The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Page 7

Labor World CPEAKINO before the industrial nd International relation committee now Investigating the question of unemployment Insurance, Tom Moore, president of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, said: "The responsibility for unemployment rests largely with Industry and the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada holds the opinion that the cost of unemployment insurance should be placed primarily on industry though It Is recognized that government has also some responsibility to participate. Unemployment Insurance Is the most practical way to deal with the problem of unemployment, for the following specific reasons: 1. It will tend to reduce the volume of unemployment by (a) stahllzlng purchasing power of the workers and thus continuing to provide employment to thousands who would otherwise be added to the ranks of the unemployed; b) Inducing greater effort toward coordination of seasonal activities; (c) leading to the employment of labor already In Canada instead of the seeking of immigrant supplies of same; (d) better budgeting of work so as to reduce the peak period of employment and subsequent periods of depression. 2 It will give protection to the worker and his family and prevent the demoralization which often occurs when, through Inability to obtain employment, workers are compelled to depend on charity. 3.

It will reveal actual facts concerning the amount and causes of unemployment, thus providing valuable Information essential to the prevention of unemployment. 4. It will make higher living standards possible and assist In decreasing industrial unrest. 5. It will reduce waste.

Questioned by a member of the committee if the workers should contribute to the nuemployment Insurance fund, Mr. Moore stated that: "The general policy of the organized workers has been to support, the view that when Industry contributes, the workers are contributing as well as the employers. Industry being composed of both their efforts Therefore, If the worker makes a separate contribution, he is contributing twice to the employer's once." rpHE organization of the workers In Mexico la phenomenal, from no organization at all, practically from non-existence, Mexican labor can now boast of a strong, militant organization. The first labor organizations were formed under Madero in 5910-1912. Since then, labor organizations have been Increasing until now the Confedcracion Regional Obrera Mexlcana has a membership of 2,000,000, all working effectively for the Interests of all the working class The report of the secretary of the C.R O.M.

to the eighth annual convention of the federation gives the membership statistics as follows: Number of members in 1918 (the first year of the fed- rntlnn 7.000 Membership In 1920 S0.000 Membership In 1923 RO0.OO0 Membership In 192.1 1.R00.000 Membership In 1927 2.000.000 The Amalcamated Clothing Work of America have renewed their agreement with the Chicago Clothing Manufacturers' association to lake effect Mav 1. 1928. and continue until Mv 1 1931.. The new aeree. ment, according to General Presi dent Sidney Hlllman.

of the Amal gamated, who negotiated the con imrt it.r the union, contains im portant victories for the clothing workers, who number 30,000 In the Chicago market alone and 160,000 In the United States. The Important feature of the new agreement provides for an Increase in th amount of the contribution made by the manufacturers to the unomnlnvment Insurance fund. This fund which was established In 1923 and was the first protective levy of this nature ever established In the United States between an Interna tiona union and Its employers, provided that 1 per cent, of the workers' weekly payroll and lMi per cent, of the employers' payroll be set irie for unemployment payments. According to the terms of the now renewed, the employers from Mav 1, 1928. will pay an additional 14 per cent, of their weekly payroll, which will make th'tr total contribution 3 per and the new tnioi for both the workers ana manufacturers 4 '4 per cent, of the nnvroll.

It expected tnat tne in crease In the contribution to the un- mnlnvment Insurance fund will sun stantlnlly meet the needs of the clothing workers during all times of involuntarv unemnlnyment. Since Its Inception In 1923 this fund hss paid out approximately J4.000.000 In unemployment cago market. NOTHER benefits In the Chi feature of the agree- ment. which has been In process of negotiation for the past few months. Includes provision for an In vestigation and report on tne reasi bllltv of Introducing the five-day week In Chicago.

The agreement recommends the appointment of joint commission whose task will be to recommend a plan for Introducing the forty-hour, five-day week without raising the price of clothing to the consumer. The British Labor parly gained another seat In the House of Commons April as the result of a by-electon In the Linlithgow division of West Lothian. Since 124 there have been fortv-one contested hv-electlnns, with the following result: The net gain for Labor Is seven, net Conservative loss nine, and net gain for the Liberals two. Says Arthur Gleason: "The way a group of grown persons can best educate each other Is In the method used by Socrates and his friends. It is the way of endless discussion, centering on one subject.

