“THE ONLY GLEAM OF LIGHT”

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 10

“THE ONLY GLEAM OF LIGHT”

INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES

OUTSPOKEN COMMENT Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 18. Conditions in New South Wales are bad, and the only gleam of light is the Conciliation Conference introduced with a view to getting workmen and employers together so that each might have a more intimate knowledge of the other’s viewpoint, and that the workers might be brought to realise that “go slow” methods and high wages lead only to disaster and debacle. This is the opinion of Sir Arthur Cocks, ex-Lord Mayor of Sydney, and one of that city's most prominent employers, who was outspoken on the conditions in Australia, on his arrival from Sydney by the Marama to-day. “Australian people will not like what I say, but I am going to say it,” he added. Sir Arthur said New South Wales was suffering from a failure to recognise that Governments cannot tax to pay for all humanitarian legislation, as it might be described by a section of the community. When the Government wanted to take, as it was doing, from industry and the men who were shouldering the responsibility of producing such a large proportion of earnable income, they killed the incentive to expand. “We have an extreme Workers’ Compensation Act that the insurance companies would not look at at first, ami a child endowment that an insane Government thought they could superimpose on the industry of the country without reducing the basic wage,” added Sir Arthur. “The basic wage in New South Wales, on a basis of a man, his wife, and two children, is £4 ss. a week, and 60 per cent, of the workers have neither wife nor child. Humanitarianism is taking away the self-re-spect of the people.” On top of all this they had a new Income Tax Bill, revealing inexperience and ignorance, and brought forward in obstinacy. All these things, together with excessive rates and taxes, meant that at least 25 per cent, of the net profits of every company operating in Sydney were claimed either by the Federal, State, or municipal authorises. The losses the owner could carry himself. Sydney's “Big Four,” including Sir Hugo Hirst, had struck a gleam of light, the idea of the Conciliation Conference being accredited to them. Sir Arthur added that this was the only gleam of light that he saw. Reviewing conditions in the Commonwealth during the past year, Sir Arthur said that the most prosperous State was Western Australia, which was developing rapidly. No doubt, owing largely to the number of unemployed, Adelaide had been under a

cloud for the past twelve months. “Melbourne has undoubtedly felt the removal of the Federal Government to Canberra,” Sir Arthur said. “Wherever there is the seat of Government you will find people congregating from all parts of the State. This stream to Melbourne has ceased. Melbourne, however, is sure to reassert itself, and the solid basis of stability is not likely to be shaken.” Sydney had not enjoyed a year of expansion; in many cases commerce had fallen below the average standard of prosperity, although the pastoral industries had no cause for complaint.