LABOUR WORLD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 7

LABOUR WORLD.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN. A SERIOUS INCREASE(By Cable—Fre«a Association —Copyright.) (Au*tr»lian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 2. Although 104,000 persons are engaged in ne.v relief works, representing a value pf £4.335.000, the unemployment exchanges disclose an increase in the number of wholly unemployed in the United Kingdom, who now total 1,832,400. IMPROVEMENT IN UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON, December 1. Mr H. C. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce. announced that the number of unemployed throughout the country had been reduced by more than 1,000,000 through the efforts of the National Unemployment Conference, and r.s a result severe suffering during the winter would be prevented. THOMAS LIBEL ACTION. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES AWARDED. (Received December 4th, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, December 2. In his libel action against the "Communist." Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., general secretary of tlio National Union of Railwaynien. was awarded £2OOO damages. No evidence was called for the defence.

Mr Justice Darling, in summing up, said defendants meant to drive Mr Thomas out of the Labour movement, which would mean downright .ruin to him. Referring to the miners' dispute, he said at one time such nets were illegal. They had seen how there was a partition dividing trade union disputes from disputes which became in a mpment Woody revolution. Mr Thomas's position was ambiguous and difficult. Ha was acting with men who were avowed revolutionary Communists, but Mr Thomas did not associate himself with their objects.

AUSTRALIAN WORKING WEEK. REDUCTION OP HOURS REFUSED. (Received December 4th, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE. December 4. The Commonwealth Arbitration Court delivered its decision in connexion with the application by a number of unions, including the Gas Employees' Union, the Australian Workers' Union, and the Federated Enginedrivers' and Firemen's Association, for shorter working hours. 4 The President, in announcing . the Court's refusal of the applications, said the Court would not be justified iii adding to the abnormal unemployment by reducing the standard working hours. A general reduction of. hours from 48 to 44 per week in Australia at the present time would be a serious blow to industries generally, and particularly to the workers. It would be impossible for Australia working -14 hour's a week, to compete with England, Canada, and the. Continent, where wages were less and hours of work longer, and workers were anxious oo aocept piece-work.

If there was ever a time when the Australian standard hours should, in the interests of the employees and the general public, not be reduced, excepting in special cases, it was the present. The President pointed out that the judgment did not prevent employers and employees from contracting in regard to the number of hours to be worked, and thus prevent an industry stopping, and it did not apply in special cases.