A SYDNEY LETTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 12

A SYDNEY LETTER.

WORK AND WAGES. [From Oun Correspondent.] August 10. How far Labour in Australia has beeomo infiltrated by • tho doctrine of “Go'Slow” can only be a matter of speculation for the present, at any rate. But there arc at. least reasonable grounds for supposing that the slow-goers arc numerous and acti\c propagandists. The resolutions passed by unions, the tone of the Labour Press, the statistics ot industry (in some branches at any rate) and the statements by public officers support that view. The Railway Commissioners, the largest employers of labour in Australia, arc frequently heard warning tho employees of the Department. Mr Hoyle,' the Minister, the other day said that slow working would bo met by dismissal. 1 These men arc not talking without reason —at least it is fair to assume they are not. -Recent investigations made by the ( ommonwealth Government, into the workin ( r of the military clothing factory showed beyond-doubt, that in them “go slow ” was a rule of conduct having manv supporters. Down in A ictoria the State Government is impressed by the idea that commercial progress' is being seriously hampered by limitation of output and is considering whether some system of. piecework and profit sharing might not advantageouslv be substituted for the basis of -the weekly wage on which existing Mages Boards awards are founded. And manv people besides are beginning to suspect, with Mr Justice Higgins, that the standard-minimum wage is a deadly mistake. One day last week the Victorian Minister for Agriculture arranged with Professor P. B. Kennedy, American commercial atftafche, to deliver a lecture to employees in certain trades on the question of piecework and bonus as against day work. The employees represented the iron trades,the clothing trade, coachbuilding (including trimming and painting) and other industries. No employers were present at this conference. Having listened to Professor Kennedy, the men expressed their appreciation of the address. It was admitted that present conditions wore not satisfactory to the efficient workman, who was kept down to the level of the inefficient; but at the same timo the men were concerned lest unscrupulous employers should endeavour to cut the piecework rates when their employees became expert. The view was taken that labour was so well organised that there would be no difficulty in arranging schedule rates for piecework which would bo satisfactory for employer and employee; and that tho rates could he regulated by law in some trades. It was arranged that these men should attend the lecture on national efficiency, to bo delivered bv Mr E. C. M r . Kelly, lecturer at tho Melbourne University m political economy, and that they should subsequently meet tho Minister m conference. each man bringing with, him a friend, who was opposed to the piecework system. In this way Mr Hageltliorn hopes to extend the discussion among the employees. THE STATE RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS.

The Now Zealand railways haring had a successful year, readers of the “Lyttelton Times” may be interested to hear that the New South Wales railways have not. -There is a very substantial deficit on tho year’s working, despite increased passenger and train miles run. Tho working expenses amounted to £5,311,162, an increase of £350,000, absorbing' 70.71 per cent of tho revenue as compared with 69.73 in tho previous year. * “ The comparison,” says tho report, “ may appear unfavourable, but it should be borne in njind thUt during the previous year many branch line services were curtailed, a considerable section of tho staff was employed on 6hort time, and repairs of engines and other rolling stock were held over to as great an extent as possible, while during the year just closed the staff worked full time, full train services have been granted on all branch lines, and additional services given' to meet the public convenience, and repairs held over from the previous year have been carried out in addition to the year’s normal work. > Wages Boards' awards have also considerably increased the expenditure by raising the wages of certain sections of the staff, and automatic increases provided for in earlier awards have further added to the burden. Materials of all kinds have been purchasable only at. very greatly increased cost, owing partly to war conditions causing reduction of mannfactßro and partly to increases in wages adding to the cost of the materials locally produced. It should also be mentioned that a heavy debit, not properly chargeable against railway and tramway operation, has been incurred in the payment of the difference between their departmental and military pay to 'em-, ployees' serving with tho Expeditionary Forces. Tho additional cost incurred under theso heads amounts to £161.524.” /

There re 4188 miles of railway open in the State, representing a capita! investment of £08,825,592, During the year 9*3,850,838 passengers (increase 4.076,387) were carried and 11.915,500 tons (decrease 5381) of goods handled. It now costs 5s 3d to run a train mile. In 1906 tho cost was 3s 10id. Particulars of the year's working:— 4 T?ever;no . ' . ' . . 5,006.078 ‘Working expenses . , . s,6Gl’loß Net revenue ... 2.844,910 j Interest on capital . . 2,568,659 Deficit . . . . . £223,749 Last year the deficit was £23,331. The tramways, which are inauagcd by the | Railway Department, make a better : shewing, having a. surplus, though it is £3843 less than last year. There are 220 miles of track, the capital cost being £8.166,423. During the year 26.451.442 train miles were run and 292.021,774 passengers carried. Details : £ Revenue .... 1,991,628 Working expenses . . 1.603,<550 Net revenue . . , . 388.978 Interest on capital . . Sot?,6S6. Surplus . . £56,292 Tho total staff (railways and - tramways) on the books numbered. 48,588 (of whom 4914 wore serving with the Expeditionary Forces), the . average throughout the year being 4-8.757, viz..:—Railways, 39.182; tramways. 9575. as compared with 37.403 and 9309 respectively for the previous year, or an increase of 2045. This increase is due to the greatly increased number of men who were serving with the Expeditionary Forces, and wliose names are being retained on the books of the department. The latest information available gives tho following list of casualties a.t the front:—Killed in action, died of wounds or illness, ISO; missing. 19; besides about 300 wounded Tho value of the concessions anti advances mado to the whole of tho staff, whether engaged on capital or working expenses account, represents a cost at tho rate of £615,005 per annum, in which the wages staff will participate to the extent of £513,593 per annum