BASIC WAGE IN AUSTRALIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17473, 23 January 1931, Page 7

BASIC WAGE IN AUSTRALIA

REDUCED BY 10 PER CENT. FALL IN NATIONAL WEALTH UNREST CAUSED AMONG UNIONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 21. For reasons of national emergency, the Commonwealth Arbitration Court to-day ordered a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages of members of all unions, basic wage earners as well as of those receiving above the basic wage, but the court''refused to make any alteration in the basic wage generally, or the method of calculating it, without •further inquiry.

The court’s order operates for 12 months from February 1, or longer if necessary. The shearers and wool pressers, whose wages were recently re duced, are exempted. In a long judgment, the court pointed out that an emergency had arisen calling for a readjustment in all directions, notably the costs of Government and of production services, rents, dividends, and interest..

“All,” said the judge, “must adapt themselves to the fundamental fall in the national income and national wealth and to our changed relationship with other countries.”

A scene occurred after the Arbitration Court judges had left the bench, when the union advocates and a group ol union officials expressed dissent, somebody shouting “They ought to be shot.” Then followed the singing of “The Red Flag” and cheers were given for a Labor revolution.

In addition to the 10 per cent, cut, a further substantial reduction in the basic wage takes place almost immediately, consequent on the falling of the cost of living figures, which automatically apply to the Federal basic wage. The Federal basic wage in the several capitals on November 1 was: Sydney, 88s: Melbourne. 83s; Brisbane, 70s 6d; Adelaide, 70s; Perth, 795; Hobart. 82s. The court’s judgment has caused a considerable stir and unrest among unionists covered by Federal awards, including railwayinen, maritime workers, carpenters, timber workers, coach makers, saddlers, clothing operatives, food preserving employees, professional officers, the Merchant Per vice Guild, and a number of minor organisations. ’Hie Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. C. IT. Wickens, says the court’s order means an annual reduction of nearly £130,000,000 in the national salary bill, which was f3OO.COO.CFO last vear. He adds: “The total national dividend, including wages, was £598,C00,CC0. ’

GENERAL STRIKE PROPOSED BUT TRAGIC FAILURE FEARED THEODORE ATTACKS BANKERS (Received January 23, noon) SYDNEY, Jan. 23. The Labor Council after a heated argument, decided that its whole machinery should bo employed in arranging for a general strike against the new basic wage. A big majority favored an amendment to ask the Federal Government to disallow the finding. Union officials generally believe that a shortage of funds and abnormal unemployment would make any strike a tragic failure. The effect of the court’s judgment is that the new Federal basic wage will be £l3 18s 2d, with a 10 per cent, reduction of all Federal award earnings for unions cited, representing reductions for 130,000 employees in New .South Wales and nearly 300,000 throughout the Commonwealth. There will be a saying of £700,000 in the railway salary bill. Mr. Brooks, a member of the Legislative Council, addressing the Employers Federation, said the reduction would reduce production costs in Australia by £17,500,000 and would create employ--111 Speaking at Eailwood, Mr. Theodore said: “Bankers will be driven to change the monetary policy of Australia. lam trying to make them realise their responsibilities and if they will not they will have to stand out of the way and let someone else dictate it. Our bankers have slavishly followed the banking policy of England, which is unsuited to our needs. The deflation policy has caused many people to lose their homes and jobs', lias ruined tens of thousands of-business men, Inis scut ~}; “j 8 ® tL more bankrupt, and has cica situation to-day when one-fifth of the Government securities have I'cvea ed an ill round decline of a minor character. K estimated that 3MW> will he affected in New South Wales by the 10 per cent, reduction ot the basic wage. _ , • l r^rt«gVu[t?a ß ked to pre-’ State basic wage of c2s. INTEREST PAYMENT MET U.S. LOAN TO AUSTRALIA NEW YORK, Jam 21. American financial circles especially bondholders, who have n nervous about the result of the «»« South American political upsets, a’so the European Governments 1 Sous situation, -here tremendously' reassured regarding t (. nonsituation to-day wnen the Uommoi Wealth, through the J, PmPt promptly the semi-annual divide a o" approximately £370,000 upon Hie Australian 1955 loan of nearly Vq Prompt payment of interest on this loan in all the circumstances w regarded as a tome for Australia reputation. DIRE NEED IN N.S.W.

SETTLERS’ SORRY PLIGHT SYDNEY, Jan. 9. During bis week s visit to the Miurumbidgee irrigation area, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Dunn, who returned to Sydney to-day, saw at first hand the plight which confronts many of the settlers. , Mr. Dunn will attempt to evolve a scheme of reappraisement of values which may mean a reduction up to £s.ooo,COO'in capital and other costs. Mr. Dunn is greatly concerned by the position which was revealed. In three days he received 35 deputations. Every manner of appeal was made to him, from writing down the values of holdings to puying bakers, butchers, and doctors' accounts and bills for machines and harness. One settler, declaring that lie “couldn’t go naked.” even asked to he provided with a suit of clothes by the State. In every bona fide case relief has been granted. It is estimated that, over and above the £3,000,000 which farmers already owe to the Rural Industries Board, it

will cost Hie board another £2,000,000 to assist the farmers to carry on. The Minister for Lands, Mr. Tully, said to-dav that be proposed to introduce a bill as early as possible to provide for reappraisement of Crown land values.

FACING THE FACTS DEPRESSION IN N.S.W. . ■ : A% N' SYDNEY, Jan. 12. That nothing is to be gained by re- x fusing to lace" the facts ot the depression, is clear from various departmental returns covering the last 12 months activities in New South Wales. In the building trade it was one of the worst years in the history of the State. There was a big slump in the dotation of nfew companies. ■ - The bankruptcy figures tell their own melancholy story, and even they do not lelj the full story of the shrunken fortunes and plight of many who have been hard hit. People do not always go about pulling long mouths, but those with their fingers on the city s economic pulse describe as pitiable the plight of scores of business men Who have been brought pretty well to ruin'. Taking institutions and not individuals!. about the only ones iu Sydney whi “h have seen the benefit of the depression, if one can. put it thus without savour of mockery, are the public libraries. Suceeding months have witnessed bigger and bigger attendance figures. The simple explanation of it, it course, is, largely, if not wholly, that people without work and without hope of finding it, are patronising these institutions, not because of a sudden quickening of intellectual or cultural interests, not because it is a cheap means of filling in their time.. .