COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

LABOUR AND CAPITAL AN OFFICIAL SUSPENDED. THE REFERENDUM PROPOSALS fßy Cable.—Press Association.-Copyright.) (Received 1.80 am.) SYDNEY, this day. Although the State officials of the Australian Workers' Union are unanimous in their opposition to the Federal Government's referendum proposals the general president of the union (Senator Barnes) has announced his intention of supporting a referendum on the question of regulation of industry and commerce. The Australian Labour party has suspended the ex-president of the party, Mr. E. C. MacGrath, from the position as one of the State representatives of the Federal executive. The charge against him was that he flouted the orders of the State executive in not unconditionally opposing the referendum proposals .at the recent meetings of the Federal executive. — (A. and N.Z.) "WORKERS' COMPENSATION. INSURANCE RATE INCREASE. HANDICAPPING MALINGERERS (Received 1.30 p.m.) SYDNEY,, this day. According to a statement issued by the Accident Underwriters' Association of New South Wales the rates for insurances under the Workers' Compensation Act for 1926, which come into force on July 1 next, will be at least four times greater than the old rates. The president of the Chamber of Manufactures, referring to the new rates, said the increased costs must be offset by every practicable economy. Towards this end the chamber is installing its own X-ray equipment, massage parlours, electrical and hot air treatments, etc., in the hope by this means to protect itself against the malingerer and give every facility to the' honest worker to regain his normal health as soon as possible.—(A. and N.Z.) AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE. WAGES AND PENNY POST. t Received 1.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. In the House of Representatives, in reply to a question as to whether penny postage could not be inaugurated to coincide with the opening of the Federal capital at Canberra, tlio PostmasterGeneral said tire impracticability of this being done would be seen when lie mentioned that since he (Mr. Gibson) came into office new awards had added a million sterling to the Department's wages bill. He said if Australia' 3 telephone charges were the same as made by private companies in the United States, revenue to the Department would be £3.000,000 greater than now.—(A. and N.Z.) SHEARERS' AWARD. INCREASE IN WAGES. (Received 1.30 p.m.) PERTH, June 18. Delivering judgment in the case in which the Australian Workers' Union asked the Federal Arbitration Court to grant increased wages and improved conditions in the pastorai industry, Mr. Justice Powers increased shearing rates from 38/ to 40/ per 100 sheep. Station hands were awarded £2 14/S with keep and £4 2/ without.—(A. and N.Z.) FEDERAL CABINET. t NEW APPOINTMENTS. MELBOURNE, June 18. A reshuffle of the Federal Cabinet has been made owing to the retirement of Sir Victor Wilson, Minister of Markets aud Migration, whose term in the Senate will expire at the end of this month. Mr. Thomas Paterson will replace Sir Victor. Senator Sir William Glasgow will take the portfolio of Home Territories hitherto held by Mr. G. F. Pearce. Mr. Pearce will be vice-president of the Executive Council and will continue as Government Leader in the Senate. Mr. L. Atkinson, who has been vicepresident of the Executive Council, will retire from the Ministry. Victoria will now have six representatives in the Federal Cabinet.— (A. and N.Z.) BACK TO WORK. SYDNEY', June 18. The coal conference has arranged final detr providing for a general resumption in all mines on Tuesday. After a six weeks' strike the enginedrivers and firemen resumed work, in order to have the collieries ready for the general resumption. — (A. and 2\.Z.)