LABOUR MATTERS

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17104, 28 March 1921, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS

UNEMPLOYMENT IN ENGLAND.

FIGURES MOUNTING UP.

(Br Cable—Press Association—Copvri<?ht) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Associa£ion.) LONDON, March 25.

Tho unemployed increased by 57,000 during the week, and now total 1,375,400, of whom 912,000 are men.

COPPER MINERS' CHOICE,

BRISBANE, March 26

The general manager of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company • conferred with representatives of the unions, and explained that owing to the parlous plight of the copper market all employees from himself to tho oiik-e boy had to choose between .a reduction of wages of 20 per cent, or unemployment. It is understood the unions contemplated a reduction in wages, but not of 20 per cent. (Received March 27th, 5.0 p.m.) BRISBANE. March 27.

,The Mount Morgan employees decided to leave the question of the reduction of wages to the Arbitration Court.

HOBART, March 26. The Mt. Lyell Company submitted a statement to the employees showing the cost of working and the price of copper. and suggested the of an 88-houf fortnight and a reduction of wages of from 10 to 15 per cent.

MINING TROUBLE FEARED,

(Received March 27th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. March 25.

The conference of district delegates to the Miners' Federation rejected the coal-owners' proposal to return to the pre-war system of the different coalfields instead of tho /uniform national rate prevailing under State control, therefore a general stoppage _on the coalfields is expected when the industry is decontrolled on March 31st.

RESUMPTION OP INDUSTRY.

(Received March 27th, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, March 25. Walatesta and his accomplices have been committed for trial on twelve charges of plotting against the State. The sympathetic strikes aro collapsing.

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR PARTY.

(Received March 27th. 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 27. The annual conference of the Australian Labour Party has opened._ The Press is excluded. Mr Lambert, in his presidential address, after_ reviewing the past year's progress, said «the party favoured the compulsory subdivision or large estates. Until this was accomplished immigration was unthinkable.