It Is almost the hardest work In the world, but the results are sometimes amazing. A grown man discovers he is beginning to grow again. Endless discussion about one subject can not maintain Itself on words. It dies away unless It feeds on knowledge and finally Interpretation. It leaches out for facts and then for the moaning of them.

In modern terms, the Socratlc method means a class ot fsom five to twenty-five, who read books, listen to talks, and ask questions. They take to themselves a like-minded teacher, who Is a good fellow, and together they work regularly and hard. This is the heart of workers' education the class financed by their own money, the teacher a comrade, the method discussion, the subject the social sciences, the aim an understanding of life and the remoulding of the scheme of things. Where that drama of a better world Is absent, adult workers' education will fade away In tha loneliness and rigor of the effort. A JOINT enquiry into the question of the living wage Is being conducted In Great Britain by the Oenerli Council of the Trades Union Congress and the Independent Labor party.

It is hoped, but by no means certain, that the work may be completed within twelve months. The scope of the enquiry has been outlined as follows: General con ceptlon of the living wage; present productivity in relation to the wage standard aimed at; present distribution of the product of Industry; defects of the present system of production, distribution, and finance. and the problem of foreign markets and international competition; immediate improvements In the level of wage rates: (1) changes In organization technique, etc. (2) the high wage policy and maintenance of consuming power. (3) family allowances.

(4) social Insurance and the extension of socially provided Income, the present tendencies of capitalism and transitional forms of Industrial organization. Socialism: (1) general considerations. (2) specific industries. ON the third reading of a bill to Incorporate the Niagara Falls Memorial Bridge ompany In the House of Commons on March 27, an amendment moved by Mr. A.

A. Heaps, of North Winnipeg, was agreed to, providing that "the employment of labor In the construction, maintenance and supervision of the said bridge shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the fair wage clauses set forth In the order- In-councll No. 1206, of June 7, 1922. I and any amendments thereto, and I so far as it may be practical do so, Canadian materials and labor must be used In the construction of the said bridge, and a certified statement shall be sent weekly to the department of labor giving the names and addresses of firms supplying materials and the quantity thereof." THE South African commission has Just Issued Its first report. It was found that there was very great need of assistance for the aged and invalids.

The commission consequently recommended that pending further enquiries Into the institution of a contributory scheme, non-contributory pensions should be provided without delay. Non-contributory pensions are thus regarded as a temporary measure. The proposed scheme corres ponds generally with that existing In Australia. British subjects only are eligible, and they must have been resident In South Africa for at least fifteen out of the twenty years preceding the date of application for the pension. The age proposed the award of the pension is 65 for both sexes.

Pensions are also to be granted to persons over 21 who are totally and permanently disabled t. blind. Asiatic and colored fi.e. havlne an admixture of non-Euronean blood) persons would be eligible for nen-slona on the same footing as Europeans. Natives, on the other hand, would not be covered; for although a section of the native population lives In the towns under conditions very similar those of colored workers yei tne vasi msiorny live under a tribal organizstion, and It Is not practicable to draw a statutory distinction between the two groups of natives.

It is, however, recommended thst the scale of poor relief granted to natives should be increased. The rate of pension suggested Is 10s. a week, as In Great Britain, to be reduced In proportion to the means of the pensioner: every pound of annual Income Involves a reduction of 10s. in the annual pension; but Income for this purpose does not include assistance from children or benefits from friendly societies. The commission do not consider such a pension sufficient to meet all the needs of an Individual In all districts' of the Union, though It compares not uniavoraoiv wnn tne rates at pre sent pam in oiner countries, exeem Australia and New Zealand, which Indeed are reported to be finding the cost somewhat onerous.

Thev ex pect, however, that the pensioner win continue to be assisted by charitable organizations. Moreover, the receint of poor relief is not a dls-qullflcatlon for a pension. The cost of the pensions Is to be met by the Union government. The duty of examining claims Is entrusted to district magistrates, and the post office Is made responsible for paying out the weekly Instalments of the pension. One of the outstanding features of the Brotherhood of Painters.

