THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1928. INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1928. INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

Indications of trouble are manifesting themselves in several important departments of industry in Australia. For some time past a dispute has existed between the seamen and the .Commonwealth Shipping Line, which is owned by the Federal Government, an open rupture nOw appears to he inevitable. The Seamen’s Union is desirous of controlling the business of signing c-n crews for the vessels of this line. The management believes that such an arrangement as this would introduce at least the thin end of the wedge of job control. In the case of those steamers that- arrived for the first time in Australia in charge of-British crews, which in accordance with the union mandate were displaced by Australian crews, much bitterness has been excited and not a little disorganisation caused. The Australian crews are, in part, only “Australian” by virtue of membership in the Seamen’s Union, being actually composed of mixed nationalities. The union membership seems to be not affected by such minor considerations as that of British nationality. In all cases up to the present the union has practically 1 carried the day, but in the case of the Hobson’s Bay, about which we are hearing in our cable news, the management has refused to accept ,the dictation of the union. It is difficult now to see how a serious clash can be averted unless one of the parties gives way. In addition to the hitch over the manning of the vessels of the Commonwealth Line, which has now reached a state of crisis, the seamen have claims before the Arbitration Court, and it has been asserted that they will fight to retain their.conditions. The proposal by. the coalmine owners to reduce the wages of the miners and to curtail the advantageous conditions „ enjoyed by the workers has created consternation in union ranks. There have for Some time been rumours of impending reductions in the price of coal, but it was not suggested that these would be accompanied by a reduction of wages. It is clear that the high price of coal is crippling important industries, and the prospect of closing down the Newcastle Steel Works, thereby adding over 2000 workers to the unemployed, has doubtless given a fillip to the proposal to reduce coal prices. The coal owners’ terms involve a reduction of 33 1-3 per cent, in wages, a reversion to eight-hour shifts, and a radical alteration in the general conditions of coal miners. On the first blush they appear to be of too sweeping a character. The view entertained by a section of the commercial community towards . this question was recently revealed in a statement issued by a leading firm associated with the Sydney Stock Exchange. “If the selling price of Newcastle coal is reduced from 21s 9d to, say, 18b Bd,”

it was stated, “and the proprietors pass on the whole reduction to the men as they certainly ought to do, and declare they will, then the men will have to Work harder to earn the present liberal wages, and this will be good for everyone.” This hardly commends itself as a particularly tactful way of expressing the need for a reduction in the price of coal, but it is clear that if some of the industries of Australia are to be saved the cost, ot this indispensable commodity must come down. In certain of the coal districts a sliding scale which relates wages to selling prices is in operation, but the activities of the Special Coal Tribunal have had the effect of increasing the price of coal without making the miners parties to the increases. The miners now contend that this procedure prevents a reduction of wages, oven if the selling price of coal should be reduced. Not long ago the secretary of the Coal Miners’ Federation warned the miners against being stampeded into a strike, and he has ilow reiterated the advice. The only chance, he has asserted, the ’owners had of reducing wages this year was, in his opinion, to force the miners out on strike, and after a long struggle to dictate terms to them. Nevertheless it would appear that some reduction in wages is likely. It remains to be seen whether the dispute will be settled by a tribunal or become the issue of a strike or lockout. Within a short period the basic wage has been reduced in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia, and in' the first-named State the Board of Trade is again considering the question with a view to further readjustment. The position of the industries is precarious and something -of more than ordinary significance will have to be done to improve it. Blind leaders have in a measure been responsible for the severity of the crisis by persuading the workers that shorter hours and more pay mean higher rewards for the workers. The fruits of following this fallacious advice are now being gathered. Generally, the industrial outlook is such as to demand that at least some of the mistaken steps of the past shall be retraced.