INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3555, 2 May 1922, Page 17

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

ENGINEERS’ DISPUTE. ’ LONDON, Apr it" 21. The amalgamated engineers’ affiliated unions are negotiating separately to-day with the employers. The former negotiations broke down. A number of affiliated unions threatened to break away from the Shipbuilding Trades’ Federation unless their negotiations reach a settlement within two days. April 22. Negotiations have been broken off between the engineering employers and the 47 unions outside the Amalgamated Engineers, and the employers have ordered the extension of the lockout, affecting 600,000 men. Correspondence published shows that the employers demanded that they should be the sole judges as to what changes in the managerial workshop practice should be effected, without consulting the unions. The workers’ negotiators expressed the opinion that no union could accept such a stipulation as a condition precedent to the negotiations. They declare that the employers apparently decided to extend the lockout in order to bring the unions to heel. / Dr T. J. Macnamara (Minister of Labour) is conferring with the parties. April 24. A Labour movement is afoot to declare a general strike for 24 hours on May 1 in the absence of any Government move to settle the engineering dispute. April 25. The Commonwealth Line of Railways is disorganised owing to the engineers’ lock-out. April 27. The Engineers’ Employers' federation to-day announced that, owing to the failure to reach a satisfactory settlement with the workers’ representatives, the employers had decided to open their shops on May 3, and to give the workers an opportunity to return on conditions which had proved to be reasonable. When the unions accepted the provisions that managerial instructions should be followed, pending a discussion in accordance with the provisions for the avoidance of disputes, the negotiations would be resumed. Mr Chamberlain announced in the House of Commons that Sir William Mackenzie, the permanent chairman under the Industrial Courts Act, had been appointed a court of inquiry to inquire into the lockout. Mr Clynes asked whether the Government contemplated taking action with a view to bringing about a resumption of working during the inquiry. Mr Chamberlain said that that could be achieved only by the parties getting together.

. April 28. The engineering court of inquiry dealt with preliminaries to-day. The employers will open their case on Wednesday. The Federation of Employers is considering the suggestion of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers that the lockout should be suspended pending the inquiry. WIRELESS OPERATORS. LONDON, April 22. The wireless operators have reached a basis of negotiation with the Marconi Company, and will resume work immediately. CONFERENCE PROGRAMME, LONDON, April 26. Resolutions for submission to the Labour. Party’s annual conference at Edinburgh on June 27 include a demand for the resignation of all the Labour Privy Councillors, the exclusion of Freemasons from holding office in the party, all Labour commanders to resign their position on the industrial side of the movement, and the establishment of a Labour diplomatic service. REDUCTION IN WAGES ACCEPTED. LONDON, April 25. All sections of the Manchester operatives have accepted an immediate reduction of 3e 3d in the £, and a further reduction of lOd in six months’ time. The cotton wages dispute has been settled on the basis of an immediate reduction of 3s 8d in the uound and a further ninepence in November. It is expected that the settlement will mean a revival of the Lancashire industry. SHIPBUILDING DISPUTE. LONDON, April 25. After a day-long conference a basis of settlement was reached between the masters and men in the shipbuilding trouble. The employers now propose that 16s 6d of the 26s 6d war bonus shall be withdrawn bv a series of cuts, leaving 10s in abeyance. It is hoped that the men’s executive will recommend the shipbuilders to accept. Owing to the shipyard stoppage, the shipowners are sending repair and refitting work abroad. The Cunard steamer Laconia has gone to Rotterdam from the Tyne to have the repair work completed. AMERICAN MINERS. NEW YORK, April 22. The fourth week of the coal strike will begin on Saturday. The miners’ leaders claim that the strikers now number 680,000. So far the industries have not been seriously affected. April 28. Violence among the striking miners is becoming more freouent. Three nonunion miners were killed and one injured when a bomb was thrown into a bunkhouse at Apollo, Pennsylvania. NEW SOUTH WALES UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, April 23. The report of the State labour exchange shows that at the end of March there were 6000 unemployed in the city ind 7000 in the country.

