NEW RATES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1930, Page 6

NEW RATES

SHEARERS IN AUSTRALIA. SIGNIFICANT MOVES. SYDNEY, July’ 31. .The tacit acceptance by the Australian Workers’ Union, one of tlie most powerful organisations o? workers in Australia, of the 20 per cent, cut in shearers rates, as decided upon by the Arbitration Court, is significant. It is true that the executive has not advised its members to accept the new rate, but the intimation that the new rate may be accepted—than no action will be taken- by members who work under the amended award—will be taken as advice in that direction. This means that the threatened strike of shares is doomed -to failure.

The A.W.U. has . always been a stickler for arbitration, and in view of that, could scarcely go against - an award of ; the. Court. Its policy- was probably due to'the fact tliat the-Court was kind, bp. its members .wUen t-he wool ifieWbry was at > .the , height of prosperity,- r-Now .the r reverse -is: ?the: case, and-it has/been emphasised that the.. Costs, of/t}ie clip must ; be -broughtdown if- the;industry -is,to; fie maintain--edi /At /most.. difficult time•> then, this -.great'Union, while regarding the - new-.; award -as. 1 .: “unsatisfactory r‘ ’ declares its adherence to . tlie .policy of arbitration, and aeceptfc t-he new minimum rates. The general', spread of reason, and the general hCcbptaiice of unpleasant facts—the general fall m values—are hopeful ./.signs. Nobody wants to see the wage standards reduced, but this seems inevitable in Australia to-day, and the A.W.U. has set a valuable lead.

Of course., it was not to be expected that all the shearers would accept the new rates uncomplainingly. There have been spikes,, in some and these liayje been followed) tyith swift'prosecutions,and fines.; .Huweyor-,, in South Austrjdia, and, at l ; njffsfiodf the stations, - shearijigM'hasproceeded as The prospect; of a early 'coilapse/jqf ,;the trouble- fimiNew South Wales .is inow. particu 1 ar.ly-'bright, ■ for it is recognised that itcwould; be impossible, to . figlit- the Might: intone State only aindt.win. More .especially would, it be hard:.to wiii Hvitlih «the graziers united, ifis : they -shave “ t'behrijand willing to assist one another, or to cinplov free labour should -that have been necessary. And with so many men unemployed there would have been no , difficulty lii getting ail' the labour required. : o:v..