STRIFE AND DISUNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 398, 16 May 1922, Page 5

STRIFE AND DISUNION

EXTREMISTS IN AUSTRALIA.

WORKERS LED ASTRAY,

By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, May 15

Mr Ley, Minister of Justice, in dealing with (he growth of Communism in tlie Labour movement, instynced several recent: attempts to promote sectional strikes with a view to involving other unions. Only when they found the weight of public opinion against them were these attempts abandoned, but they were, still being engineered in other directions. He stressod the serious possibility of widespread trouble and urged the workers to assert, themselves and not allow themselves to bo led like sheep to the slaughter by a group of imported extremists, who could not exist except by causing strife and disunion. On the other hand, the Government is being criticised, both by membors inside its own party and by outsiders, for its delay in dealing with the increasing unemployed difficulty, The new basic wage adds complications, as if the Government gazettes it, it will mean that; the salaries of public servants will be reduced by 7s weekly. Opponents, particularly Labourites, are utilising these factors in support of their contention that the Government policy aims at a general reduction in wages and lengthening the hours of labour. This is strenuously refuted by members of Cabinet, who point out that the Government has nothing whatever to do with the reduction of wages, which is the function of the Court.—Press Association.

REPLY TO CRITICISM

THE GOVERNMENT'S LEGACY.

Received Mav 16, 11.5 a.m. 'SYDNEY, Mav 16.

Replying to the criticism of the Government over the industrial position, Sir (1. Fuller explained that the Government had been in office only a mouth and was unable to relieve unemployment by simply issuing a minute on the problem. He was communicating with the Broken Hill Proprietary with the object of the steelworks resuming and other relief works were under consideration. A Cabinet meeting to day will discuss Mr Cock's minute urging the adoption of a new basic wage.—Press Assn. UTTERANCES UNIONISTS. DIRECT ACTION SUGGESTED. Received Mav 16, 11.5 a.m. SYDNEY, May 16. Mr Garden, replying to Mr fjoy, covers much of the ground in his previous reply, lie adds that Mr Ley has shifted his ground and is unable to prove his charges against the communist schools, and directs charges against the union leaders, whom he accuses of inciting strikes. Mr Ley, retaliating finally, quotes the utterances of several leading unionists, wherein direct action is suggested if the arbitration decisions are unsatisfactory.

THE SHEARERS' AWARD

RULING RATE .NOT CHANGED,

BRISBANE, May 15

in the Arbitration Court Mr Justice McCawley, in delivering judgment in the application of the Graziers' Association for c'i variation of the shearers' award, said he found nothing in the evidence to lead him to alter the ruling rate of 40s per hundred. —Press Association.

GASWORKERS' DISPUTE.

MELBOURNE. May 15.

A meeting of gusworkers decided against striking pending a lawful settlement of the dispute.—-Press Association.

WORKS CLOSING DOWN

SYDNEY", May 15

The Cockle Creek roasters and smelters have closed owing 10 luck of ore, this being due mainly to the decreased output of the Central uiines at Broken Hill.—Press Association.