Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 512, 15 November 1928, Page 13

Trades and the Workers

By

"ARBITER”

UNION MEETING DATES

“It’s Quiet Down Here” To search for news of union events at the Trades Hall this week is like trying to extract blood from the proverbial stone. Everyone simply talked and thought elections, and for the moment the local events were overshadowed by the national issues. All closed for the half-day yesterday, of course, and cars were busy conveying people to vote—presumably for Labour’s nominees in the election fight. Now that the numbers are up, and the feelings of the people are reflected therein, everyone may go back to work for another three years. Committee Disbands The unemployment committee which had been operating at the Trades Hall for some time disbanded on Saturday last because its members did not possess sufficient cash to carry on its efforts. It is acknowledged by those who watched their operations that good work was accomplished, and many men were helped into jobs on their organisation. Many of the trade unions would have liked to help the unemployment workers, but it is reported that one trade union secretary, j knowing whence the appeal circular came, returned their letter unopened. That is legitimate, of course, but hardly. courteous. * * * Deprived of Benefits Because there is an illegality iu their employment, hundreds of children in certain American States are debarred from compensation benefits. In one State 4,186 accidents to minors under 18 years of age were reported last year. Special investigations of 515, or 12 per cent., of these accidents were made because some type of illegal employment was indicated on the accident report. In 258, or 50 per cent, of these cases, the minors were found to be employed in violation of the child labour law. Under the law these children are debarred from compensation benefits.

Fruits of Long- Fight

The Dominion painters* dispute was heard before the Conciliation Commissioner at Wellington on Tuesday of last week, when Mr. H. Campbell visited the capital to represent the case for the men. Agreements were reached on clauses other than wages, exemptions and shipping, these being referred to the court for consideration and determination. Two important principles were incorporated in the agreements —principles which have been fought for for many years. One was the recognition by Id an hour extra pay for dirty work (tar or black paint with a tar basis for roofs), and the other was the payment of Is a day extra to men who are in charge of four or more men. It is gratifying to have these long-fought-for principles recognised by the employers, and their operation will influence the work of the men. The award will be for two years when fixed by the court. Power and Wealth It is estimated by- President Walter D. Scott, of North-Western University, that the present mechanical power in the United States is the equivalent per capita of the power of 175 ante-bellum slaves. "The American who to-day possesses the equivalent of 175 slave power probably will possess double that in a few years,” said Dr. Scott. “He is also constantly Improving the method, the conditions, the implements for availing himself of this power. Distribution of power in America is producing striking economic changes in the people, for the possession of power and the accumulation of wealth go hand in hand.” Arbitration Opposed The system of compulsory arbitration has been seriously challenged in Norway, after being established by legislation only last year, and an unofficial trade union revolt has developed among the builders against an award providing for a reduction in wages. For two months the building operatives, led by specially formed committees of action, abstained from work, while a number of printers who had been subjected to a similar award, joined in the strike. Government intervention in withholding unemployment benefit, and In other ways, produced little effect, and a compromise suggested by the president of the

Permanent Industrial Court eventually settled the dispute. This revolt has thrown the whole system of compulsory arbitration into the melting pot of controversy in Norway, where it has been heatedly discussed for some time, and where Labour —in and out of Parliament —is opposed to the principle. Loss to IndustryAccident figures in American industries are shown to have decreased since 1922, owing chiefly to safety devices on machinery, although the increase in production has sent the figures up in many industrial groups, causing an appreciable loss in production. The greatest increase in accidents. 50 per cent., was reported for the 1922-25 period from the knit goods industry, while, conversely, wire and wire products companies showed the greatest decrease, S 9 per cent. Besides the knit goods industry eight other groups showed increases in both the severity and frequency of accidents. They were automobiles, brass, bronze and copper products, cotton goods, fine specialty machines, writing paper, lumber, textile, valves and fittings. It was found that machinery was responsible for 56 per cent of the trouble in terms of productive hours lost; handling of objects, 21 per cent.; falling objects, 10 per cent., and flying particles, 8 per cent.