Decor-ators and Paperhangers Is the fact that It was the first craft of the building trades to enjoy the five-day THE WINNIPEG EVENING TRIBUNE, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1928 week (40 hours), the Boston local being the Hist, and they being followed by 195 others covering more than one-third of the membership. The membership of this organization numbers 300.000 and Is tne third largest of the building trades. The membership of the British Trade Union Congress numbers four and a half millions. The mem In the days when the buffalo roamed the prairie and the Wesl was little known, Arthur M. West helped lay the single line of steel that later developed Into the network of tracks of the Canadian Pacific railway.

That was back in 1881. Last night In the Royal Alexandra hotel "Shorty" West was given a send-off after 47 years' service as fireman, engineer, road foreman engineer and division master mechanic. In the gathering of 150 were veterans who remembered the sound teaching of Shorty West in those days of the last century and they told many stories of early railroading In the west. Boasts High Honor Shorty West, It was told, has the honor of never falling to bring back an engine he had taken out and F. Tylie, who once fired under Mr.

West, had many stories to tell of the veteran's work. Tribute was paid to Mr. West by Howard Chase, representing the Canadian National railways. "The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has a great deal to thank Brother West for," he said, "when one considers what the old-timers went through. "It seems that the youngsters get everything dished out to them on a silver platter these days," he declared, "but It is due to the efforts of veterans like Shorty West that the railroad Is what It is today." Recalls Old Days J.

A. Kennedy, son of the late Ash Kennedy, under whom Mr. West served his apprenticeship, recalled the old days when every thing that happened was blamed on the railway. "In those days." he said, "even a hailstorm was blamed on the road." R. A.

Gamble terminal superintendent, presided at the gathering, and several old-timers paid trlbutf to Shorty West. Among them were. Billy Woods, H. Stephenson, chief engineer of the local divi sion; Frank Pennyfather, general master mechanic; A. J.

Pentland, district master mechanic; Bob Cringan, locomotive foreman at La Riviere, George Moth, who succeeds Mr. West as district mas- i. 1 4i -o v. bership of the Labor party three and a half millions. The Scottish Trade Union Congress has a membership of 350,000.

The Independent Labor party has a membership of 50.000. The Fabian society has a membership of 2.000. All these organizations are growing in membership in spite of all the hardships and unemployment prevnlent in Great Britain during the last ten yeuis. A. M.

West Laid Rails When Buffalo Roamed Railman, After 47 Years with C.P.R., Retires From Road YOUNG DANCER EDITH JAMIESON Pupil of Joyce C. Hague, who will take part in the dance, recital of the Gardner Hague studios at the Playhouse theatre on Monday night. tcr mechanic, and Buiiey Wnlllss, a former fireman unfler Mr. West. West West Gift Presented Mr.

was presented with a gift from his fellow engineers and in thanking them he recalled the days when he sat at the throttle i In all kinds of weather trying his best to bring his engine In on time. There were times when this was next to impoBslhle and then he would be told. "You didn't do very well that time, Shorty." and he would answer, "I did the hest I could." "Well, that's good enough," the official would reply. Music was supplied by the Hottentots and H. G.

Comrle and S. Brown. H. Stephenson gave a reading dedicated to Mr. West and entitled "Shorty." Cy Gardiner gave an Interesting monologue.

PAUL SAVAGE COMING Paul Savage, of New York, who conducted a summer school for vocal students lost year In Winnipeg will hold another cluss this summer. The class will commence May 2L and will continue for six weeks. -p Vs ecu Vyuo I wis tAffe IB pi All the Reed and Willow Furnishings For the New Headquarters of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind 'SSWoaEtmiSB I 1 malum v-u uju vit Made By BLIND CRAFTSMEN 'Jo Western Lanada p-. i 1 Canadian National Institute for the Blind PHONE 34183 CENTRAL WESTERN DIVISION PHONE 34185 HUNDREDS VISIT NEW HOME OF DLIND INSTITUTE Splendid Building Reveals Latest Equipment For Teaching Handicraft Hundreds of persons today visited the new home of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, on Portage which was thrown open for public inspection for the first time. The building, on which construction was started last winter, has Just been completed.

It Is two storeys high with a frontage of 78 feet on Portage ave. extending back 109 feet. Reinforced concrete construction with brick curtain walls has been used through, and provision has been made for addition of another storey if this becomes necessary. Red Face Brick Exterior finish is of red face brick with Tyndall stone base about eight feet high, which is also used for trim. J.

