LABORGRAPHS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3551, 15 June 1912, Page 3

LABORGRAPHS.

(By “Excelsior.”) The Trades Council met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday night also to consider join in with the u:l.p. * * * Unionists are all invited to meet Mr J. McCullogh, the workers’ representative, on the Arbitration Court, next Monday evening in Wootton’s rooms, at 8 o’clock. * * * D. W. Coleman has been appointed secretary for the Operative Butchers’ Union. •* * * Gill Inglis came home last week from Wellington, where lie went on his union’s business. *• * * T. J. O’Bryne, representative of affiliated building trades on the U.L.P. Executive Council, has been elected to a vacancy on the Invercargill Borough Council. * * * W. A. Veitch, Transport Workers’ representative on the U.L.P., has entered .the auctioneering business, having purchased a. partnership in a Wanganui firm. From an engine throttle handle to a hammer handle. * * James Larkin, of Dublin, secretary of the Irish Transport Workers, replying# to the criticisms of the R.C. Bishop of Sligo, said: “As a bishop we take his ruling in the domain of theology. We do our thinking in the realm of political and economic philosophy.” Jlc * * The miners of Barrytown have recently entered into an agreement with a very marked increase in wages and better conditions, far better than has prevailed there for many years. The minimum for adult workers is 10s a day. * * *' The election of councillors' for the newly-formed borough of Runanga resulted in every candidate on the workers ticket being returned. The Mayoralty was a walk-over for the toilers nominee. For the Council only one opponent to the workers nominee appeared and was badly beaten. The solidarity displayed is something to be genuinely proud of, The successful candidates were : Mayor, H. Goldsmith ; Councillors, Messrs Armstrong, O’Brien, Latimer, Puier, Buchanan and Neen. *. * * The trade union factory owned and controlled by the Australian Saddlery Employees’ Association, New South Wales Branch, has received work from the Defence Department. This was obtained in open tender with all the leading saddlers of the Commonwealth and the first section of the work has been passed by the inspectors. The factory is run on ordinary business lines, the Union as employer paying wages slighter higher than those ruling outside. The work obtained from the Defence Department is the making of~ stirrup leathers, circingles, etc. The contract amounts to about £1000: In every case in which work was given the factory its tender was the lowest received.

The Freezers’ Union met last Monday night for general business.

The Drivers’ Union also met on Monday night, when the delegate to the recent conference in Wellington with the Dominion employers, re Dominion award, made his report. According to rumors the drivers have been organising qnietly but very effectively for some three years past, and the outcome is in every town of. any consequence from the North Cape to the Bluff you will find the drivers solidly organised, and all unions are affiliated to the Drivers’ Federation, which ranks as one of the strongest federations in the Dominion. For some three years the drivers, states the delegate, have been contending for a principle that all time worked should be counted as work, and paid for as such. Heretofore it has not been so, the Arbitration Court refusing to recognise it. The Engine Drivers’ Unions are seething with discontent over the same thing. They have to get up steam early in the morning for which they receive no remuneration whatever. The drivers have to groom their horses, wash vehicles, clean harness, etc., for which they receive no payment. The drivers now demand payment for all time worked. The number of hours the drivers give service to their employers for no payment varies somewhat in different parts. One employer states the delegate, considered twenty hours per week a fair thing, which brings- the drivers hours up to 67-J liours per week for £2 ss. Another emloyer, Mr Craig, of Auckland, considered ten hours per week a fair thing. Other employers thought four hours, and one actually stated that he was prepared to pay his men for all time worked, including attendance on horses. The drivers, it is stated, have in every branch of the Federation, passed resolutions to the effect that “They- will loyally stand by the Federation in whatever action deemed necessary by a majority of all the members of tbs Federation to have this inclusive principle recognised.”. It is at present doubtful what the future developments will be, but the U.L.P- Executive have pledged themselves to support the drivers in their efforts to gains rcognition of the principle after all constitutional means have been exhausted. The Federation of Labor has done likewise, so when all constitutional means

have been tried and the drivers position is not in any way bettered a general upheaval may be expected, and with the two Federations and the United Labor Party it will tell well for a record as far as New Zealand is concerned. The drivers’ delegates, when asked by the employers for their absolute minimum for wages and the absolute maximum for hours, the drivers’ issued tips ultimatum: A 52 hour week for £2 12s for one horse, and 4s each additional horse. So after all they iare only asking-the lowest rate of wages asked for in the Dominion, namely Is per hour. Some drivers are at jn'esent receiving the handsome payment of 5d to- 8d per hour for carting shingle. , On inquiry it has been ascertained that the highest wage paid here in Gisborne by any employer of any consequence is lOd per hour. The employers told the drivers representatives that “one shilling per hour was utterly unreasonable, and they coukl not under any consideration consider it for one moment.” They advised the drivers to go to the Court, in fact it is stated they are very anxious to see disputes filed in all centres. What the drivers intend to do' will, doubtless, in the near future be made known.