AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17595, 7 October 1920, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

«> SHORTER WORKING WEEK. BURDENING THE COMMUNITY. A. *ud N.Z. MELBOURNE. Oct. 6. Mr. Justice Higgins has concluded his inqniry into the question of a standard 44-hour week. Replying to arguments that any— loss of production would be made good by the installation of more machinery and ■ consequent increased employment, he declared that he would never be a party to an arrangement which would add to the burdens of .the community and employers beyond the necessities of the moment. He would not reduce the hours, on the ground that by so doing he would be creating more employment. EXPORT COAL TO BE DEARER. MELBOURNE. Oct. 6. The Prime Minister, Mr. W. M. Hughes, announced in the House of Representatives that rid export duty on coal was contemplated," but the coalowners would be permitted to raise the price of export coal to the extent recommended as fair and reasonable by the chairman of the special tribunal. This is an interim arrangement until a definite increase is determined. V CABLE RATES UNDER REVIEW. MELBOURNE. Oct. 6. The Postmaster-General, Mr. G. H. Wise, informed Mr. Foster that the question of a reduction in cable rates via the Eastern route is under consideration, but is not regarded as justifiable at present. WATERFRONT LABOUR.' SYDNEY. Oct. e The seamen held a stop-work meeting yesterday. The deliberations were strictly secret, but it is understood that the sea men are combining the waterside workers to abolish the Labour Bureau or the waterfront, and are also opposing coloured labour on certain vessels. CLOTHING TRADE AWARD. . PERTH, Oct. 6 The Arbitration Court award reduce hours in the clothing trade from 48 to 4< weekly, and raises the minimum wagi from 30s to 455. COKE WORKERS' WAGES. . SYDNEY. Oct. 6 Mr. Justice Hibble has awarded an ip crease of 3s a day to coke workers. PRICE OF CEMENT INCREASED. SYDNEY. Oct. 6 The Commodities Commission ha granted an increase of 6s a ton in thi ■price of cement.