AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 143, 21 May 1925, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

SERIOUS INDICTMENT.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WORKERS,

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 21, 11.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Alay 21. Mr W. J. Russell, a well-known English salvage expert, in a serious indictment of Australian labour engaged in the shipbuilding industry, cited figures showing the work done and the costs in the salvage of the steamer City of Singapore. Temporary repairs, said Air Russell, should have been finished in a maximum of 26 days, but they actually lasted for 72. Good men, some Australian and soma English, gave of their best throughout and worked loyally, but others, played a part unworthy of tho traditions of wellorganised labour. Mr Russell cited tho case of one man who drilled 37 holes of seven-eighths of an inch diameter through shell plating three-quarters of an inch thick in two hours, whilst another o:n the opposite side of the steamer drilled 42 similar holes ir. 2£ day 3. The implement used and the conditions of labour and supervision were identical in each case. In another caso a plater made a dozen awkward plates in 4i hours, while another took the bes.. purr of the day to make three small ones. This was all reflected in the heavy costs. For example, rivets worth IDs per 100 in England cost 9s each at Port Adelaide; drilled holes worth a penny each c Ist 4ti 2£d each. This, incidentals, was keeping contract work nway from Australia.—Press Association.