INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17936, 15 May 1920, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

IDLE SATURDAYS.

OPPOSITION BY EMPLOYERS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, May 14. A deputation of employers .ift'cctcd by (ho 44-hour week agitation waited cm the Hon. Mr Cann and protested against the agitation. They stated that the cost of no Saturdaywork annuo,lly would bo £8,000,000 or £10,003,000. A reduction of the. hours would mean employment for an additional 12,500 workers to maintain the output. An additional £15,000,000 would have to be spent to provide plant for those workers. Hut, as neither additional plant nor worker.-; were available, thus would mean the employment of ordinary workers at time and a-half, which would cost the community another £30,000,000 a year. MELBOURNE, May 14. A ballot of building-trade employees resulted in »a majority in favour of the abolition of the 40-hour week strike and a return trt work on the old terms. FRENCH STRIKES. PARIS, May 13. (Received May 14, at 9.20 p.m.) A great crowd of dockers assembled at the gaol at Havre, demanding the release of an imprisoned leader. Two squadrons of Cha&sours drove tho crowd from the &treets. Dynamiters have destroyed the track on the Paris-Bordeaux railway near Tours. The damage was discovered just in time. Tho General Confederation of Labour is appealing to the International Socialists to co-operate to prevent the suppression of the confederation. The latter has ordered a general gas strike on Friday.— A. and N.Z. Cible.