LABOUR.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17060, 3 February 1921, Page 7

LABOUR.

BASIC WAGE REFUSED. (B 7 Cable—Press Association— Copyright.) (ittrtraiian. wd X.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, February 2. The Right Hon. W. M. Hughes told a deputation which was seeking the adoption of the basic wage recommendation, that Cabinet had no intention of giving effect to it. In the first place, the Commonwealth had no power to fix a basic wage for Australia, and could not legislate in that direction. In the second place, t)he wealth produced would not enable- the payment or the rates. , ~ _ , In the third place, the Government disagreed with the contention that rates applicable to * manned man with a. family should apply to single men also. SEAMEN'S DISPUTE. SYDNEY, February 2. It is officially stated that it will ba a fortnight before the seamen s ballob will be concluded, and the signed undertaking of the executive that there will bo no interruption of the services will not be forthcoming till then. The shipowners are insisting on the withdrawal of all the demands in excess of the provisions of the agreement of September. 1919, and the requu\E>mente of the Navigation Act before recommissioning the vessels. THE DIMINISHING WEEK. (Received February 2nd, 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 2. The Australian "Workers' Union Conference decided that in future members would not work more than thirty houra weekly, and there would be no Saturday work.