GERMAN WAGE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 9

GERMAN WAGE WAR.

METAL TRADE DISPUTE.

ABOUT 200,000 MEN AFFECTED,

Germany, as a consequence of the order of Dr. Stegerwald, the ; Minister cE Labour, confirming iho immediate cutting down of wages and prices in the northwest German metal industry, has been faced with one of the most serious labour crises it has experienced since the revolution, says tho Daily Express. Vorwaerts, which is the official organ of the German Socialist Party and the Gorman Socialist trade union, categorically states that the 200,000 workers affected by the order will not accept it, and, in language which makes no pretence of being veiled, tho newspaper announces tho wholehearted response of the Metal Workers' Union.

" The German Metal Workers' Union," says Vorwaerts, " his not only refused to accept any reduction in wages, but has also given its members instructions to resist to the uttermost degree every such reduction. Tho union will support this resistance with all tho means at it.s disposal. " The indignation aroused among tho workers," continues this authoritative newspaper, " will make it impossible for the Christian Metal Workers' Union—tho Nationalist Workers' Association —• some of whose leaders have been making' propaganda in favour of an acceptance of the wages cut, to adopt any other course than that of the Metal Workers' Union." This means that everywhere where tlm workers are well organised severe wage battles are to bo reckoned with in the imminent future. The newspaper goes on to eay that, whatever the outcome of the threatened wage war may be, it will certainly serve to mako Germany's economic troubles even worse and rnoro insuperable than they are at present. " The Minister of Labour," declares Vorwaerts, " has by his intervention caused the greatest confusion and niado a settlement of the economic crises nfc present confronting the country extremely problematical, while at the same time ho has started a wago war, the full scope of whose consequences cannot be estimated."

MARKET REPORTS. FRUIT AND PRODUCE PRICES. ' Dessert apples and pears were again dull of sale at the Auckland City Markets yesterday. Considerably larger quantities of Poorman oranges were sold, but thore was no response for the small oranges. Hothouse tomatoes were not keenly sought and thore was a poor inquiry for tree tomatoes. Lemons were disposed of fairly readily. Island oranges found ready buyers at lis to 15s a case, according to count. Norfolk Island orangeis realised 10s to 12s a large case and 6s to 7s a small case. Repacked choice bananas brought 22s to 25s 6d a case. Limited but regular stocks of new polaI toes are coming forward. The potatoes are of a good size and condition and sold yesterday at 2d, to 3J>d per lb. Heavy supplies of cabbage, cauliflower and celery were available, while there were adequate stocks of other vegetables. The usual fair demand existed fcir most classes..

