Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 588, 14 February 1929, Page 6

Trades and the Workers

4. By “ARBITER” + UNION MEETING DATES Thursday, February 14 (to-night) Related Printing Trades. Monday, February IS .. .. Hairdressers. Monday February IS Furniture Trades. Tuesday, February ID Plumbers. "Wednesday February 20 Carpenters.

The case of the dairy employees (milk roundsmen) will be heard in concilia. - tion on February IS, and if no agreement is reached, it will be forwarded to the Arbitration Court. The Court’s Visit The Arbitration Court, after a long absence, is to sit here early in Mareh. There will be much for the Court to do, as the work has been piling up during the holidays and also during the time the presidency of the Court was in diubt. Besides seevral industrial disputes, there is a number of compensation cases to be heard, and one or two apprentice questions to be cleaned up. Altogether the Court members are likely to have a busy time in Auckland. Second Labour Picnic The Labour Party at Auckland is holding a second picnic this year, arrangements having been made for a ferry excursion to Motuihi, the city marine park, which is popular this summer with picnickers. Preparations for this fixture point to an enjoyable day out for the Labour supporters and their friends, for the programme will include sports and games on the island, and will also contain an impromptu speech contest. This event drew 10 entrants on the last occasion, and equally keen interest is expected this time. The picnic is to be held on Sunday week, February 24. Conference Report Shelved It is believed here that the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, has refused to give effect to the recommendations of the National Industrial Conference, which was the big thing in New cZaland industry last year, and which presented an elaborate report after a long session costing the country a fabulous sum. The Prime Minister is taking a bold step if he is disregarding entirely the recommendations of some of the best brains in the Dominion—recommendations which were prepared at a time when the problems facing industry in this country simply shrieked for treatment. A remedy for some of them was suggested—unanimous agreements between the bosses and the men. If the Government casts aside this valuable report, the State Avill have spent many thousands of pounds for nothing, and the new administration will have brought industry back to that unhappy state “as you were.”

Challenge Stands The decision of the Arbitration Court went against the men in the stonemasons' dispute. Whether or not that was expected is beside the point now, but there is room for comment in the change of venue of the case to Wellington without the men at this end —the meii who were most vitally concerned—being given a chance to bring fresh facts which must have been of value in the final sifting of evidence. It is disappointing that the members of the Court did not insist upon seeing the machine working so that a comprehensive and practical idea of its character could be ascertained. The challenge of the men to demonstrate the machine publicly—providing they can secure one —stands, but so far the employers refuse to lend one for demonstration. Stir-up Wanted On February 27 members of trades union executives will meet in Auckland to discuss general plans lor ciosv-r organisation, and to hear the views of Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour, and Mr. L. Glover, of Wellington. Questions of general interest to trades unions will be discussed, and it is understood the Wellington visitors will propose closer affiliation between the unions and the Alliance. It is certain that if Labour is to be organised throughout New Zealand there must be a parent body to which they must look to fight their battles. The organisation must be complete and capable of carrying weight when terms are proposed to the other side. There is much doubt in the minds of Labour men about the efficacy of the Alliance on account of past history, but it never has occurred to some trade unionists that charity begins at home with organisation just the same as with anything else. If each Union could organise thoroughly, and then come to the Alliance (or any other recognised body for that matter) and say in effect: “We are behind you, now go ahead.” Labour would be enabled to handle its own affairs with confidence and with a reasonable measure of security. The trouble is, however, that half of the New Zealand trade unionists do not appreciate the value of organisations. There is a number of men in Auckland who are trying to stir them to a sense of responsibility, but in the face of the general apathy, little lias been accomplished. Perhaps the conference late this month will do some good. * * * Painters Overload Market A typical illustration of what workers have to face through an overloaded market is given by the secret tary of the Painters’ Union, Mr. M. Campbell, who has grounds for the assertion that Auckland is one of the worst painted cities in the Dominion at the present time. Although there is actually more painting being done than ever, he says, there is a disproportionate increase in the number of men handling the jobs, and moreover the people are not spending the money to have done work which is calilng for attention. There are approximately 1,200 painters in Auckland, he says, while there is room and work for about 900—including the employers who work for themselves, and one-man businesses. “The work -wants doing,” Mr. Campbell says, ‘‘but the peopie are not spending the money to have it done. Whereas a year or so ago people would Have their houses painted decently with two coats of paint to last seven and eight years, they now have one coat of paint applied, lasting about two to three years.” The market is filled with painters, the great majority of whom are getting a bare living. When the people begin to spend their money, the painters si #uld be among the first to feel the benefit, but so far the people are showing an unjustifiable reluctance to do so. * * 2 War On Communists Labour in Australia is still talking about the “Red” menace. The A.W.U. Conference discussed the question of Communist propaganda and allied itself upon the side of the anti-Red section. Mr. G. Buckland, secretary of the central branch, produced evidence to show that in New South Wales the Communists had already captured important key positions on the Labour Council which enabled them to control the A.L.F. completely in that State. There seemed to be some inexhaustible sum for a continual stream of propaganda which was being issued throughout the workshops of the Commonwealth. Mr. Thomas, one of the British Labour leaders, had said at one of his conferences that the envoys of j Russia had destroyed their own court- \ try, and had come to England to de- j stroy it too. The conference in ques- I tion, by 1.500,000 votes to 300,000, had j rejected the Communists. The policy of the A.W.U. was to j return Labour Governments in every State and the Commonwealth itself. I As against this, th© Commuoifta

sought to destroy Labour Governments, and they had publicly avowed they would destroy the McCormack Government in Queensland. Communist activities were largely responsible for the defeat of Labour Governments in three States, and but for the “Black Australia” policy of the Communists and Pan-Pacific Secretariat, Labour would have swept the polls in the Federal elections. Mr. Grayndler, M.L.C.. general secretary of the A.W.U., believed that money at present being spent in Australia on Communist propaganda came from Shanghai, which was a clearinghouse for many foreign countries. Money could b© reecived from that city without any possibility of its source being traced. He was glad to learn that the Brisbane Labour Council had decided to eject all Communists from that body.

Labour At War Tli© Party in the various Australian States has not been a happy fa.mily for a long time, and endeavours are now being made to effect a peace move. All factions have been warring in a greate.r or less degree, and it is suggested that by a sweeping reorganisation much of the rough path may be made smooth. Particular attention will be paid to Xew South Wales because of the fact that the A.W.U. at the present time has no official connection with the A.L.P. Labour leaders consider that the convention should go to the extent of jettisoning some of its officials with whom officials of the Australian Labour Party have refused to negotiate. The name of Mr. John Bailey, who for many years has been the stormy petrel of State Labour politics, has been mentioned as one whom the A.W.U. should drop. It has been argued that if that was done the way would be open to a rapprochement with the followers of Mr. Lang, leader of the Opposition, who at present control the A.L.P. executive. Followers of the A.W.U., on the other hand, have asserted with equal emphasis that they will maintain their aloofness from the A.L.P. until Mr. A. C. Willis, M.L.C., has been “dropped.” They regard Mr. Willis as the author of the Red rules which deprived them of control of the State Labour Party.