ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 135, 3 March 1922, Page 5

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

THE CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY

PROPOSALS OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

BY TELEGRAPH—PBESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIGHT. (Rec. March 2, 11.45 p.m.) Sydney, March 2

The Economic Conference was resumed to-day. The employers tabled proposals which included the. recognition of the basic wage; forty-eight hours per week, the introduction of piecework, which in their opinion is the most effective means of increasing production, and the adoption of a scheme of profit sharing. The employees countered this with proposals which included no reduction in wages or the lengthening of hours; unemployment insurance as a risk and charge upon industry and an effective share by the workers in the control of industry, with tho appointment of a joint commission composed of representatives of the Federal and State Governments, employers, and trade unions to devise technical means by which continuity of operations in industry would be preserved during a period of crisis. During the debate a representative of the Broken Hill Proprietary stated that when orders were completed the company would be compelled to close the Newcastle steel works until costs were reduced sufficiently t-o enable the company to secure further orders. — Press Assn.