INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 17

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAY.MEN. ECONOMY PROPOSAL CONDEMNED. CAPETOWN. September 11. The Railwaymen’s Union has informed the Government that it will refuse to accept the revised hours of working, involving a withdrawal of the eight-hour day, which was conferred by the labour clause in the Peace Treaty, and was ratified by Parliament. September 16. Replying to the railway men’s protest against the withdrawal of the eight-hour day, the Prime Minister stated that the Peace T reat-y does not fix an eight-hour day. It simply lays it down as a standard to be aimed at. It had been explained to the Labour Bureau of the League of Nations that a universal eight-hour day would be unsuitable to African conditions. It could be applied only in the larger centres. Under these circumstances, and in view ot the serious financial position of the railways, and that it would he in direct conflict v ith the principles of the African Act, he could not see any reason to interfere with the action of the railway admini.-tration. STRIKE IN FRANCE LONDON, September 15. The Daily I elegraph s Pal is correspondent reports that there are 100,000 strikers in the Lille. Roubaix. and Tourcoing districts owing to the reduction in wages in the textile trade. Strikers have forbidden the publication of newspapers and have decreed that all shops and cafes be closed. AUST RALIAN LABOUR. SYDNEY, September 13. Representatives of some of the industrial concerns in the State asked the Board of Trade to fix the basic wage at not more than £4 per week. A decision is expected on October 8.

September 16. In consequence of intermittent work fiia council of the Coal Miners’ Federation decided to limit the working fortnight to nine days instead of 11. The mine-owners regard this decision aa floating the Coal Tribunal and as a “direct action ” effort to gain control of the mines. MELBOL RNF.. September 13. It was stated in the Federal Arbitration. Court that the 44-hour week at Cockatoo Dock involved an extra cost of £70,000 a year. September 14. Ihe Labour Council is convening a special conference for October 4 to consider the formation of an industrial group in accordance with the recommendation of the All-Australia Conference which sat at Melbourne. , . September 15. llie seamens unions are demanding an increase in wages of approximate!v £1 10» weekly from the inter-State passenger and cargo service owners as a consequence of overseas vessels being unable to carry inter-State passengers unless they comply with the provisions of the Navigation Act. Sii Joseph Cook, in addressing the National Convention, referred to Queensland as a State showing the disastrous results of Labour rule. He expressed the opinion that the National tide is rising particularly in Victoria, where Mr Ulwson s victory was a triumph for National principles.