SYDNEY, April 24. The Labour Exchange’s report gives one of the reasons for unempjoyment as the application of the basic wage to rural industries, causing landlords to curtail their expenditure and to dispense with a number of employees. COMMONWEALTH LINER DISPUTE. CREW PAID OFF. SYDNEY April 24. , The crew of the Hobson Bay was paid off, and those belonging to the Australian union were invited to sign on again. This foffer was availed of by the stewards, but the seamen and firemen refused, stating that it was not worth the risk, as if they had done so they would be “black-listed.” April 25. A meeting of the Seamen’s Union carried a motion that the original crew" of the Hobson’s Bay should not sign on again, and adjourned till Wednesday, stating that it would pick a new crew in the meantime. The dispute has now reached a head, as the original crew resent the union’s action, which they characterise as Bolshevist, and state that they will defy the union and sign on. A stop-work meeting of the Seamen’s Union decided -that no restrictions should be placed on members seeking work on the Hobson’s Bay. April 27. The trouble on the commonwealth liner Hobson’s Bay is regarded as an attempt by the seamen to impose- a system of job control. A ballot taken by the Seamen’s Union decided that the members should individually present themselves for engagement. It was also decided that the original crew of the steamer should not be allowed to participate in the ballot or again rejoin her. Later the seamen r»d firemen sent by the union presented themselves for engagement, but the management insisted on selecting its own crew, the men selected by the union being rejected. Only three signed on. A lively scene followed, but the management remained firm. It is now stated that the management has resolved to advertise for a crew rather than submit to dictation by the union. An attempt was also made by the Stewards’ Association to prevent members of the union who engaged for the Hobson’s Bay from commencing work. These men, however, ignored the directions of the union officials and went aboard, where they held a meeting, and officially notified the association that they were determined to stay aboard. April 28. The Hobson’s Bay dispute has reached a head. When the chief officer selected 15 deck hands, who were not included in the union’s ballot, Mr Johnson, assistantsecretary of the Seamen’s Union, accompanied by 45 men selected bv the union, approached the signing-on table and prevented each one of the 15 from signing. The ship’s officers thereupon ordered Johnson from the ship. The latter, in appealing to the 45 men, said: “This is the first time that an official of the union has been ordered from a ship. I am going. You may follow.” All the men then left. A full complement of cooks, bakers, and stewards signed on, but no deck hands or firemen signed. It is anticipated, in consequence of the trouble, that the vessel will not sail on time. The Seamen’s Union met, but declined to make any announcement to the press. The chief officer of the Hobson Bay lias signed on with a full crew of seamen with the exception of two. The engagement of the engine-room complement is also proceeding satisfactorily. The skipper is quite confident that the steamer will sail to time. April 29. The Hobson Bay has secured a crew and sailed. ’ THE CANBERRA STRIKE. SYDNEY, April 24. Additional returned soldiers arrived at Canberra from Melbourne, but they declined to start work when they became acquainted with the conditions of the strike. Senator Thomas addressed a meeting at Canberra, He said that, though he deplored strikes, he would have struck if he had been one of the workers at Canberra. A message received from Melbourne stated that Ministers were resolute in their determination not to concede the demands. They reiterated the promise of a board to determine wages and hours, which would be appointed as soon as the men had elected their representative. MELBOURNE, April 25. Mr Foster, Minister of Works and Railways, states that the men at Canberra must return to work before the board which was previously promised will be appointed. SYDNEY, April 28. A deputation asked Sir George Fuller to intervene in the Canberra strike. Sir George Fuller promised to consult Mr Hughes on the latter’s arrival in Sydney shortly. He said he could not believe that Mr Foster (Federal Minister of Works) was susceptible to Melbourne influences, though the latter was determined to prevent, if possible, the establishment of the Federal capital in its own home. Whilst he was unable to decide on the merits of the Federal dispute, it was his duty to endeavour to prevent unemployment in the State. A message from Queanbeyan states that Mr Foster compromised, and suggested that the men should return to work at the old rates of pay, hut with new hours. The men refused this offer. The position otherwise is unchanged. APPRENTICES!! 1P SCHEME. SYDNEY, April 25. The Board of Trade has published a report on the apprenticeship scheme, which aims at bridging the gulf between the age of 14 and manhood, while at the same time steering clear of “dead end” occupations. The report recommends the

