WAGE-PEGGING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 7

WAGE-PEGGING

CHIFLEY SUPPORTED N.S.W. LABOUR' CAUCUS CLASHES DURING DEBATE SYDNEY, Dec. 5. The New South Wales State Labour caucus has refused to ask the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, to lift the wage-pegging regulations "to prevent a general transport strike." Members of the caucus, says the Dailv Telegraph, clashed frequently in the 'debate on the motion urging that the caucus should take this action. The debate began when tire Minister of Transport, Mr. O’Sullivan, warned the meeting that a general transport strike was likely soon in New South Wales because the transport workers were pressing hard for more pay and for special week-end rates. Mr. W. Sheehan, who moved that the caucus ask Mr. Chifley to lift the wagepegging regulations, said the Government should take more drastic action to prevent the threatened transport hold-up. The Premier, Mr. W. J. McKell, opposed the motion. He said it was nothing less than a move to censure Mr. Chifley and the Federal Government for their attitude to the wagepegging problem.

Mr. Sheehan replied that it was time the Federal Government was told in plain language what certain sections of the Labour Party thought about wage-pegging. He denied that he was censuring Mr. Chiflev or any minister of the Federal Government. Members who spoke during the debate indicated that there was a cleavage in the caucus, with one group supporting Mr. McKell and the other group supporting Mr. Sheehan.