UNITED STATES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 April 1922, Page 5

UNITED STATES.

LABOUR CONDITIONS

MANY MEN OUT OF WORK

When asked whether he had heard of. any striking changes in industrial conditions in the United States, Senator Pearce, who returned to Sydney a few days ago from the Washington Conference, said there was a large number of unskilled workmen out of employment. He was told, too, that ma"ny ey- soldiers were looking for work. Senator Pearce said a railway board in the United States had issued an award/which affected overtime conditions. "Eight hours is still the ordinary working day," he went on, "but a man can be called upon to work ten hours at ordinary rates, that is, without being paid at overtime rates. Previously payment was made for all time worked over eight hours at overtime rates!^ When this alteration came into operation there was a protest by the workers, but it was not very vigorous. When I arrived in America there were rumours of a big railway strike, but the Government adopted a firm attitude, and there was no stoppage." Seriator Pearce added tliat in America very little seemed to have been done in the direction of training incapacitated soldiers so as to enable them to earn a living. So far as the Federal Government in the United States was concerned, there was notning in the way of housing or land settlement for returned soldiers.