abolition of arbitrary rules, specifying the number of apprentices to be allowed, the compulsory continuance of education until the age of 18, a uniform wage, bearing in mind the cost of sustenance of an apprentice, meanwhile reducing many of the extravagant minimum rates prescribed in industrial agreements. Provision is recommended for apprentices of any age. It is also suggested that tribunals should be established whose purpose it should be to determine the aptitude of youngsters leaving school. COAL MINERS’ WAGES. SYDNEY, April 27. A'bombshell was thrown into coal circles by the announcement that the owners intend to reduce wages by 33 1-3 per cent., and to revert to a working day of two shifts of eight hours each. The union anticipates serious trouble. The terms offered to the miners bv the coal owners also include the restoration of front and back shifts; the abolition of the cavilling system or 12 months’ cavil; that machines will be used in pillar work when required; that if the management desires it the employees shall work six days each week; that the hours of surface workers shall be calculated exclusive of meal times, those of the underground and contract men from the time the last man descends until the first ascends in each shift; that the distribution of coal free or below the selling price to householders will be discontinued ; only six recognised holidays yearly to be observed; hours in regard to back Saturdays to be raised from six to eight.

The conference at which this offer was made has adjourned to allow the miners’ representatives to place it before the miners’ lodges. The conferenec will resume at an early date, when the miners’ attitude will be disclosed. FORTY-FOUR-HOUR WEEK. SYDNEY, April 26. The operations of the 44-hour week are adversely affecting the silica quarries near Malton. One hundred employees were dismissed as a consequence. The timber mills at Nowra and Bateman Bay are reducing the staffs for the same reason. BASIC WAGE REVIEWED. SYDNEY, April 26. The Board of Trade met to review the basic wage. The representative of the employees asked for an increase on the ground that the standard of living should be improved. The employers contended that the standard -was fair and just, and, as prices had fallen, wages should be reduced. The board adjourned sine die, and will consider in the meantime whether it will fix a new wage. MR M’GIRPv AND MR CATTS. SYDNEY, April 24. As the upshot of an exchange of compliments between Mr M‘Girr and Mr Catts, the former challenged the latter to resign, and contest with him the latter’s constituency in the House of Representatives, in order to test the attitude of tin electors towards Mr Catts’s new Majority Labour Party. Mr Catts replied than he would welcome Mr M‘Girr as an opponent when the Federal elections arrive, but he declines at present to be sidetracked from the work of organising the new party. SPEAKER ELECTED. SYDNEY, April 26. Parliament was opened by Governor’s commission, and Mr Levy was elected as Speaker. The Governor’s speech will be delivered later ir. the session, when Sir George Fuller has put the final touches on his programme. April 29. Parliament sat throughout the night. A Bill to reduce the salaries of Ministers and members was withdrawn in consequence of interjections from both sides of the House. The Bill will be brought back with amendments later. In the Assembly the Treasurer (Mr Cocks), speaking of the State’s finances, said that the previous Government had left as a legacy a deficit ranging from £5,000,000 to £6,000,000. In the Assembly Mr Cocks, in moving the reimposition of the super tax, said that the deficit of between £5,000,000 and £6,000,000 with which the Government was faced included £1,600,000 on wheat pools, with a further contingency of £500,000. This loss was the result of the promise of a payment of Is 6d per bushel, and also over-payment. Replying to the contention that the tax cast undue burden upon the primarv nroducers he declared that if the House refused to endorse the measure the £1.000,000 involved would so hamper the Government that it would be impossible to carry on. Mr Cocks announced that £6,900,000 of loan money would fall due in London by October. The Dooley Government had been negotiating for floating a conversion loan of £5,000,000. The Government had been advised that money would be secured at 96, but decided that the terms were not sufficiently favourable. Eurther negotiations were proceeding to secure the same terms as those recently secured by New Zealand.

Sir George Fuller declared that the tax was essential, but ho hoped that this would be the last year it would be necessary. A futile attempt was made to reduce the tax from sixpence to threepence. After a protracted debate in which the gag was applied several times the Bill passed all its stages. Trouble over the Members' Salaries Reduction Bill arose on a proposal to make it retrospective from March 25. After much caustic criticism of the measure generally Sir George Fuller undertook to make it operative from May 1 and to take it through all its stages at one sitting.

COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT WORKS

SYDNEY, April 27. Cabinet approved of proposals by Sir George Fuller for the extension of country development work, in which he is seeking the co operation of the Federal Government. They include the preparing of lands for settlement, training farms, and irrigation schemes, whiek will provide work for the unemployed and for immigrants. Special attention is being directed to the Murray Valley lands in New South M ales and tlie Crown lands between the Great Northern Railway and the North Coast Railway, also hydro-electric schemes at Burrinjuck and the Clarence River. Sir George Fuller ; s seeking to secure an agreement with the Federal Government and, if necessary, the British Government to finance the scheme. A BITTER DEBATE. SYDNEY, April 27. The election of Mr Levy to the Speakership was responsible for a bitter debate. Mr Wilson, in moving his election, said he wanted to deny the statement that the position was being given to Mr J<evy as a reward for his action in stepping down from the chair and bringing about a dissolution of Parliament. Mr Cann (who was Minister of Labour in the Dooley Government) said he considered that' Mr Lew had not proved himself to be an impartial Speaker. He had lowered the dignity of Parliament, and now was being given the position as i»art of a bargain. It was highly undignified that a man who occupied the position of Speaker should be carrying on business as a solicitor, which carried him into the Police Court, where doubtless he would be engaged in defending drunks and others charged with disorderly conduct. Mr J. J. M’Girr declared that Mr Levy had obtained nomination because he held documents which, if made public, would bring Sir George Fuller and the members of his Ministry down on their knees to plead for forgiveness. There were reasons why the other side did not dare to nominate any other man. He congratulated Mr Levy on being able to work any Government in power. A majority of the speakers, including the leader of the Progressives and Opposition members, spoke favourably of Mr Levy’s qualifications. Sir George Fuller, in congratulating Mr Levy, said that the Government supported him for one reason only, and that was that they were picking out one man above all the others, from what they knew of his actions in the chair, as being the most capable of filling the position. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. SYDNEY, April 26. Cabinet has decided not to make any general pronouncement of its views on the question of capital punishment, but will consider each case on its merits. In taking over the control of State enterprises, which, as part of the scheme of economy, have been transformed from a separate department to a branch of the Public Works Department, Sir Thomas Henley (Minister of Works) said that the policy of the Government was to encourage private enterprise in every way. He foreshadowed a review of the whole State enterprise scheme on strictly economical lines, securing the highest standards of efficiency and full value for any expenditure which might be sanctioned. The reductions of staffs were indicated. One hundred dismissed notices have been issued to the Lithgow Small Arms Factory employees, and more will follow. Sir Thomas Henley announces that the Government had decided to dispose of the State Lime and Brick Works at Botany Bay by tender or sale. The capital cost was £37,251, and the accumulated losses £19,827. April 28. A special meeting of the Council of the Coal Miners’ Federation rejected the employers’ proposals, and decided to stand behind its own claims, which had already been placed before a tribunal. Mr Willis, the secretary, issued a manifesto urging the workers not to be stampeded into a general stoppage. He said that the AllAustralian Trade Union Congress is to be held in Melbourne in June. This conference would probably formulate a definite policy for safeguarding the interests of the workers. He reminded the men that it was remarkable that the previous industrial upheaval occurred during the Nationalist regime, and another was threatening on its return to power COMPLETE SELF-GOVERNMENT. SYDNEY, April 28. The Majority Labour Party drafted a tentative policy, including complete selfgovernment as a British community, one. sovereign Parliament for the commonwealth, the abolition of State Parliaments and Governors, all duplicated departments to be amalgamated, Federal electorates to be grouped according to a population quota, means of communication, and community of interest. NEW LEGISLATION. SYDNEY, April 28. In the Assembly the Salaries Bill was again amended to date from July 1, except in the case of Ministers, who voluntarily agreed to a reduction of £275 per annum from March 25- Progress was reported near midnight, and the Assembly adjourned until Tuesday. The Legislative Council passed the Super Tax Bill through all its stages The Members’ Salaries Bill ns not yet out of the wood. Sir George Fuller's intention was to force it through at one sitting, but he found the feeling was against rushing it, and he had to consent to holding it over till next week, when the various proposed amendments will be discussed. The debate disclosed a good deal of cavilling amongst the various sections over the Bill, and much divei*sity of opinion as to the scope of the reductions, some favouring as much as £SOO. One of the main weapons used against the

Government was that the reduction in Ministerial salaries was disproportionate to that of the members' salaries. The defence was that at the time the salaries were raised members got an increase of 75 per cent, and Ministers only a 40 per cent advance, and Ministers were leaking the reduction retrospective for themselves.