DRASTIC STEPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 5

DRASTIC STEPS

IN NEW SOUTH WALES TO RELIEVE DEPRESSION REVERSION TO FORTY-EIGHT HOUR WEEK 'United Prong Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received 24th March, 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The State Cabinet sat protractedly during the week-end, discussing measures to retrieve the financial and industrial depression. The Premier and Treasurer declined to issue a statement concerning their deliberations. Later Mr Stevens, the Treasurer, met Mr Geary, Commissioner of Railways, when it was decided that all railway employees under Federal awards should work 48 instead of 44 hours weekly. This was announced late last night with dramatic suddenness, as union representatives were to have met to-day to consider how far they will co-operate with the Commissioner in effecting the economies he had already outlined to them. Twenty-two thousand railwaymen will be immediately affected by the lengthened week, which means a saving of £303,000 in the wages bill. Mr Cleary is arranging in order to avoid dismissals that the men work reduced time.

A general 48 hour week is to be reverted to in the State, and others besides the public service will be asked to make sacrifices in order to reduce the cost of production and relieve distress and unemployment. Mr Wills, Secretary of the Public Service Association, says that if the proposals are put into operation the Government will have to face a charge of repudiation. "It looks as if we shall have to fight the Ministry in opposition to these obnoxious schemes of reduction," he said.

Miners' representatives will meet Mr Theodore and Mr Beasley to-day in an endeavour to force the Federal Government to intervene on the ground that reopening the mines at reduced rates of wages is illegal. If they cannot obtain this object the men will ask for a Federal subsidy of ninepence per ton of coal pending a new award. The Railway Budget will be submitted to the Assembly this week outlining the various economies decided upon, also forecasting reduced fares and freights.