FORTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19784, 8 May 1926, Page 12

FORTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK

EFFORT TO EXTEND TROUBLE. APPEAL TO NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT. WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT WANTED. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 6. It is understood that efforts are afoot to extend the 44-hour dispute to Victoria. A special delegate from the Disputes Committee left Sydney to-night to lay the position before the Federal Unions’ representatives. The deadlock in the strike over the 44hour week continues. Representatives of the unions are endeavouring to enlist the whole-hearted support of the State Government. It is understood that the Government has been asked to cancel any contracts that it has made with firms which have dismissed their employees for failing to observe the awards, and that Cabinet has consented to appoint* a subcommittee to inquire into this suggestion. The Ani.**amated Engineering Union has asked the Government Lj take over all shops in which work for the Government is being done, anc( to conduct them on the 44-hour basis. Cabinet is disinclined to consider this seriously. The Unionists are anxious that the Government shall demonstrate, in a practical manner, the sympathy it has expressed towards the strikers. A REQUEST REFUSED. MELBOURNE, May 7. Following the action of Sir John Quick, the other judges of the Federal Arbitration Court have refused to send to the Full Court applications for the variation of awards from 48 to 44 hours per week. ORGANISING FORCES. MEETINGS OF EMPLOYEES TO-DAY. SYDNEY, May 7. (Received May 7, at 10.55 p.m.) Matters in connection with the 44 hours’ trouble are quiet, both sides sitting tight. The unions are organising thetr forces. A monster mass meeting of the ememployees in the affected trades will] be held to-morrow. Other unions are holding sympathetic gatherings.