INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 14

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

WAGE REDUCTION OPPOSED. LONDON, June 20. The engineering trade workers at Harrow passed a resolution pledging resistance to the proposed reduction ill wages. They instructed the executives of the unions concerned to take any action which they considered necessary to assist the miners in their fight to maintain a decent standard of living. A DISPUTE SETTLED. LONDON, June 24. All branches of the spinning trade have accepted the terms proposed. NO USE FOR COMMUNISTS. L<) N D 0 N. Ju n e 22. The Labour Conference rejected a proposal to allow tho Communists to affiliate with the Labour Party. Mr Herbert Smith said that a majoiitv ftf the Miners’ Federation did not believe in Communism When the miners were about to take action the Communists .-aid: 'Go along, it will be all right”; but, proceeded Air Smith, “ now we are in our present position 1 don t hear their shouting.” THE RIGHT TO STRIKE. LONDON, June 23. Mr Balfour, speaking at Constitutional Club, raid that as long as they left the employers the right to lock out, so long must they leave Lite men the right to strike. Society would break down if these matters were left uncontrolled. He was sure the country, notwithstanding tiie suffering inflicted by the present dispute, would not tolerate the nso of a strike as a political weapon wielded by irresponsible politicians to coerce the Government, Parliament, and public—a strike which was not for industrial purposes but for revolutionary etuis. '

EXCLUDIN' (1 ORIEN TALE. The American Federation of Labour Conference placed on record a declaration favouring the total exclusion of Japanese and other Orientals from America. It instructed its executive council to prevent any modifiaction of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and to work for the repeal of the “gentlemen's agreement” with Japan on the ground that Japan outwitted the laws. MOUNT MOGAN DISPUTE. BRISBANE, June 20. The Premier (Mr Theodore) announced that lie had received a communication from the Mount Morgan Company proposing a sliding scale, the terms to be bettered as the copper and gold markets improved. Mr Theodore added that this proposal would possibly lead to a resumption of work. He said that he was submitting it to the unions. A FORTY Kuril lit HE WEEK. SYDNEY, June 23. Cabinet has approved of the 44 hour week for employees in all Government business undertakings. Work is to be on five days a week, except where iho cost will be increased or the efficiency lessened. A compulsory building conference agreed to refer the dispute on Saturday work to the Forty-four Hour Court for a restatement of the position. >S 11 LAI! EES’ DEMANDS. SYDNEY. June 22 Replying to the shearers’ demands for increased rates, the Graziers’ Asociation officially states that the \ alucs of pastoral products have declined below the pre-war prices, while the wages and other costs have increased from 50 to 200 per cent. The new demands would mean an increase of 100 per cent, above the 1917 basis, and 50 per cent, more than those which were paid to meet the exceptional circumstances last season. LABO UR CONFER KKCE. MELBOURNE, June 20. The All Australia Unions’ Conference has opened, over 400 delegates being present, representing industrial, labour, and political organisations of all States.

June 22. The Trade Union Congress passed a resolution practically unanimously that the socialisation of the means of industry, production, distribution, and exchange shall be the object of the Labour Party. A committee was appointed to devise ways and means of giving effect to the resolution. June 23. The Trade.; Union Congress passed the following resolution unanimously, on the motion of Mr H. Holland, M.P. (New Zealand) : “ That this conference protests against a renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, which is purely military, containing the germs of warfare. Further, that the basis of future agreements between Great Britain and tire colonies and other countries shall be not for military or naval purposes, but for social, political, and economic amenities.” j Ihe Labour Conference carried a resoI lution adopting the finding of the Federal Basic Wage Commission in its entirety, and calling upon the Common wealth and State- Governments to give effect thereto. The Australian Labour Congress passed a resoluition that organised Labour should oppose further assisted immigration, and that no Government should arrange lor immigration without first securing the approval of organised Labour. June 25. The Labour Congress adopted a scheme declaring war on the capitalistic system, and urging its overthiov by the me ’■ w !of one c omprohen •vr wU.CiU union throughout Australia, embracing every industry controlled by lire Council of I Action. 1 lie C ongr. ~,s also divided in favour of j self-determination for Ireland. The Labour Conference passed a resolution that the settlement of international disputes by warfare is barbarous and responsible for untold suffering and misery, and declaring in favour of the settlement of all such disputes by international arbitration and recommending the workers of all countries to form councils of action. The resolution continues: " As the Pacific is likely to be made the cn-lqfit, of the next war the Council of Action should be instructed t-o get into communication with the Labour organisations, particularly in the count l ies bordering on the Pacific, for the purpose of preventing future wars.”

The conference also carried a motion calling on the Government to cancel the compulsory clause in the Defence Act. The conference laid down a basis for the establishment of Labour daily papers in all principal cities in Australia, each union to be called upon to assess each male worker at 10s, each female worker at ss, and juveniles at 5s towards the scheme. AUSTRALIA’S UNEMPLOYED. MELBOURNE, June 25. A deputation waited on Kir Joseph took from the Igib our Congress on the question of unemployment. It was asserted that 50.C00 persons were idle throughout Australia. Sir Joseph Cock offered no practical relief, explaining that he was at his wits’ end to do his own financing. YORK PENINSULA MINERS. ADELAIDE, June 25. The York Peninsula miners and smelters have filed an application with the Industrial Registrar asking for a variation in the industrial agreement between the Wallaroo and Moonta Company and the Australian V\ orkers’ Union. The action is the outcome of a movement led by Mr J. \ erran, ex-Premier, for a repud ation of the Australian Workers’ Union in order that the men may resume work at rates below those declared to be a living wage. Many hundreds of men are <lle on the Peninsula owing to the cessation of operations by the Wallaroo and Moonta Company, and considerable distress prevails.