LABOUR PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 6

LABOUR PROBLEMS

[POSITION IN AUSTRALIA FORTY-HOUR WEEK INQUIRY JWOMEN AND GIRL WORKERS [fbom oub own correspondent] SYDNEY, April 8 Three years before the war (1911) there were in Australia .'585,490 women and girls earning wages, or 19.9 per cent of the total wage-earners. Three years ago (1933)\ there were 552.943 or 21.6 per cent of the total. Allowing for increase of population, 70,000 more jobs were held by women over and above the ratio enjoyed by thein in pre-war days. These striking contrasts appear in the long-awaited re|>ort of Sir Frederick Stewart on employment. He asks that the question of displacement of males by females in industry should be one of the subjects for inquiry by the Industrial Commission when it examines the 40-hour week proposal. "In the belief that this trend is subversive to national interest, a number of European countries have taken action to restrict the scope for the employment of women, particularly married .women," he states.

The Geneva Decisions The 40-hour week inquiry, he suggests, should be asked to pay special attention to those industries which the 193-5 Geneva Labour Conference recommended should have a 40-hour week:—Public works, building and construction, iron and steel, coal mines, textiles, chemistry,' printing and bookbinding. Australia was not bound to adopt the shorter week. It lay with the Parliaments of the countries concerned to ratify the Geneva decisions. Sir Frederick said .that, while abroad, he found universal acceptance of the theory that readily available money at cheap interest rates was one of the principal conditions precedent to industrial or rural recovery. Long Drawn-out Inquiry Sir Frederick has now no official position with the Federal Government. He recently resigned the non-Cabinet and experimental position of Parliamentary Secretary for Ke-employment, and some political observers link this resignation with the Government's reluctance to deal boldly with the 40-hour week question. They say that his "illuminating report" will not alter the Government's intention to shelve the 40-hour week question by the usual method—a inquiry. The Government sees the necessity, as a tactical move only, of delaying a deoision until after the next election. To ensure that the commission's inquiries will be delayed until that time, the Government, it is asserted, is selecting a number of persons to form the commission. Panels of names hare been asked for from various sources, and the names are now being considered.

OonSicting Interest The only present certainty in the personnel is Judge Dethridge, of the Arbitration Court. A New South Wales judge will also be appointed. In addition there will be economists and officers from certain Commonwealth departments. All important primary and manufacturing industries will be represented, as well as employees in those industries. Chambers of manufacturers and employees' federations will also have representation, and the flousewives' Association must not be overlooked. It would appear that at least 15 persons will; comprise the commission. With such a large number reflecting so many conflicting interests, the result is inevitable—an inquiry which will last for at least two years, at considerable cost to the taxpayers, and with the presentation of several conflicting reports.