AUSTRALIAN LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20539, 14 April 1930, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR.

COALMINING DISPUTE. LARGE DECREASE IN EXPORTS. (Received April 13, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 13. The Emergency Committee of tho Australian Council of Trades Unions lias decided to intervene in the coalmining dispute. Steps arc being taken to try to bring the parties together once again. Tho losses caused .by the protracted strike are evidenced by tho exports of coal from Newcastle for the three months ended March 31. Theso totalled 122,882 tons valued at £146,472, compared with 623.606 tons valued at £734,238 for the corresponding period of last year. The quantities exported included: To Victoria, 64,000 tons, compared with 251,000; to Sbutli Australia, 22,000, compared with 180,000; to New Zealand, 25,000, compared with 55,000. RAILWAYMEN'S HOURS. LONGER WEEK BEING WORKED. (Received April 13, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 13. The Slato council of the Railwayman's Union, after four days' discussion, decided not to agree to the Ministerial scheme governing hours and wages. The 48-hour week on the railways commenced to-day. In addition men under Federal awards will be laid off work f or one week in 10 to avoid further dismissals. The men's representatives say tho decision is accepted under protest. WATERSIDE LABOUR. FEDERAL INTERVENTION. MELBOURNE, April 12. Tho shipowners view with concern the Federal Government's intervention on behalf of tho Watersido Workers' Federation, in the direction of specifying by regulation common picking-up places for vessels at the ports of Melbourno and Adelaide. The shipowners point out that volunteer workers object to having to como into close contact with former strikers under conditions which expose thein to unduo risks. Tho owners are prepared to obey tho law, but they arc determined to fulfil their promise to the volunteers by giving them preference of employment.