LABOUR MATTERS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17627, 2 December 1922, Page 17

LABOUR MATTERS.

RAND MINING INDUSTRY.

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association ' CAPE TOWN, November 30. The report of the Mining Industry Commission, appointed to enquire into the circumstances of the Hand strike, makes a number of important suggestions. It recommends that the offer by the Chamber of Mines of a ratio of 10.5 natives to one European employed in the mines should be accepted. The Commission disapproves entirely of the proposal to classify the mines as rich or poor, with different rates of wages, according to classification.

Regarding economies, the report says that the experts are well paid, but the Commission is not prepared to say excessively paid. Regarding the natives the Commission suggests a higher scale of payment, and expresses the hope that it will be possiblo to find profitable employment for more Europeans in the mines. The wages they now receive are not regarded as extravagantly high. With reference to daily wages the report says that no further economy is possible under this heading, nor can any further reduction be made in contract prices. Dealing with the question of efficiency, the report says that the standard has fallen owing to incessant interference with the management by shop stewards. A stop has, however, been put to this since the strike. Another important factor in the decrease in efficiency is tho reduction of working hours, and the application of tho one-man-one job principle.

The Commission is convinced that compulsory arbitration is neither tho best nor the most practicable method of settling industrial disputes, and it recommends the registration of trades unions; also that any vote of the workers which may result in the stop page of work should bo secret, and be conducted under Government supervision.

FORTY-EIGHT HOURS' WEEK. DISPUTE IN SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, December 1

Owing to fifty polishers and grinders at not reporting for duty, the works will be compelled to close down as polisliing find grinding is a key industry, and operations cannot continue without them. STRIKE OF ACTORS. BERLIN THEATRE CLOSED. (Received December Ist, 7.30 p.m.) BERLIN, November 30. All the theatres are closed owing to a strike of actors. A popular comedian tried to organise an entertainment with the assistance of non-unionists. Strikers bought tickets and sat among the audience, and when the comedian appeared accused him of strike-break-ing. The audience hissed the offender off the stage. The strikers then took his place, and gave an impromptu performance. Soup kitchens have been opened for the poorer strikers. ARBITRATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ADELAIDE, December 1. The Premier, Sir Henry Harwell, withdrew the Bill designed to abolish the Arbitration Court in consequence of amendments made, by a combination of the Labour and Farmers' Parties.