LABOR NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2574, 7 August 1909, Page 2

LABOR NOTES.

QUEENSLAND PRINTING TRADE , AWARD. It has taken the Queensland Printing Trades Wages Board over five months to arrive at a determination fixing the working conditions for the trade in the southern district of the State. The new award becomes effective in October next, and will result in an all-round .increase in wages on the rates hitherto paid. The award is the first to be made in the calling under the new Act. Following is a summary of y th e main provisions of ille new determination : —Daily newspapers: * Compositors, including stone hands and sluggers Is 7d per hour; readers.. £3 per week; stercotypers in charge £3 10s per week ; stereotypers’ assistants, 36s per week ; 44 hours to constitute a week. Linotype or monoline-operators 2s per hour lor week of 42 hours. Learners on machines to receive Is 6d per hour (for week of 42 hours) for the first three months only. Employees learning to operate shall receive not less than the rates paid for their usual occupation. Piecework linotype or monolme operatorsj 3jd per 1000 ens for week of 42 hours ; 6d an hour in addition after usual daily hours. Apprentices not to he employed in daily newspaper offices, but apprentices working on weekly newspapers printed in the daily newspaper offices, shall be allowed to operate machines during the last year of apprenticeship. Jobbing > offices, and weekly paper offices :—Compositors and readers Is Id per hour; casual compositors receive 8s 8d for the first day or any' part thereof. Letterpress machinists, in charge of double demy or large cylinder machines, £2 12s per week; in charge of smaller machines, £2 5s per week; 48 hours to constitute a week. Linotype and monoline operators: — For minimum output of 7000 ens per hour,. £3 4s par week of 44 hours; 6000 Vais, £2 18s. Monotype keyboard operators. 7000 ens, £2 12s; 5000 ens, £2 Ss; mechanic operator, 7000-ens, £3. Provided that if the said operators are not employed solely on these machines, their ordinary working hours shall not exceed 48 hours per weeK. * Piecework rates for hand compositors: '■r. nor 1000 ens night work, with an additional 3d per hour for first four hours after ordinary working hours, and 6d for each subsequent hour. Casuals shall receive 10s for first day or any part thereof. The rates for linotype or monoiine operators shall be tlie same as those for newspaper offices. For workers in the lithographic departments a minimum rate of £2 16s for a week of 48 hours is awarded, but female assistants may be employed at 17s Cd per week. In bookbinding departments a wage of Is id per hour, and a maximum working week of 48 hours is sen erally prescribed•, INSURANCE AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT. The British Royal Commission on the Poor Laws, as a result of their investigations, laid down these broad principles : 1. That the establishment and promotion of unemployment insurance, especially amongst unskilled and unorganised labor, is of paramount importance in averting the distress arising from unemployment. 2. That the attainment of this object is of such national importance as to justify, under specified conditions, contributions from public funds towards its furtherance. 3. That this form of insurance can best be promoted by utilising the agency of existing trade organisations/ of a similar character which may be brought into existence. Air Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons, recently outlined the policy of the Government in regard to. this important question, and his scheme is based upon the findings of the above Commission. Undoubtedly insurance against unemployment is a sane proposition, and has had practical application in Denmark, for instance. The Commissioners gave prominence in their report to the Ghent system. By this system the State adds a fixed amount to the benefit actually .paid to nil unemployed workman. There are various schemes in operation in Continental Countries, which should receive attention here, and probably the Swiss system will commend itself to Labor leaders. Some attention may be given to this question at the forthcoming congress of Trades Councils, for it is certain that action will have to lie taken on the lines outlined. ITEAIS OF INTEREST. (By Unionist.) An indication: of the feeling of tlie Dunedin Trades Council towards Labor in polities is given by its action in connection with a recent petition presented to it. Two hundred unionists petitioned the council urging it to establish a political Labor party in Dunedin. The council, in answer, resolved to further the object of the petitioners, and as a preliminary undertook to investigate the position of the old Political Labor League of the city. Australia is attracting a considerable, influx of Now Zealanders (says the Sydney “Worker”). Of 64,374 persons of British origin admitted to the Commonwealth" last year, no less than 26,- 1 394 were from New Zealand. The Wellington. General Laborers’ Union proposes to suspend tlie charge for membership for those who desire to take advantage of relief work. A branch of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union has been formed, in Timaru. Tlie Hon. A. R. Guinness, Speaker of tlie Lower .House and member for tinGrey constituency, is pushing on lii;i Bill for a State sick and accident fund, as originally outlined in an address tp the Reefton miners in February last. As soon as it is printed copies will be sent to 1 unions throughout the Dominion. Tlie Hon. M. J. C. Watson, lately leader of the Australian Labor party, and now on a visit to England, is a self-mado mail. Born in Valparaiso,, educated in New Zealand, he began life as a compositor. In 1904 ho was Premier of Australia. Ho is only fortytwo years of age. Representatives of the Chamber of Manufacturers and the Trades Hall, Council, Melbourne,, have been investigating the question of apprenticeship. The Commission 'submitted a report to the Government, hub as no action has been taken in the matter the following notice of motion has been submitted to the Government: —'“That, in 'view of. the unsatisfactory conditions of industrial education of child labor throughout the State, and the urgent necessity for a * proper system of apprenticeship in the various industries, this House is of opinion that the unanimous rceommoiidation of /the Apprenticeship Conference necessitates action on the part of the Government during the present session of Parliament,” Tlie ..Sydney Clerks’ Union is making considerable progress. Mr Justice Street, has been appointed * Royal Commission to enquire into tlie idvisableness of a.legislative Saturday ffilf-liolKlay for New South Wales.. „ ~