Trades and the Workers

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 808, 31 October 1929, Page 6

Trades and the Workers

By

“ARBITER"

The Workers’ Friends It is doubtful whether the Parliamentary Labour Party can satisfactorily support its explanation, through its leader, of its attitude upon the primage duties which have been doubled by the United Government. Time was when the Labour Party held up the business of the country for several daj's for a point less farreaching than the increased primage duty, which, of course, reacts upon the working man. Will the workers be satisfied with ! Ihe leader's explanation that, so long! as there was a possibility of Labour getting into power, they would vote the Government out, hut rather than j face the electors and take the risk, t hey are prepared to load the working man’s breakfast table with extra duties? After the Labour Party’s attitude in supporting, almost without protest, j the super-tax upon capital—even I though the party usually advocates income as the basis of all taxation, this might not please some of the workers. However, the workers have got to think that out for themselves, but "Arbiter” certainly believes that an explanation should be made. Perhaps the “Worker” can advance a better explanation than that produced by the labour leader in the House. • • * Forestry Workers Forestry workers received little satisfaction at Rotorua when an application was made for an award for a section of the forestry workers. Evidence was called outlining the con ’.i- i tions in the camp, and after a long argument, the court decided there was no dispute. The wages now paid exceeded the rates usually paid for that" class of ’ work, the judge said. The workers }iad no genuine complaint, and he urged the continuance of this standard in a seasonal industry which was helpful in coping with the unemployment problem. Whatever the conditions in the Rotorua district, it is known that in many of these places the conditions are not of the best, and adequate protection from the court would assist in alleviating an unpleasant job. * * * Soldiers Seeking Work Evidence-taking has begun before the disabled ex-servicemen’s commission which is investigating the possibility of placing disabled war veterans in jobs. So many are incapable of hard work that the task of suiting them is a colossal one. but the commission is arranged upon the basis of a comprehensive questionnaire, which classifies the men into various stages of fitness and at the same time ascertains from the men themselves their particular adaptability toward certain callings. “It is expected that before the commission has completed the round of the four centres, many thousands of war servicemen will be available for jobs. The problem, "then, will be to find the jobs.” It cannot be denied, however, that a rigid classification and allotment of the men will go far toward organising their direction into suitable work. Shop-girls’ Conditions A timely note is struck by a Southern correspondent upon the subject of seating accommodation and general comfort for shop and factory girls. "When visfting California,” he said, “1 inquired about the seating accommodation for shop girls, and to my surprise I discovered that the State law provides that every girl must havß a seat, and to me it was a pleasure after an experience in a Sydney atand-all-day shop to see the girls sitting happily at their work, when not serving. Also in Melbourne emporiums I was shown a sliding hoard seat at the rear of every five feet or so of counter, and the girls appreciated same. As the New Zealand law does not provide for seats for girls ‘behind’ the counter, I trust steps will be taken to remedy this defect, not only for girls in shops, but in factories, as the physiological makeup of women, especially growing girls, demands some seating accommodation during the long day, with a 12Jliour Friday.” Basic Wage It appears from recent messages that the attempts to reduce the basic wage in New South Wales will not succeed for it is considered certain in political circles in Sydney that the basic wage reduction will not be allowed to take effect. Nationalist members condemn the reduction, and for the Government to let the cut be made would be to invite defeat in the House. So fickle are the fortunes of politics in Australia just now that it is doubtful whether the risk of a debacle will be incurred by the sitting Government. , Coal Depression Causes Causes of the depression in the coal Industry iu Australia were analysed—from the viewpoint of the loss—at the coal inquiry at Melbourne recently, when the superintendent of the Hepburn Collieries said he thought the depression was caused by the high cost of production, inefficiency of the oft'-haud labour, aud incessant stoppages. The high cost had caused the consumers to economise aud to seek other avenues of supply. He also blamed the operation of the darg for the reduction in the output of the mines. As to stoppages, for the six years, from 1923 to 1928, there were 119 strikes at Hebburn No. 2, which involved a loss of 3SI working days. Miners were responsible for lot of the stoppages, other unions for nine, and outside unions for six. On two occasions, said witness, the surface hands stopped the colliery for a day by way of retaliation against the miners, who had caused the mine to be idle on the previous day. The wages of miners averaged 41s a shift, and wages of wheelers 30s. First-class shift-men received the award rate of 22s Id, second-class shift-men ISs, screen hands lSs, and i boys 10s 6d. ___