N.Z. POLITICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 9

N.Z. POLITICS.

, 1 I AUSTRALIANS INTERESTED. UNION SECRETARY'S VIEW. ) "People in New South Wales are tak- ; ing an extraordinary interest in political affairs in New Zealand. Wherever one i goes one is asked about the position over here. The majority of those I met were more than sympathetic 1 towards the achievements of the New • Zealand Government." > This was the impression brought back I from Australia by Mr. T. Stanley, sec- - retary of the Auckland Builders and r General Labourers' Union, who returned ; by the Niagara to-day from a short visit r to Sydney. "Unemployment is actually on the t increase in New South Wales in spite , of the stories we hear of how business | is booming," Mr. Stanley continued. l '"For October the number of unemployed rose by (SOOO. As for the sustenance rates, they are not to be compared with > those existing In New Zealand. As an example, single men get 7/6 a week, half 1 of which is given in the form of rations." He thought there was little difference in the relative value of wages in Australia as compared with New Zealand. As far as hours were concerned, he said, he could speak of New South Wales only, where the railwaymen worked the shortest week —42J hours. "There's no 40-liour week over there," he added. He commented on the fact that the < Lang faction was much discredited in i the political life of New South Wales. . The loss of the "Labour Daily" and 2KY j broadcasting station had been a severe - blow to Mr. Lang and his followers. . Though there was still a political and . industrial split in Labour circles, there » was a strong movement afoot to bring about unity.