Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 16

Trades and the Workers

By * ,

"ARBITER."

Misunderstood A little misunderstanding should be cleared up about the secretary of the Lime and Cement Workers’ Union, Mr. J. Sutherland, who is erroneously referred to in a report in a Southern paper. The report refers to the agitation in Auckland to have Mr. Justice Frazer removed from the Arbitration Court, and goes on: “It is stated that the dissatisfaction (with the judge) is limited to, at most, two union secretaries, one of whom is secretary of the Lime aud Cement Workers’ Union. Some years ago this secretary attempted to obtain a 44-hour week from the court for the lime-burners, but when the men found that the reduction in hours would mean lower pay, they declared against the shorter week. . . Mr. J. Sutherland is naturally annoyed at this report, because in the first place he took no part in the agitation for the removal of the judge; secondly, he, as union secretary, is a firm supporter of the Arbitration Court as a means of settling industrial disputes, and finally, the company which employs the lime and cement workers has never yet gone to the court for the settlement of wages, this question always being fixed between the representatives in conciliation. Strike Funds Short Suggestions of a discrepancy in the timber workers’ strike funds have been made in union circles in Australia. 'While the secretary of the Labour Council, Mr. Garden, declares that only a little over £2,000 can be traced as.having been contributed by the Australian Workers’ Union, the State secretary of that organisation, Mr.- G. Buckland, states that he holds receipts for the sum of £3,525 11s 7d in New South Wales alone. The A.W.U. has asked the council to appoint a committee investigate the alleged discrepancies. One explanation advanced was that a large amount had been expended in secret strike work, which could not be openly accounted for. Writing on this subject, Mr. Buckland said: “The Australian Workers’ Union played its part in its usual generous manner. Already a sum upward of £7,000 has been subscribed from various branches apart from the sums that have been sent direct from mines, camps, etc. In addition, the members are being asked to subscribe through a voluntary levy to render further assistance, and it is confidently anticipated that such levy will meet with general favour and support.” * * * Migrants In Difficulties In many parts of New Zealand migrants from England are complaining bitterly because they have been disillusioned about the prospects of jobs in the Dominion and the suggestion is made that the authorities should pay their passages back to the Old Country. “Only 10 per cent, of the immigrants,” one man says, “would have been in New Zealand if the country had been fairly represented to them, but, no, those in charge grossly misrepresented things to us, and a lot of us left good jobs, and in some cases borrowed money to get here, where we spend what little we may have had left in trying to find work. This was hardly fair on the immigrant. One has only got to keep eyes and ears open to hear what is said and then realise that the ‘Homie* is not wanted, and unfortunately he cannot help himself. It costs us £2O to get here, but it will cost three times that to get back, yet the relief works will spend that sum many times over and still have unemployed in the country. Would it not, as ‘Festina Lente’ suggests, be better to divert this money for passage money instead of to unremunerative works which are in most cases unnecessary. and still leave dissatisfied

citizens?” The writer suggests a Government | subsidy for people wishing to return to i England—a system which might posj sess its merits, but which bristles with difficulties. Youths Turn To Industry A sidelight on the contention frequently made by Henry Ford and other industrialists that young men who formerly sought office jobs are now turning to the shops, is to be found in the statistics for the men’s collar industry recently issued by the United States Department of Commerce. According to data collected at : the biennial census of manufactures taken in 1928," the establishments enj gaged primarily in the making of i men’s collars during 1927 reported an | output 51.9 per cent, below that of | 1925. the last preceding census year. * * * Transport Squabble The dispute between the Auckland Transport Board and the Tramwayj men’s Union has developed far beyond what was at first indicated. The Mas- ' sicks case is almost overwhelmed in : the mass of principle which has be--1 come involved in the affair, and diplomatic. relations have now been sev--1 ered between the board and the union.

It is a great pity that conciliation could not have settled the vital points at issue, for it seems clear that concessions will be necessary if fairness is to be done all round. As was expressed here recently, “Arbiter” thinks Massicks was badly advised in the first place, and secondly the union committed a tactical error in posting its notices about the board’s property. But that did not justify the action of the board in seeking the expurgation of a minute from the union’s books. If witnesses from the ranks of the union are required by the board, the proper procedure is to subpoena them if they are not prepared to give evidence- voluntarily. If they come forward voluntarily, then the quarrel is between the union and themselves, and any resolution which the union passes censuring thSm cannot affect the operation of the board nor legalise the board’s action in asking for its retractment. If the board, in a spirit of good faith, tells the union it is approaching the borderline of crime, then it has performed a generous service in what it considers to be the interests of the union. The union can do what it likes about that. But please leave alone the union’s books, whatever might be the resolutions upon them. If any action is to be taken, it is legal action. The City Solicitor is not prepared to go so far as this. So there the affair rests.