INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 19

INDUSTRIAL WORLD

TRADE RESTORATION. LONDON, January 23. Sir W. Joynson Hicks (Department of Overseas Trade) at ‘Reading said: “We are no longer self-contained. We cannot disregard foreign competition, or dominion competition. Until we induce trade unionists to realise what that com petition means, we cannot get trade restored to its pre-war position. If it is restored 95 per cent, of the unemployment will disappear.” AMERICAN MINERS’ WAGES NEW YORK, January 24. A conference of bituminous coal operators and miners agreed to extend the existing scale of wages for one year from April 1, including all the terms, provisions, and conditions in the present agreement. STRIKE AGAINST WAGE REDUCTIONS SYDNEY, January 23. The coopers employed at the metropolitan breweries and outside shops struck as a protest against a reduction of 6s weekly in their wages and the introduction of the 48-hour week. WAGE REDUCTION OPPOSED. The annual meeting of the Central Council of the Coal Miners’ Federation adopted a motion protesting against the action of the Coal Tribunal in hearing the owners’ claim for a reduction of wages before the miners’ claims for altered condition* of working. It was also resolved that the executive should take steps to educate the general community to a realisation that only by the socialisation of the mining industry can coal, be obtainable at a just price and the mining employees get improved conditions. INDUSTRIAL RETURN. SYDNEY, January 26. The State Statistician’s figures show that last year there were 6351 factories in New South Wales, employing 158,482 persons. The wages paid amounted to £26,626,645, and-the value of the output was £132,306,813. Compared with the previous year the number of factories showed an increase of 514, the number of employees increased bv 3471, and the wage* paid increased by £1,008,054. The value of the output, however, showed a decrease of £5,534,573. WOKERS’ conference: SYDNEY. January 24. The annual conference of the Australian Workers Union has opened. It includes New Zealand delegates. Mr Blakeley, the president, in an interview, referring to rumours respecting an intention to depose Mr Charlton from* the leadership of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, denied that any action would be taken by or on behalf of the Australian Workers’ Union with such an object. Personally he was on the side of Mr Charlton, and would not accept nomination against him. Januarv 25. Senator Barnes has been elected president of the Australian Workers’ Union. SYDNEY, January 26. The Australian Workers’ Union Conference adopted arbitration as the future policy for the settlement of industrial disputes. The Australian Workers’ Union Conference resolved to instruct its members to stand by the shearing award, pending

the general secretary applying for an alteration of the award rates and a conference with the pastoralists. SMELTING PLANT CLOSED. PERTH, January 26. Owing to the proprietors of the Surprise lead mine at Ajana, on the Northampton field, entering into a contract with a Belgian firm for the sale of the output for 1923, the Fremantle Trading Company has closed down its smelters. The Surprise mine hitherto has supplied half its work with 300 tons of concentrates monthly.