The World of Labour August 31, 1895.

*THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, AUGUST 31, 1895.

The World of Labour.

CHINESE carpenters have taken to building houses in Bundaberg.

THE work of trade unionism will be completed when the unemployed question is settled, but not before.

A very big strike has just taken place at Dundee, Scotland, over 25,000 mill workers having struck for an advance in wages.

IN the Trades Hall next Monday evening the Brisbane Lighterman are going to consider a matter which seriously affects their interests.

THE Operative Boot Trade Union of Brisbane has issued an appeal requesting the public to support its co-operative factory and boot store.

PRINTING paper is now made from wood pulp so rapidly that a tree can be cut down and turned out into printed newspapers in 21 hours.

THE pressmen of Philadelphia, U.S., have entered into an alliance with the Typographical and Bookbinders' Union. Capitalism forces brains and muscle into the same boat.

THIRTY-THOUSAND pounds was the amount fleeced mostly from the lower-paid workmen employed on the Queensland Government railways during the last financial year.

AN Anti-Asiatic Society has been established at Ballina, N.S.W., the object which is the discouragement of employing coloured and Asiatic labour either for sugar growing or other purposes.

THE unemployed of N.S.W. Still keep interviewing Premier Reid on the subject of work. This is quite correct and proper. There is nothing to lose and much to gain by keeping grievance before the public.

BY a vote through the referendum the Government of Switzerland will in future manufacture all matches used in the plucky little Republic. The use of yellow phosphorous in making matches is prohibited as injurious to workmen. Another bit of Socialism in our time.

THERE is terrible distress owing to want of employment amongst the miners in the Newcastle district. N.S.W. Many families are said to be on the verge of starvation. Governments should be taught that it is their duty to find remunerative work for all. Work is much better than charity.

AN unfortunate sugar cane farmer some little time back was offered 1s. per ton by a milling company for the cane as it stood. If he did not take it the cane could not, and he was completely at the mercy of the men with the machine. Small sugar growers, just stick a pin in this and think hard.

The Millaquin Sugar Mill Co., at Bundaberg, has made a terrible slash in the wages of the mill hands. The milling companies and planters mean to bring the white man to the level of the kanaka. Freedom of contract provides for that. This sugar business, bolstered up by Government in the interest of capitalism, will be a bitter business yet.

THE statement of wages which the Brisbane boot manufacturers agreed amongst themselves to pay to the operatives has already been broken by one of the manufacturers. Not satisfied with the enormous reduction recently forced on the workmen, the boss referred to is “scabbing” on the Manufacturers' Association by still further reducing wages.

OPERATIVE bakers in Melbourne who don't believe in unionism are working extremely long hours for £1 2s. 6d. per week. There is not much said about the tyranny which enforces these terrible conditions on a man who may have a wife and family to support out of such a wage, or won't either until “slaves who would be free themselves . . . strike the blow.”

IT will be recollected that a dispute at the Korumburra coalmine in Victoria was referred to arbitration. When the award of the arbitrator was explained to a meeting of the miners it was received with cheers, the men promising to loyally abide by it. The award was also satisfactory to the mine proprietors, which goes to show that a little sweet reason can often prevent much suffering and bitterness.

BRISBANE boot manufacturers make the return to work of the union bootmakers as unpleasant as possible, victimising all men who had taken a prominent part during the dispute. New cast-iron rules have been printed and hung up in all shops. Collecting money for any purpose whatever is strictly prohibited. If employers think that by so acting they will crush unionism, they make a big mistake.

ALDERMAN E. Y. Lowry is doing good work on the Townsville Municipal Council. He has already saved the taxpayers £50 which is proposed to be expended in a guzzle, and he has tabled a motion which, if carried, will prevent employe's of the council competing with the outside public. Insisting also that a minimum wage of not less than 8s. for an eight-hour day shall be paid on all future contracts.

On the fourth of last July, the anniversary of the independence of the United States, 300 coalminers of Spring Valley, Illinois, offered their masters to go willingly into slavery, provided they and their families were guaranteed during life the actual necessities of existence. The masters refused the offer, believing that they can get miners cheaper, and without having to keep their wives and families.

ACCORDING to the Effective Advertiser, “during the months of April and May just passed, the all-conquering linotype type-setting machine was installed in the following offices; The Morning (London), the Hamilton Herald, Sunday World (Dublin), Cleckheaton Guardian (Dublin), Express, banner of Wales (Denbigh), Blackburn Express, Bingley Chronicle, Brighton Guardian, Norwich Chronicle, and Bournemouth Observer.

AS an outcome of the recent dispute at Port Adelaide a conference between the wharf labourers and shipowners has taken place and with a result that a satisfactory agreement was arrived at and signed by both parties, the terms of which are that : The wharf pay on Saturdays for men employed on intercolonial and coasting vessels shall be 3s. for the first quarter of the day, a term of two and a half hours. Starting any time afterwards, pay to be 1s. 3d. per hour, and 8d. per half-hour. Overtime to start at 1 pm. And to be at the rate of 2s. per hour. Many bitter strikes in Australia could have been avoided if employers had always acted in a similar manner to that of the above disputants.

“OWING to the scarcity of seamen for the fishery and the high rate of wages those few demand,” says the Torres Straits Pilot “a number shellers intend sending to Singapore for men. These can be obtained at a cost of about £8 for each, but of this amount £6 is repayable by the men as advance. The men will engage at 30s. per month for two years. These Malays very often prove good men, and they can be obtained on about three weeks' notice. The shellers are wise not to let the Japanese endeavour to regulate the wages at a figure which will not pay to work the boats.” The white man is not in it up Thursday Island way, nevertheless lively times may be expected shortly in that direction when the good (?) men arrive.