LABOUR WORLD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17225, 16 August 1921, Page 7

LABOUR WORLD.

_ 4 UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAiN. DEMONSTRATION AT SHEITIEIJD. (By Cable—Pre»» Association—Copyright.) (Beater's T«lfigra- -.» (Received August 15uh, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. Thousands of unemployed in Sheffield made a demonstration against the inadequacy of relief. They attempted to capture the Town Hall. The polioe, using their tTunolieons freely, dispersed the crowds, which, in retreating, smashed windows in adjoining streets. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STRIKE. •; END IN SIGHT. MELBOURNE, August 15. The Federal Arbitration Court has exempted the 'Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Company of South Australia from the firemen's and enginedrivors' award for six months, unless the price of copper exceeds £77 ai ton in the interim. An, immediate resumption of work is expected as a result of the exemption. Representatives of the Australian Workers' Union waited on the l*lemier of South Australia (the Hon. H. N. Harwell) and nsked for assistance to relieve the distress at Wallaroo, Moonta, and Kadina. In roply to the request of the deputation, Mr Bar\vell,.said that tthey had told a pitiful tale of misery and distress. For seven months the minora at Moonta, Wallaroo, and Kadina had been out'of employment. The mines and smelters, upon wnfch so many hundreds depended, had been closed for the simplo season that the company oould not carry on except at a loss. The company had offered to resume work at .certain wages which wou'd allow no ma%in of profit: it had done that simply to find work for its former employees. He understood that about 1300 men were prepared to accept the terms offered, but a small numberabout 30—had not agreed. Representatives of the bulk of the men camo to him and asked him to heln them. What could, he doP He might possibly follow the example of the New South Wales Ministry in relation to Broken Hill, and give the men money doles. Mr Richards: They don't want charity. They want work. Mr Baiwcll said he waa glad to hear it, because to give the men money to Keep them in idleness in such circumstances would be ihe height of folly. Men who were'prepared to go to work at the wages offered by the company should bring the necessary pressure to bear on the small seotion of men who were holding up the industry to force thorn to work. The only way in which he could help .them to do this was to refuse their present request. , COST OF LIVING WAGE. (Received August 15th, 9.30 j.m.) . SYDNEY, August 15. At the Board of Trade enquiry into the cost of living, the Australian Mines and Metals Association and the Employers' Federation applied for a reduction of the living wage to £3 lis Id a week, in view of tho decreased cost of living, contending that if the present wage was maintained it would lead to further unemployment. -