DISUNIONISTS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2124, 16 May 1922, Page 5

DISUNIONISTS.

MENACING AUSTRALIA. WORKERS MUST ASSERT THEMSELVES. GOVERNMENT APATHY. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 15. Mr. Ley, Minister of Justice, in dealing with the growth of Communism in the Labour movement, instanced several recent attempts to promote sectional strikes with a view to involving other union's. 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 stressed the serious possibility of widespread trouble and urged the workers to assert themselves and not allow themselves to be le.il 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 members 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 the salaries of public servants will be reduced by 7/- 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 the Government has nothing whatever to do with the reduction of wages, which is :he function of the Court. SHEARERS' WAGES.

Monday, 7 p m.) BRISBANE, May 15. In the Arbitration Court Mr. Justice McCawley, in delivering judgment in the application of the Graziers' Association for a variation of the Shearers' Award, said he found nothing in the evidences to lead him to alter the ruling rate of 40/ per hundred. (Received Monday. 7 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 15. A ineating of gas workers decided against striking, pending a lawful settlement of the dispute. WESTRALIAN POLITICS. PERTH, May 15. The biennial elections of the Legislative Council were marked by small pells. The returns are too incomplete to indicate the result. One of the first motions lo be discussed in the Western Australian Legislative Council at the forthcoming session will be one asking for a referendum regarding the advisability of the State taking steps to secede from the Commonwealth federation.