AUSTRALIAN LABOUR: DIVISIONS SEEN AMONG LEADERS

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR: DIVISIONS SEEN AMONG LEADERS

SYDNEY, March 19.

In the highest ranks of political Labour in Australia a lack of unity is becoming ever more discernable as the Parliamentary session proceeds. A faction within the Cabinet itself which fought shrewdly against the adoption of the Bretton Woods agreement is carrying on the battle in other fields. . The most recent illustration of this was when the Minister of Transport (Mr E. J. Ward) walked from the House of Representatives rather than vote on the Stevedoring Industry Commission Bill. The incident occurred after Mr Ward had vainly tried to persuade Dr H. V. Evatt either to delete or to refer to the caucus a clause providing that the Stevedoring Industry Commission shall establish from time to time the number of waterside workers required at any port, and shall have power to cancel or suspend the registration of waterside workers surplus to that number.

This provision is designed to complement legislation ratifying payments to men who attend labour calls but do not secure work. It is intended to reduce the possibility of the taxpayer giving what is a virtual pension to healthy young waterside workers.

That there should be differences of opinion-on matters such as this is not surprising. Labour men are perturbed however, at the fact that such differences have been allowed to show themselves first in the Cabinet deliberations and then in the open House.

Many moderate unionists are enraged at the actions of the Sydney waterside workers and factions in the Miners' Federation, because industrial legislation is being delayed and jeopardised by the harassing tactics of a militant minority. It is possible Mr Ward misjudged this growing feeling of irritation.

“His gesture will not gain him support in the party, but it does raise anew the question of Cabinet solidarity and corporate responsibility for its decisions/' comments the Canberra correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald. “The Prime Minister was disposed to disregard Mr Ward’s action, but an occasion is inevitably coming when he will have to demand of Mr Ward loyalty to decisions that at least will keep out of the public eye these evidences of party dissension.”

The battle of the factions will be sin ustpw ‘AupssupsAV u 0 um§u uo Stevedoring Industry Commission Bill will again be discussed by the caucus. That Mr Ward will continue his fight there in spite of the fact that the bill has been passed through all stages of the Lower House is considered certain. Labour members then will be precipitated into Thursday’s debate on the ratification of the Breton Woods agreement. Opposition members, whose attitude to Bretton Woods has not yet been defined, will be waiting to see whether Labour will continue its internecine strife on the floor of the House.