AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19800, 27 May 1926, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR

HOURS OF WORK DISPUTE. SETTLEMENT EFFORTS FAIL. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 26. The latest efforts to settle the 44-hour-strike, so far as it affects the motor building industry have proved unsuccessful. The members of the Disputes Committee, acting on bthalf of the strikers, met the representatives of the Motor Traders’ Association in conference and informed them that th strikers would resume work if the employers conceded 44-hours’ pay for 44-hours’ work.- After a prolonged discussion the owners rejected the offer. The strikers have endeavoured to enlist the support of the State Government. They have requested the Government to agree to compensate the manufacturers tor any increases in the cost of their manufacturing caused by the reduction of the working week to 44 hours. This the Cabinet rejected. It also rejected a proposal that the Government should meet the committee directing the strike. EMPLOYERS’ OFFER DECLINED. SYDNEY May 26. (Received May 26, at 9 p.m.) Tiie metal trades unions declined the offer of the employers that the men should work a 48-hour week and a 44-hour week alternatively, but asked that the negotiations should not he broken off as the Strike Committee hoped to be able to suggest a basis of settlement in the near future COAL STOCKS DWINDLING. MANY MEN IDLE IN VICTORIA. SYDNEY, May 26. (Received May 26, at 11.30 p.m.) The coal supplies are rapidly dwindling, and at the end of next week the stocks for overseas, inter-State and coastal shipping will be exhausted. Negotiations for a settlement of the strike at several of the collieries are progressing and it is expected that at leastf three mines will resume to-morrow. The Broken Hill Proprietary Steelworks at Newcastle dismissed a number of mechanics Vho refused to give an undertaking that they would work a 48-hours V ' eCk ‘ MELBOURNE. May 26. (Received May 26, at 11.50 p.m.) Five thousand five hundred men are idle in Victoria .as a result of the coal strike, involving a loss cf £30,000 in wages a week. LIKELY TO BE CALLED OFF. SYDNEY, May 26. (Received May 25, at 9 p.m.) It is unofficially stated that when_ the Federal executive of the Engine-drivers and Firemen’s Union meets to-morrow the strike will be declared off. The coal reserves are now so short that there is every likelihood of all the members c; the Engine-drivers and Firemen's Union, numbering about 15,000, being rendered idle. The coal-owners state that so far as thov are concerned there is no alteration in the position. THE COAL STRIKE. TWELVE CARGO STEAMERS HELD UP. SYDNEY, May 26. In addition to the two passenger steamers affected by the coal strike 12 cargo steamers are held up. In place of the Dimhoola the Adelaide Steamship Co. is using the cargo raotcr-ship Moomba. which recently arrived in Australian waters. Much importance is attached to the meeting of the General Council of the Engine-drivers and Firemen's Associa. tion to-morrow.