LABOR NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2568, 31 July 1909, Page 7

LABOR NOTES.

(By Unionist.) V’<f: At the last meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labor Council the secretary was instructed to write to the Hon. Minister for Roads and Bridges, asking him to insert in all future contracts for iron and steel bridges carrying a subsidy from the Consolidated Revenue a clause specifying that the bridge must be built in the Dominion. In the discussion that ensued on the motion g, representative of the ironworking industries stated that two bridges were reoently erected in the Waikato carrying a subsidy, and were both one from America and the other from Britain. He contended that they could have both been as well if not better built in the Dominion, and would have materially helped the ironworkers during the bad times that the industry has been suffering from. Another motion that excited considerable discussion was to the ..effect that all religious institutions competing against private inter prise should be brought under the Factories Act. The motion was carried, and ordered to be forwarded ,to the Hon. Minister for Labor. In connection with this question, a small committee was set up to inquire into the working of the institutions complained of, the results of the inquiry to be published. The stage employees in all four centres are now organised into separate unions. The total membership of the four unions is 180, distributed as follows:—Dunedin 23, Christchurch 45, Auckland 54, and Wellington 58. All of the unions propose to affiliate with the parent body in Sydney, and are securing certain working conditions from the touring theatrical companies on terms similar to those granted on the other 6icle. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Carpenters’ Uhion, held on Wednesday, July 7, the secretary, in his report stated that since January the membership had increased by fifty-seven, while the financial state2iient for the last half-year showed an excess of income over expenditure of £37. The financial position of this union is highly satisfactory when wo consider the smallness of the contributions. At the present time the Union has £lO5 to its credit with an additional £SO invested in the Trades and Labor Council Hall. It has been decided that, in addition to the usual donation to the Technical College, a prize to the value of not lees than £2 shall be offered for the joinery class at the College. Power to make the necessary arrangements has been left in the hands of the executive.

At the last meeting of the Christchurch Stone-masons’ Union it was resolved that an endeavor should be made to form a New Zealand Federation, and the executive were empowered to take such steps as might be deemed desirable -towards that end. At the present moment there are unions in the four chief centres, and as it may be safely said that the members are the most roving of all artiaans in the building trades, it has been deemed, in the interests of the unions and the individuals. that there should he a Federation. The United Clerk’s Union of Sydney has decided to press on the federation of the Union with those of Victoria and Queensland, in order to take -Federal

action. Labor selection ballots are proceeding apace in almost all the Federal electorates in Australia. Ex-Senator ! liggs has just been selected to contest the Capricornia seat against Mr. Archer, sitting member and supporter of the Fusion Cabinet. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council last year, the Liberal and Labor element succeeded in securing the election of a majority of officers whose views were in keeping with its own political persuasion. At the annual meeting of the Cquncil last week the tables were completely turned, and scarcely a member with Liberal and Labor leanings was elected to any official position. For the ensuing year the following will be the principal officers: President, E. Howard; vice-Presidents, J. R. Whiting, and D. G. Sullivan; secretary, J. Young; assistant secretary, P. Darcy. All these are declared supporters of Independent Labor. There were 109 delegates present at the election meeting out of a possible of 130, and the majority m lavor of the advanced principles of the elected officers was, on the average, two to one. An amended award in the butchering industry in Sydney has been made, and it will come..into operation on 2nd August. Generally a working week of 52 hours is provided for. - Ordinary butchers are to be paid from £2 os to £2 7s 6d tier week'; order carters who do not cut any meat, £1 17s 6d to £2; sc alders, £2 5s to £2 7s 6d; Balters £2 5s to 2 7s 6d; other carters, not provided for, £1 17s *6d to £2. Slaughtermen are to receive not less than £3 for a week of 48. hours. Workers engaged on small goods have had their weekly wages, fixed at from £2 7s 6d to £2 17s 6d. Beef carters and' lorrymen may be worked 60 hours weekly, but are to receive a minimum wage of £2 ss. At Broken Hill, New South Wales, the combined unions have entered on a new field. They own. a newspaper, a grocer’s store, a produce business, and a wood and coal yard. They tell wonderful stories on the New South Wales north coast as to what butter has done. A man, for example, who has worked on the roads for 20s or 30s per week, decided to go in for dairying. He went first as a, farm laborer, so as to pick up a knowledge of the business; then he took up a farm on shares, and now he is earning £4O a month. The huge- factory at Byron Bay, said to be one of the largest in the world—-the distinction of being actually the largest is claimed for someone in New Zealand —distributes about £50,000 a month to its suppliers. This simple fact is sufficient to demonstrate what the dairy cow means in the scheme of things just now. —“Australian Meat Review.” The last annual convention of the American Federation of Labor approached the churches' with a wiew of establishing a Labor Sunday throughout the United States. The churches agreed to the suggestion, and the day was duly instituted on May 9 last, when in a majority of the churches, sermons dealing with Lal>or and industrial problems were delivered. Five trade unions in England, representing 2000 member's connected with the clerks and shop assistants, have unanimously decided to form a federation for working purposes.

' Whilst the question of universal military training is agitating the public mind of the Dominion the following incident of what is required from young •men of other countries will prove interesting (says the “Manawatu Stand- : ard). There" is, at the present time, residing in Palmerston, a young fellow just of age, a native of the Argentine, who has had to obtain from his employer in Palmerston, a properly attested certificate giving the place of his residence and the nature of his occupation, as he may at any time be called upon to return to his nativo country. And as showing that no exemptions are made in respect to persons to this rule, it need only be mentioned that the young man in question speaks no less than five languages, and is the nephew of a bishop who occupies a Very high place. Tho young fellow is supposed to be learning agriculture.

There are pills that are called LaxoTonic, For diseases both urgent and chronic, They’re the best to be had, Be you ever so bad, And their patrons are never sardonic. LAXO-TONIO PILLS, 10*d and Is 6d. The Paris correspondent of the Melbourne “Argus,” in -an article on this year’s exhibits at the Salon, says that “The Veteran,” by Mr. Spencer Macky, of Auckland, catches the eye at one. “It is an old sailor in cap and tarpaulin jacket. The eyes and mouth express sullen determination. Mr. Macky is'a vigorous draughtsman. His exact j but nevertheless free, drawing is admirable. His color is tho essence of sanity-—something to mark in these days of impression. Among the younger Australian artists some may have attempted something nioro ambitious, none certainly anything more meritorious. We look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the future work of this talented pupil of Mr. Bernard Hall. This painting has been accepted for hanging in the old Salon.” UNANDERA, N.S.W. William Massey, Unanderra, N.S.W., writes:—“l have used Dr. Sheldon’s New Discovery for s a bad cough and I never used a- better remedy. My son was suffering from a very troublesome cough for four months. I tried every remedy I could think of, besides several bottles of medicine from doctors, which did him no good, but after taking three bottles of Dr. Sheldon’s New Discovery he got quite well again. I cannot speak too highly of it.” Dr. Sheldon’s New Discovery for Coughs and Colds is an unequalled preparation for the cure of all Chest Complaints and Lung Troubles. Price, is 6d and 3s per bottle. Obtainable everywhere. ( „