INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL WORLD

NEWS AND NOTES

By J. T. Paul A shepherd will hold out a stick: the leading sheep jumps it, and then, though the stick is withdrawn, the rest of the flock will leap over the stick they think is there. —Exchange. COMMUNISTS AND LABOUR The Communist Party oi Australia has decided in New South Wales to apply for affiliation with the Australian Labour Party. The Easter conference of the A.L.P. will consider the overture which, according to the general secretary of the A.L.P.. is certain to be rejected. The Communist Party suggests that a united front of both organisations could secure mass action against the Lyons Government at the forthcoming Federal elections, but no pledge is given that Communist candidates *dll not be run. The right is reserv'd to campaign for a Soviet Australia. AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT WORKERS’ AIMS The first national conference of railway and tramway unions opened at Sydney a few days ago. Transport organisations in all States, with the exception of Western Australia, were represented by 30 delegates at the conference. The Federal president of the Australian Railways Union (Mr T. Moroney) occupied the chair. In his address the president emphasised the necessity for an immediate reduction in working hours, and the conference decided to call upon all Governments controlling transport services to introduce a five-day week of 40 hours, with a proportionate reduction 'in callings where existing hours were 40 or less, and that there be an increase of 25 per cent, in effective purchasing power.

The decision of the conference was embodied in a resolution moved by Mr Lloyd Ross (secretary of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Railways Union) as follows: —

“ (1) That whereas modern machinery and other improved methods of production have resulted in a growing increase iA the volume of wealthproduction and the employment of a continually decreasing number of workers, and whereas widespread unemployment and destitution in the midst of plenty are menacing the welfare of the nation, this conference affirms that the hours of work in industry must be proportionately reduced; and as a first step to the 40hour week, and in view of the fact that the Commonwealth Government is already committed through its representatives at the International Labour Office Congress to establish a 40-hour week, conference calls upon the various - Governments and controlling transport authorities immediately to introduce the five-day, 40-hour week in all railway and tramway services, together with a proportionate reduction in callings where 40 or less hours are now being worked. “ (2) That in order to provide the workers with an appropriate improvement in their standard of living commensurate with the greater productivity of labour, this conference demands an immediate increase in effective purchasing power through increased salaries and wages of 25 per cent, on existing salary and wage standards.

“ (3) That full pay be demanded for all employees while off duty on account of sickness. “ (4) That conference demands a general levelling-up of working conditions, in accordance with the specific claims of the State union controlling bodies.” The other deliberations were concerned with the steps to be taken to give effect to the resolution.

LABOUR’S OPPORTUNITY Organised Labour .in the United States (says an editorial in the Christian Science Monitor) appears to be moving toward that measure of power which in a democracy demands the exercise of increased sobriety and responsibility. It is, perhaps, natural that Labour should regard itself and be regarded as a powerful political bloc, whose strength and. demands will be respected. Various Labour groups have published lists of “ must ’ legislation, including a new N.R.A. regulation of wages, a housing bill thg. 30-hour week, a new Guffey coal Bill and reforms in the Social Security Act that would obligate employers to pay the full amount of the contributions. Labour may feel that it now has strength to bludgeon through much legislation. But unless Labour’s programme gives consideration to effects on business, consumers, and the nation, such strategy would imply a narrow and limited concept of the real opportunity. Organised workers can summon forth from their ranks statesmanlike leadership that will coordinate and integrate their interests with the interests of the nation as a whole. The President in his message to the American Federation of Labour in annual convention at Tampa, Florida, urged the federation to embrace this view of its opportunities. Sectionalism and pressure groups have taken serious toll in the United States. Class consciousness taken serious toll in other countries. American Labour has a chance to work for the healing of these disunities. On the other hand, militant workers' organisation. it should be observed, results mainly from the inability of workers to protect their interests any other way. If both Labour and business at this point show judicious co-operativeness, the stimulated American workers’ movement may be canalised into channels as constructive as those in which they move in Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries.

In these nations. Labour maintains a consistent and generally rational pressure for liberal reforms, and business has acquired the capacity frequently to yield when the pressure is just. Such social and economic point and counter point has had its value in stabilising the national economy and averting explosive radicalism. THE 40-HOUR WEEK Mr T. W. Gillinder, of the League of Nations Union, spoke on the work of the International Labour Office at Geneva, and particularly on the question of the 40-hour week in industry, at a luncheon of the Rotary Club of Manchester. One could detect, he said, a widespread feeling that the time was about ripe for a 40-hour week, but uncertainty. mainly political uncertainty, held us back. Asked whether he thought the 40-hour week was practicable when Japan and India had not yet adopted the 48-hour week, he said that at the Washington Conference on hours it was regarded as a fair proposition that the East should come down from a week of 72 hours to one of GO hours, while other countries came down to 48. This principle could, he thought be extended further; Japan and India might be asked to bring their hours down to something like 48 for a beginning, and Western hours oi work could be reduced to 40. “I am not accepting this difference of hours of work as the basis of Japanese superiority in competition,” he said. “We have got to tackle the problem, I think, on the basis of planning markets, letling Japan into the markets of the more backward countries while we supply the more advanced.” Thercwas hope, also, that the Japanese workers might influence Japan's attitude by demanding better conditions for themselves, especially if it were seen that the rest of the world were getting better conditions. Signs were to be seen that they were beginning to be aware of the difference between their standard of living and that of the West. THE NEW SOVIET STATE To-day (wrote Mr Louis Fischer in the New Statesman and the Nation a short time ago) the Soviet State fears nothing from the inside and less and less from the outside. Therefore, the dictatorship yields to democracy. The essential feature of the new democracy is a twochamber Parliament or Supreme Council which is the source of all Governmental authority. Parliament passes all laws (hitherto decrees having the validity of law originated with many departments) and directs all the functions of the Government. It may.

whenever it wishes, arrange nationwide referenda on vital questions. It exercises the right of pardon. Both houses must approve a Bill before it becomes law. If they disagree, and if no conciliation is possible, Parliament is dissolved, and new elections take place. Both chambers together elect the Cabinet or remove members of the Cabinet. Parliament, it follows, can overthrow the Government. Parliament will engage in open discussion and criticism of Government Acts. This may be the beginning of free speech.” POLISH WORKERS SUFFER Behind the wave of anti-Semitism in Poland is the story of a frightful economic debacle. The index of industrial production has been dropping steadily and the number of unemployed has been constantly growing. According to the official figures the unemployed number around 750,000, but unofficial estimates reach the unprecedented figures of 2,000,000. Two years ago it was reckoned that 72 per cent, of the workers in Poland were under-nourished. Their diet consists chiefly of bread and potatoes, and they consume an infinitesimal quantity of meat and dairy products. During the last two years the wages of the workers have been considerably cut. and the number of unemployed has considerably increased. The situation among the peasantry now borders upon lha< of chronic famine. Tuberculosis is increasing everywhere. Some reports indicate that there may be as many as 5,000,0p0 peasants in Poland without any land or work. Those in ihe Ukrainian districts under Polish control are the worst off.