INDUSTRY THREATENED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18077, 29 April 1922, Page 9

INDUSTRY THREATENED

IRON AND STEEL WORKS. CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA. HIGH COST OF PRODUCTION. [from ora ow\ aJRBESPojJDENt. 1 SYDNEY. April 18 The position of the iron ami steel industry n Australia has become so senous owing to the high cost of production that many manufacturers have oeen -om petled to ilose down. The laiest pian" to ha affected :s the Broken Hill P*oprietary Company's works' at Port Wara'ah. iear Newcastle, involving '-he dismissal of nearlv 400 men. En.ployers point out ihat :he conditions mposed by the Federal Arbitrat.un Court nave been ? .hu cau.-e of i failing-off n industry and a mineral :nrrease :n the numbers of unemployed. Fhcy ad'.rtcate r he abolition of the Court am demand a simplification »i arbitration methods. Employers generally ivnuid wi ■ome anv system Uial would ivorK «moothiy and ivnuid ac ; or <he benerit 4 emplovers and employees. Hiey admit that there is a necessity tor .x.me Court of Arbitration to ensure i "easonaoio standard of wages and icceniauie conn'; . tions, but object very strong. l '- r o such an institution being used :o bludgeon ' .ndustry into such a position Mat 'ii manv cases it is found impossible to carry on. To bo brought before 'he F.".ierai Court and compelled to ihey ,i >et of conditions which afterwards come nto conflict with tne Mate Courts uas brought .-bout- such a position '.hat emplovers 'ind :t very difficult 'o determine where :aey stand. The engineering "rade is undoubtedly :n for a bad time also. It is faced with wages ihat are double those ruling 'n England, and :s paving for local material nearly double the once being paid for t in England. For many firms and manv emplovees it ;s a verv serious crisis. The question of apprenticeship is also having an important bearing on '.he industry. Owing :o the severe limitation. by awards of apprerii.t-ps. Australian bovs are Sliding it eery nari to get into any tradw aL all. They are. as a result, compelled to -"-nier unskilled .in upations.