AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

REFERENDUM TO BE HELD. INDUSTRIAL POWERS. COMMON-WEALTH AND STATES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 21. The most striking announcement made In regard to Australian Federal politics within the last week or so Is the stated decision ot the Commonwealth Government to hold in August next a referendum of the people to determine for all time whether the Commonwealth should be the supreme arbitration authority in Australia. The arbitration powers of the States and the Commonwealth have been the subject ot much controversy in political and industrial circles curing the last six months or so. The matter was brought to a head recently by the passage by the New South Wales Government of an Act providing that no more than 44 hours a week should be worked by all employees in this State. Queensland has a similar Act and in Western Australia most employees work 44 hours, but in the other three States 4S hours a week is the rule. When the New South Wales Act was passed employees working under a Federal award proscribing a 48-hour week, claimed that they should benefit by the State Act and work four hours less. This view the employers contested, and deducted (our hours wages when the men refused to work the 48-hour week. Union proceedings before a magistrate resulted in a test case being decided in the union’s favour, but the employers took the matter to the High Court, which decided, by a majority ruling, that the Federal awards providing a 48-hour week over-rode the State 44-hours Act. This judgment was a blow to the unions affected, chiefly in the metal trades, and tlmy decided to instruct their members not to*work the 48 hours. The employers retaliated by closing their shops. This, what is known as the 48-hours strike, has been in progress for several weeks in this State, and considerable losses on trade have been the New South Wales Act and the Federal authority caused the Commonwealth Govinflicted. Undoubtedly the conflict between eminent to hasten its plans, announced at the general elections in November last, for the widening of the Federal Arbitration Court's powers and the removal of irritancy caused by friction with State wage and hour fixing tribunals. Undoubtedly tlio comparisons made by unionists of awards gained from the State and Federal tribunals have had much to do with a certain restless discontent among Austialian workers. Consequently among the first formal business introduced in the House of Representatives when it resumed its sittings on Wednesday last, was a Bill providing for the referendum in August. The questions to be submitted to the people are: Whether the Commonwealth should have —tl) Control of the settlement of industrial disputes; c2, tlio right to determine Lours and wages foi all industries; i 3) the appointment of local boards to settle disputes, which, if neglected, might cause serious industrial trouble; l-t) the right to settle disputes which might develops into inter-State trouble; (5) punishment of industrial violence on the lines of recent British legislation. Voting, as at general elections, will be compulsory. Th* Constitution provides that there must be a majority in each of the six States in favour of the proposals before they are put into effect. Although Labour introduced on two occasions similar proposals before the war, the party, with five out of six State Governments in their hands, is now expected to oppose the proposals violently, and Labour circles consider the passage of the referendum as impossible. The Commonwealth's industrial arbitration proposals do not end with the referendum. A second Bill, introduced last Wednesday, provided for amendment of the Arbitration Act to make change of the system within the existing limits of the Constitution. One ot the clauses of the Bill provides for judicial anpointments to the Arbitration Court for life, as tinder the Constitution the court cannot enforce its awards unless it is vested with this judicial power. The Bill provides for three members of the court, who will rank as judges of the High Court of Australia. The BUI also restores to the trade unionist control over his union, its officials, its funds, and its acts, by providing for a secret strike ballot. The remaining clauses contain provisions to prevent as far as possible with the existing power, the duplication and overlapping of awards oy Commonwealth and State arbitration authorities.