WORK AND WAGES

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 185, 6 August 1920, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

VALIDITY OF NAVIGATION ACT

GRAVE SITUATION IN COAL IN-

DUSTRY

[Press Association.] > j (Received Aug., 5, 9.15 p.nu) SYDNEY, Aug. 5.

The Coastal Steamship Owners' Association has circularised the ownera in other States asking for subscriptions to defra,v' the cost of testing the validity of the Navigation Act.

•The-. situation of the coal industry is one of increased gravity. Mr Willis, secretary'of''the'Miners' Federation, has announced that i the men refused to accept any settlement on-the basis of the Industrial Peace Bill. - He added that the position was most serious. The. men took the strongest objections to Mr'Hughes's industrial peace measures, because they persisted' in regarding the workers as wage slaves whose standard of living must be settled for them! by their masters. The men refused to accept any settlement until given equal economic partnership in the community.: Until thus was .'accomplished there would never again ibe industrial peace. ! It is estimated that 30,000 people are idle as a.result, of the shearers' strike.