H. G. Russell was architect of the building, and members of the committee In charge of its construction were Arthur E. Rowland, chairman; George N. Jackson, Major D.

M. Duncan and Mrs. W. E. Mllner.

The Portage ave. entrance leads into a large store, well lighted by display windows on two sides, where handicraft of the blind workers, such as baskets, wicker furniture, brooms, garments, house dresses, aprons, underwear and children's knitted woollen goods will be placed or. sain. Teachers' Rooms On the main floor, In addition to the general offices are teachers' rooms used for instruction, library, girl's lunch room, a large kitchen, and a shipping room with a freight elevator. There la also an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300, the chairs for which are being made by inmates of the Institute.

un tne second floor Is the men cloak room, which has a lunch room in connection. Manufacturing departments are located on this floor The first is that devoted to broom-making, where electrically operated machines have been Installed. Another section is devoted to manufacture of wicker furniture. A long, bright room. In which a battery of electric sewing machines has been Installed, will be occupied by blind women, who will produce whltewear, smocks, house dresses, nurses' uniforms and other articles.

Adjoining this department Is a light, airy rest room for the workers. The building, which hHS Incorporated In Its construction all of the latest features, Is finished In fir with oak finish throughout. Approximately 6O0 persons from Manitoba and Saskatchewan were assisted by the institute, in 1927. The help granted Included providing glasses, hospital, dental and medical treatment, and Instructional work designed to lessen industrial accidents and induce care of children's eyes. For Sale or Lease The Tourist Hotel KENORA, ONT.

ft 1 Kenora's Excellent Hotel on the Lake of the Woods Five storeys, solid brick, steam heated. every way, including: steam laundry, completely furnished. Final date for receiving offers, May 31st, Address all inquiries to F. J. HOOPER, Kenora, Ontario.

HYDRO Has Saved Thousands of Dollars to PHONE 82 841 T7 the Citizens of Winnipeg Through CHEAP POWER RATES USE HYDRO POWER IN YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS Service at Cost WuinipcHijdrq 55-59 lf PRINCESS ST We Are Your Partner 71 1 I'll is 4 Modern in 110 rooms, 1928. Machinery Installed by Muzeen Bly the 377 KING ST. PHONE 52 724 (SUAY GENERAL CONTRACTOR' for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Old Dutch is a natural detergent which contains no lye.acids, hard grit or other injurious ingredients. MADE IN CANADA OLD Dutch keeps millions of kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, clean and sanitary. For every cleaning job, it is the safe and economical cleanser.

It will not injure or mar the finest enamel surface because the soft, flaky particles erase all the dirt without scratching. There is nothing else like Old Dutch Cleanser. Goes further lasts longer. Clean-up Campaign! Sweep the City Clean with Made by the To be purchased at All Stores, including T. Eaton Ltd.

Hudson's Bay Co. if Iff I J. H. Ashdown Hardware Co P. B.

Stores Robinson Limited Red White Chain Stores a nf, Finn 't iff 'iV f'nrTTT I 1 United Stores Etc. THE CANADIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND (Central Western Division) SEE THE NEW "ROTO-GRIP" BROOM On Sale Hudson's Bay Co. Hardware Dept. Electrical Fixtures, Motors and Wiring in the CANADIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND a i was Supplied and Installed by A. McCAINE ELECTRICAL LTD.

ELLICE AVE. PHONE 87 553 Member of The Asipiation of ElcctrjgisU International i A. McCAINE 55 741 W. ELLIOT 24 012 i I'NDEK THE AUSHCES OF The Winnipeg' Women's Auxiliary OF The Canadian National Institute For The Blind A Special Sale of goods made by the Blind will be held for two weeks, commencing May 16, 1928 AT THE NEW HEADQUARTERS: 1'ortuge Ave. and Sherburn St.

Jats and Rugs rt Leather Goods Jo 1 1 Carriages Jmpress Flower Baskets JJrooms (House) Who! Yard Brooms pi rpoy Brooms JJanging Baskets JTstimates on Repairs JJulb Baskets Jaundry Baskets Jdeal Gifts Jightingales (Wool) presses and Aprons nly i The Canadian National Institute For The Blind (Central Western Division) PHONE 3I1S3 PHONE 34183.