show only seven. Six of the victims were drivers; one was a passenger. The demand for planes far exceeds the supply. Four thousand planes will be built this year, and twice that many could be sold if they were obtainable.”