Carpenters and Students

Mr. Molineux, President of the Wellington Carpenters' Union, was the guest speaker of the Socialist Club at a meeting on Wednesday, March 9th. Mr. Molineux, who was one of the union leaders who were recently heavily fined in the Courts, gave an outline of the present dispute in the building industry.

The speaker commenced by explaining events leading up to the dispute, showing how the decisions of the Arbitration Court have left the carpenters with a just grievance. Carpenters rates are 1½d. behind those of other sections of the building industry. After doing everything in their power to obtain an equitable settlement, the union had started a "go-slow" action, and such was the justness of their claim and the solidarity of their struggle that 95 per cent, of the master builders had capitulated, and were willing to pay the additional 1½d.

It was at this stage that the Government had entered the fight on the side of the employers. Leaders of the union throughout the country were prosecuted under wartime emergency legislation.

"The Labour Government can no longer be regarded as friends of the union movement," declared Mr. Molineux.

The role of the Arbitration Court in delaying and preventing the satisfaction of the workers' demands was then explained. The latest developments in the handling of the dispute over to the National Council of the Federation of Labour were also outlined.

The questions raised by students at the conclusion of the address showed a keen interest in the functions of the Arbitration Court and in the effect of industrial laws on the workers' struggles in New Zealand.

The Socialist Club is to be congratulated in its first function for 1948. It shows that the club is carrying out its objective of bringing students into contact with the Labour Movement and giving them an insight into the real forces operating in our society today.