AUSTRALIAN DISPUTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN DISPUTES.

IRON TRADES DEADLOCK A FRUITLESS CONFERENCE. EMPLOYEES STAND HEM. DETERMINATION OF MEN. NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Asuociation—Copyright. (Received 9.5 p.m.) > A. and N,Z. SYDNEY, May 5. A conference between representatives of the Labour Council and the metal trades employers was held this morning at the request of the iron trades unions ' to discuss the trouble over the 44-hours week. After a long discussion the conference failed to reach any agreement. Ihe council asked the employers to work members of Federal unions 44 hours for 44 hours' pay, and undertook to ask the unions if they won Id accept whatever new Federal awards might be ' issued.

The employers considered the proposal and then announced that they intended to maintain the attitude they had already ■adopted—that the Federal awards must be observed in their entirety. They said that if the union officials were sincere in their intention to uphold recognised authority they should immediately instruct their members to uphold the existing Federal awards until any alterations were made by the Federal Arbitration Court. The proceedings were friendly on both sides. After the conference M,r. Garden, secretary of the Disputes Committee, said that the unions had explored every channel in the hope of finding a compromise, but the employers were adamant. As they wanted a fight they would get it. The men were determined not to go back to the 48-hours week or to do Saturday work. / Feairs are entertained thai; unless an early settlement is reached the number of unemployed will be increased considerably. While many establishments are completely closed down others are being kept open in anticipation of an early settlement. The Federal Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, in replying to a telegram from Mr. M. Charlton, leader of the Federal Opposition, suggesting that a conference of the State and Common wealth representatives should be summoned to consider uniform hours for Australia, said that the question was an industrial and economic one and a decision could only be reached after full inquiry by a competent impartial tribunal. In order to ensure this the Government proposed to provide a re-constituted Arbitration Court with judicial powers. ' The conference proposed by Mr. Charlton would only introduce political complications. For this reason Mr. Bruce was unable to agree to Mr. Charlton's suggestion. The dispute at the Lithgosv Ironworks owing to men absenting themselves on | May Day, has been settled and they resume to-morrow.

The Trades Council has received messages from various trade bodies in other States sympathising with and supporting it in the 44 hours' fight.