not, however, be held liable for such actions by persons who do not belong to the federations. WAGE INCREASES FOR WOODWORKERS IN SWEDEN.1 The Swedish Woodworkers' Federation reports in its paper,. "Traarbetaren," that an understanding has been arrived at with the Central Federation of the Employers according to which the wage agreements expiring on April 1, 1917, are prolonged to April 1, 1918. This arrangement had been effected as far back as September 13, 1916, on the occasion of the general negotiations in the building trade, and secured to the woodworkers a considerable wage increase, which took effect from August 18, 1916. In the following list are given the localities involved in the negotiations together with the agreed wage increases. Of the wage rates: shown here those of the carvers and pattern makers of Malmö are particularly conspicuous. Therefore, it should be remarked that these rates relate to two special branches of wood carving. Pieceworkers receive a corresponding increase of wages. The Woodworkers' Federation likewise succeeded in securing similar improvements for woodworkers in a number of towns not affiliated with the employers' federation. WAGE SCHEDULE FOR SWEDISH WOODWORKING TRADES EFFECTIVE AUG. 18, 1916, TO APR. 1, 1918. INCREASE IN WAGES IN THE NETHERLANDS DURING THE WAR. The monthly review issued by the Netherland Bureau of Statistics. (Maandschrift van het Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek) for March 1 Bulletin der Internationalen Union Der Holzarbeiter, No. 214, March, 1917. Berlin, 1917, p. 32. 31, 1917, contains an extensive study on wages in which comparable data are given as to wages paid in several principal occupations in various cities. In some of the tables given the increase is shown by comparing the wages paid under the last previous scale, and under that in operation at present. In other cases wages are shown for selected years during the period 1901-1917, while in a few cases wages are shown for 1874. In the following abstract the data are selected for only a few of the more important cities in the kingdom, from data obtained from the following sources: (1) Collective agreements reported; (2) minimum wages established in contracts awarded by public authorities: (3) wages paid in the four central machine shops belonging to the State-operated railroads; and (4) wages reported paid in the merchant marine. INCREASE IN WAGES IN BUILDING TRADES OF NETHERLANDS AS FIXED BY COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS. 1 Average increase for all cities reported to be at least 20 per cent in 1917. In the mercantile trade, foods, condiments, etc., the wages in Oss are reported for two classes of employees-steady workers and casual employees. In these classes wages have increased 14 and 21 per cent, respectively, over the contract of February 1, 1914. Items are shown from several contracts. The table following, as INCREASE IN WAGES OF BAKERY EMPLOYEES IN AMSTERDAM, 1917 OVER 1913, AS FIXED BY COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS. Wages paid farm and garden laborers have sharply advanced since the first half of 1914. The following wages reported for Woldendorp are here given as indicating the extent of rise in wages on farms: INCREASE IN WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LABORERS (MEN) IN WOLDENDORP, 1916 OVER 1914. Women helping in harvesting were paid 4.02 cents per hour in 1914 and 6.03 cents per hour in 1916, if provided with midday meal; when not provided with midday meal, an allowance was made of 10.05 cents per day in 1914 and 14.07 cents per day in 1916. The increase is 50 per cent in the first and 40 per cent in the second instance. Seamen's monthly wages are reported under two heads, but as the rate of increase varies but little, only the rates reported by the Lloyd service are reproduced here. INCREASE IN WAGES OF SEAMEN IN NETHERLANDS, 1916 OVER 1912. Minimum wages stipulated in contracts awarded for public works are reported for various trades and occupations from which the following in canal work in four Provinces are selected as representative wages: INCREASE IN WAGES OF CANAL WORKERS IN NETHERLANDS, 1916 OVER 1913. The following table shows the wages per hour paid mechanics and laborers in Government-owned railway shops in 1913 and 1917, and the per cent of increase, January, 1917. over January, 1913: INCREASE IN WAGES IN FOUR STATE-OPERATED RAILWAY SHOPS OF NETHERLANDS, JANUARY, 1917, OVER JANUARY, 1913. Under date of June 12 President Wilson issued an order directing Herbert C. Hoover, United States food administrator, to proceed with the organization of the new food administration so far as it relates to the conservation of food and the elimination of waste through cooperation of volunteer forces. Following is the text of the President's letter to Mr. Hoover:1 It seems to me that the inauguration of that portion of the plan for food administration which contemplates a national mobilization of the great voluntary forces of the country which are ready to work toward saving food and eliminating waste admits of no further delay. The approaching harvesting, the immediate necessity for wise use and saving, not only in food but in all other expenditures, the many undirected and overlapping efforts being made toward this end, all press for national direction and inspiration. While it would in many ways be desirable to wait complete legislation establishing the food administration, it appears to me that so far as voluntary effort can be assembled we should not wait any longer, and therefore I would be very glad if you would proceed in these directions at once. The women of the Nation are already earnestly seeking to do their part in this our greatest struggle for the maintenance of our national ideals, and in no direction can they so greatly assist as by enlisting in the service of the food administration and cheerfully accepting its direction and advice. By so 1 From the Official Bulletin, Washington, D. C., July 18, 1917. |