Good prices were obtained'for average supplies of poultry. There was a firm inquiry for most lines of birds. No geese or turkoy3 were offered. The, prices for hen eggs showed a decrease, best quality eggs selling at 2s Id a dozen. With the exception of >the C grade variety, which brought the slightly reduced rate of Is 7d a dozen, the values for duck eggs remained unchanged. Increased supplies of both classes of eggs met with a 1 fair demand. Short stocks of farmers' butter sold readily at lid to Is 2d a pound. Following are yesterday's prices:— FRUIT. Apples, Delicious, 5s to 7s 6d a case; Balkrats, Gs to 7a Gd; Stunners, Gs to 8s; Grannie Smith, 7s 6d to 10s; Munroes, 6s fid to 6s Gd; pears, Coles, 5s to 8s 6d: Nellis, Gs to 9s; P. Barrys, 4s to 7s; tomatoes, hothouse, 4d to lOd per lb; passion?. 4s to 8s Gd a case: lemons, choice, good counts, 12s to 16s; others, 6s 6d to 10s; Poorman oranges, large, up to Ss Gd; small. 3s to 4s; tree tomatoes. 3s to Gs; dark variety, 7a to 8s; oranges, Island, accordant? to count, lis to 15s; navels, Australian, 9s Gd to 13s; Norfolk Island, large cases, 10a to 12s; small, 6s to 7s; bananas, choice So. 1 repacks, 22s to 25s 6d; medium, 14s to 18s; mandarines, Australian, lis to 15s. FIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes, Southern, Gs Gd to 7s per cut; new, 2d to 3{d per lb.; onions, 3s to 4a a bag; kumara3, local, 3s Gd to 4s 6d; Tauranga, 8s to 10s per cwt; cabbage, 2s 6d to 8s a sack; cauliflower, 2s 6d to Gs; swedes, is 6d to 2s 9d a bap; pumpkins. 4s to 8s per cwt; beans, hothouse, is to Is 4d per lb; lettuce, Is 6d to 6s 6d a case; vegetable marrows. Is to is 6d a dozen; cabbage, on benches. Is 6d to Sb a dozen; cauliflower, on benches, 2s to 6s; celery. 6d to 2s 9d a bundle; rhubarb, 8s 6d to 4s Gd a dozen; spinach. Is; pumpkins, on benches, 9d to Is 9d each; spring onions, Gd to Is 3d a bundle; carrots, parsnips, beet and turnips, 9d to Is 3d a dozen; leeks, lid to 5d a bundle; chokos, 13 to 2s a dozen. POULTRY. Cooker els, heavy breeds, prime, 6s to 7a 6d each; not prime, 3s 6d upward; light prirue, 4s to 6s; not prime, 2s upward: fat roosters, heavy, prime, 3s 3d to 4s 3d: light. 8s to 4s j fat hens, heavy, 3s Od to 4s 6d; light, 2s 9d to 3s 6d; pullets, heavy, best, 4s to Gs 6d; smaller, 2s 6d upward; best, 4s to 6s 6d; Bmaller, 2s 6d upward: drakes, young, prime, 3s to 4s; smaller, 2s 6d upward; ducks, youiig, 3s to 4s; old. 2s to Bs. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Hen eggs, special grade, best quality, i!s Id tv'dozen; A grade, Is lid; B grade, 1* 9d; C grade. Is sd; duck cggfl, best qua! ity, 2b 3d; A grade, 2s Id; B grade, l.i lid; C grade. Is 7d; farmers' butter, 3ld to Is 2d a pound •

HIDES AND SKINS SALES.

MARKET AGAIN EASIER. A decrease in the prices ior hides aiid skin a was again shown at the fortnightly auction conducted at tli© Auckland Chuinbev of Commerce yesterday. ,Skins wevo about Jd to id a pound easier and hides id to 3-8 d a pound easier. The decline is attributed to the weak stato of the oversea* markets, although there was good competition at yesterday's sales. The rates for tallow remained about tho same. Following are. yesterday's pi'ices:— Cow hides.—Best grade. light, 5d to •>«<*. per lb., medium, 4i to 5; heavy. 4jd to 4,d, put Id to 41 d; second grade. 8J to M, ox!' best grade, "light -lid to sd; medium. 6<l to Sid; h , eavy - , 6id llr , to to 6J 4id- hident t0 4id; second grade 4d W, & U d slippy. 3d to Old. til>s. d calfskins, to 6ld; second eiude.. -W to l0 U; S ma" Tid lo 8d; out, 7.1 ! 1B J;J?' slippy f>Jd to lid; yeailin/rs, light. Sd'toCld; heavy. Cd to eld; second giad,. " d S!ieeSkins.—Dried, three to fullsartrt. •« aged 4Jd to fid; badly damaged. 4-, dto 4<i, half-wool led, medium. «i)J coaity. GJ, to Old; faulty, Sid to (J ; damaged, 4«t to 4! ■ bare to quarlor-woolcd. sound. M to Gid! faulty. 4Jd to Ijd; damaged, M to aid: lambskins, sound, Od to hid; faulty. 5d to ojd; damaged. 4jdt to od; Eivlted nheopukins, threequ arter-wool led, large 6s to a* 7d each; medium, 4s *d o 4s 3d; lislt' to small, 3s 2d to 3s Gd; half-woolled. tuiw. 3s 4d to 3s 10b : mediam, 2s ttd to Bs; light, 2n 3d to 2s 6d. Is Cd to Is 9J; lambskins, small, 2s 7d to 2s 3d; shorn, 1.3 3d to 2s 2d; hoggets, laree, os 4d t<s .« p>>; medium, 3« to 3s 2d. , Tallow.—-Barrels, good mixed. 21s per cwt.l socond grade, IPs Cd to 18*; poot Quality, 17s to 17b Cd; ro tins, good n»xed. 30* to 20* 6di' second grade. 'l7a 0a to St horsehair, best tail. 1* fid toj, 7A per lb.; mixed, la 3d to Is 4d/ short-and mane. 6d to 9d; bones, clean, dry; ffl per ton. ■