GROWING ANXIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 5

GROWING ANXIETY

AUSTRALIAN UNREST. PUBLIC BECOME UNEASY. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) SIDNEY, Sept. 27. Among all political parties and in all sections of the community a growing uneasiness is being aroused by the extent of current stoppages in New South Wales and by the complete disregard so often displayed for any authority, whether that of the government,

employer, or trade union. The Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) has been taken to task by the newspapers for his declaration that he would be no party to crucifying the workers. The fciydney Sun, in a leading article headed "Who is Crucified?" says it looks xery much as if hundreds of thousands of workers in New South Wales are being crucified by a few thousands who refuse to carry on essential public services. "It may be admitted," adds the Sun, "that the job of intervention, which may challenge the whole structure of unionism, and cause a struggle for power between industrial unionism and the Government, is one upon which any Government would be loth to enter.

"Yet the Government is a Government of the whole people and the alterative to such a struggle is nothing less than the abdication of power to the industrial pressure groups."

A proposal made in the House of Representatives by Sir Earle Page that all parties should meet on a nonpolitical basis to discuss current industrial unrest is strongly supported by the Sydney Press. "BLEEDING AUSTRALIA WHITE".

The Sydney Telegraph says: "We have probably not seen the worst yet of an industrial violence that is bleeding Australia white." More than 15,000 employees are idle in New South Wales today, says a Press Association message. The wharf labourers' dispute over the use of mechanical equipment has been, settled, and the men will resume work tomorrow.

The Jiunnerong power-house strike took a more serious turn when the strikers rejected the New South Wales Labour Council's offer to negotiate for a settlement. Fifteen mines are idle in New South Wales today, involving more than 3400 miners. The coal loss for the day is about 12,300 tons, the biggest for some ~ weeks. Settlement of the stoppage among the meat employees at Riverstone is hoped for today. Still idle are 6000 iron-workers at Port Kembla, 600 at the Bunnerong power station, and 4000 printers. Widespread black-outs, this morning in Sydney suburbs interferred with hospitals and, for the second time this week, a surgical operation had to be completed, by natural light.