100,000 WORKLESS

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1928, Page 5

100,000 WORKLESS

In Australia MENACE OE IMMIGRATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) MELBOURNE, March 26. At the reception to delegates attending the Eight Hours and Labour Day demonstration, Mr. Holloway said the problem of unemployment was closely linked up with migration. As fast as the Victorian State Ministry employed men, an equal number of new arrivals seeking work were dumped into the State. At least 5000 families within a short distance of the Melbourne Trades Hall were con fronted AqitMi starvation. They demanded the Governments should immediately call a halt with sail policies and agreements associated with migration, until at least those already here wtre provided with useful work. Mr. Scullin, Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, said that Mr. Bruce (the Federal Premier) had submitted figures |to show there were only 32,000 unemployed in Australia, but he (Mr Scullin), estimated there were a hundred thousand without work. Ho said that great stress had been laid upon the solution of the question of industrial unrest, but he did not know of any period when there was less industrial unrest in Australia. In the last census it was shown that the unemployment was due to lack of work to the extent of 50 per cent., while industrial disputes were responsible for only three per cent., the balance of the causes being sickness and accidents. EXPLOITATION OF MINERS LONDON, March 23. In the Commons private members day was devoted to Mr Green all’s contended that Mr. Baldwin had repeal of the eight hours Act, 1926. He contendtd that Mr Baldwin had reduced the miners standard of living below pre-war, yet- had not brought the promised prosperity in the industry. Mr. Lloyd George attacked the Government’s handling of the coal stoppage, and declared that the Eight Hours Act was costing ten million yearlv in unemployment pay, as well as ten and twenty million through the reduced price of coal. Mr King, replying, said that many of the coal industry’s ills were duo to Mr Lloyd George’s methods of giving way to the miners in every dispute. The Eight Hour Act reduced the cost of production by 2/6per ton, and enabled many mines to keep going, which otherwise would have had to close owing to foreign competition. The Bill was rejected by 114 4to 127 WALSH ISLAND STRIKE SETTLEMENT. SYDNEY, March 26. Practically the whole of the Walsh Island employees resumed work this morning. . : ■