AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 31 January 1946, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Sydney Clerks’ Union QUESTION OF COMMUNIST CONTROL. SYDNEY, Jan. 30. The struggle in the Clerks’ Union against what a number of members claim to oe Communist dictatorship, is carried a step further with the posting to New South Wales members of a ballot paper asking them to vote on three* questions. Those members who are opposed to the regime of the present executive, maintain that the ballot is designed to confuse the issues and to counter the rising tide of dissatisfaction. The first' question, which consists of over 100 words, enunciates the principle that the Union is non-sec-tarian and non-political. The second relates to attempts by employers to compel clerks to perform labouring or non-clerical duties. The third refers in a roundabout way to the demand for an extraordinary election. The insurgent members have reacted very positively to the challenge. INDUSTRIAL PEACE CONFERENCE CANBERRA, Jan. 30. The Industrial Peace Conference postponed in December because of the strikes in New South Wales, should be convened immediately, according to Senator McLeary, the Opposition Leader in the Senate. The next urgent economic task facing Australia, he said, was that of establishing stability in industry. Everything possible to prevent industrial stoppages should be attempted by the Government. The first step should be to encourage frank interchanges of views between employers and employees. It was deplorable that the Government had not convened the conference since the steel strike ended. SUCCESSFUL CO-OP SCHEME SYDNEY, Jan. 30. The American co-operative profitsharing scheme is in successful operation in Australia, said Mr W. I. Miskoe, Australian Managing Director of the Lincoln Electric Company at a meeting of the Institute of Industrial Management. Profit-sharing could achieve even greater success in Australia than in the United States, he said, because of the intelligence of Australian workers. A small Sydney factory had been in operation for five years, but last year a bonus of 41400 was distributed among, 70 employees. In America, Lincoln factories had never lost an hour because of friction between. workers and the management. THE BEER TROUBLE. CANBERRA, Jan. 30. Australia will import 4100,000,000 worth of hops from the United States. The purchase of 47 tons has been made from the dollar pool and will be shipped shortly. The Government will soon authorise the purchase of a larger amount. The Prime Minister. Mr J. B. Chifley, said to-day that the importation of hops was necessary to maintain Australia’s beer supply as Tasmanian production had fallen 25 per cent. FERRY BOATS FOR AUCKLAND SYDNEY, Jan. 29. Two vehicular ferries, the George Peat and the Frances Peat, which have been purchased by the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, Auckland, will leave Sydney for Auckland in about weeks’ time. Captain J. Forbes, general manager of the company, who came to Sydney to negotiate the purchase of the ferries, said the vessels had boon fitted with seagoing false bows for service which they had carried out for the Royal Australian Navy as transports in the islands during the war. It was not anticipated that any difficulty would be experienced in sailing the vessels to New Zealand. The machinery of the ferries is being overhauled.