LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 8

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

"COME TO STAY"

THE WAGES QUESTION

(Speolal to "Tho Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 15th January. The Australian Labour Party having : fonght so porsistently for a great mini- , bor of years for what may bo termed the Australian standard of living, and the rank and filo of Labour having made many sacrifices for that end, it is.not. to bo expected that the miners ■of New South Wales will lightly sur- ' render tho.standard in operation before , the present crisis. That is the opinion of tho Hon. Robert Sproulo, member of : the Legislative Council of New South "Wales, who was Solicitor-General in the Storey and Dooley Cabinots, 1920-22. : He arrived at Auckland on tho Marama ; yesterday with a fortnight's holiday in prospect. "In my opinion, the prosperity of the ■ -worker means the prosperity of the . Commonwealth," said Mr. ''Sproule in an with the Auckland "Star." /'Wages in Australia are too low. I ■cannot see how a working man can live ion the basic wage of £4 2s 6d. Rents ■', are very high and property expensive, : and I fail to see how a man with a wife and two children can ever hope to own his own home on that wage, nor. 'can he put anything aside for the evil day of sickness or misfortune. Personally, I can't see how a man with a family could live on less than £.6 a week. The trouble at the mines may be taken as an indication of the tendency to attempt a reduction of the '■ Australian standard o"f living." PLENTY OP PUNCH. •;■ He expressed the. opinion that the Australian worker puts plenty of punch into his work, and he gives a good day's . work for a small day's pay.. It is his conviction that enormous wealth has vbeen accumulated by big Australian : firms, by reason of the inflation of and ho said, that the enori mous establishments seen on every .hand wetfe inonuments_to this accumulation. Saving become accustomed to Ihuge profits, the owners of these great became very restive and dis- ,■ satisfiedl ;wh£n they were compelled to ; accept a-smaller-margin, ~ \ Tho now tariff had been accepted much demur, said Mr. Sproule. I Australia had determined to-persist in -;a policy of a high protective tariff. generally; there was no ocea.sion for pessimism in New South Wales. ; LABOUE COME TO STAY. I Speaking more particularly, of political matters,-Mr. Sproulo said he believed that Labour would remain in office for a protracted period, and it was hia conviction that tho elections of .■the State Legislatures would reveal ; -next year a big swing in favour of Labi.lour. There could bo no doubt that Mi1. .Laing was unpopular with a section of the Press, • but Mr.... Sproule did not ;believe that the Labour leader was unpopular with the people. The Labour Party had always been unpopular with a section of the Press. Whether serious or not, that section persisted in stating that no good could come of a Labour Government. In the nature of party politics there would, however, /always be a party desirous of pushing ahead, and another party which would act aa a brake. Labour had come to stay in Australia. "CAUTIOUS AND RELIABLE." "I believe," continued Mr. Sproule, "that the Federal Labour Government is just as cautious and reliable as Mr. Bamsay Mac Donald's Government in Britain." Mr. Sproulo takes the view that the day may., corns when party politics, .'as._we i'iLow ftierii, will dis= appear. A different type of Governinerifc will appear. A co-operative." Go- "■'' vernment will "hold sway, just as there will be a eo-operativo Commonwealth. "The ideals of the Labour Party are very high," ho added. "Whether or not they are practicable remains to be seen." Reverting to the coal industry crisis, he said that law and order had to be . maintained, and no power could stand against a Government, but the action of.the Nationalist State Government in New South Wales would be pronounced upon by tho people next year. Although the people as a whole had a short memory, the action of tho Nationalist Government in the present crisis would not bo forgotten. That jv Government was not beloved of the ~' people. Mr. Sproule said ho would not blame Mr. Bavin altogether, as he did not believe that tho Premier was solely responsible. ' <