THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1906. UNSKILLED LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8319, 27 December 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1906. UNSKILLED LABOUR.

Unskilled labourers are apparently dissatisfied with their lot, and we are not surprised that they should be. It is only natural that they should desire to obtain the protection of the Arbitration Court, and in that protection there should be a good deal of benefit, which they will probably secure in the near future. A Wellington General Labourers' Union has just'been formed, with the primary object, apparently, of advancing the position of the navvy, but it follows as a matter of course that other unskilled labour is included in the Union. The term "unskilled labour" is somewhat loosely applied as a general rule. It seems to be used to define work where more muscular and less brain power is necessary than is required in connection with most other work. But there is a certain amount of skill in navvying and other work which is usually designated "unskilled labour," while the amount of skill that mediocre or poor hands engaged in various trades display does not appear to be very great. However, an accurate comparison between skilled and unskilled labour would be difficult to make, and, possibly, valueless when made. Although the navvy does not loom largely in the drawing-rooms of ladies of fashion, he is, at the same time, a useful member of society. His work is necessary—it is hard work, and, demands a considerable amount of physical endurance, even if a great amount of skill is not required, to satisfactorily perform it, and he should be fairly paid for his hard work, which the welfare of society demands. As may be supposed, the formation of the Union referred to is the outcome of dissatisfaction with the present wages paid, and the navvies on the Main Trunk Line allege that, they have various

grievances. The men, it seems, 1 have approached the Minister for Public Works, and have been promised certain concessions, but they have found that when the concessions were granted the payment per yard of earth removed was reduced. And the Arbitration Court, it may be remarked, cannot assist the Government employee. The Arbitration Court is for private employers, not for the Government, and the present Ministry has shown no desire to allow the complaints of its servants to be dealt with by a just tribunal. The general labourer and the navvy have to contend with broken time and bad weather. The settlement of wages, in their case, is, no doubt, somewhat difficult and complicated, but it would certainly seem that they are deserving of some amelioration in their present lot. In the winter time, when there are long spells of bad weather, one wonders, in view of the wages at present paid, how casual labourers make a living, and we are afraid that, in some cases, it is a very poor living, indeed, that is made. However, the movement referred to is certainly an interesting and important one, and, if vigorously taken up, will prove to have many ramifications of interest to the body politic.