WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 19513, 12 May 1922, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES

NEW SOUTH WALES MINING INDUSTRY. A CRISIS THREATENING. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). SYDNEY, May 11. The Daily Telegraph predicts that owing to the depression and unsettled condition of the coal industry, grave danger exists of an early industrial crisis. The paper declares that the unemployment problem hinges on the price of coal, which remains high because the wages paid to miners. Only a conference and compromise between the Coalminers’ Federation and the colliery proprietors can avert an industrial catastrophe. Meantime a thousand miners are idle in Newcastle, Lithgow and other mining districts, seriously affecting other avenues of employment and crippling business enterprise. Representatives of the mining industry decided to form a deputation 'to wait on Mr Fitzpatrick for the purpose of removing pinpricks which, it is said, have become sabre thrusts. It is suggeted that the Minister, when dealing with important mining problems, should confer with men who 5 understand the economic position, as well as technical experts. The grievances comprise excessive stamp taxation and railway freights. A ton of wood is railed for 22/-, while a ton of ore is charged £3 10/-. THE BASIC WAGE, MASS MEETING OF SYDNEY UNIONS. SYDNEY, May 11. (Received May 11, 11.30 p.m.) A mass meeting of all building employees will be held on May 24 to consider the question of the basic wage and determine what agitation will be taken towards the reduction of wages and alteration of hours. The Shires Conference carried a motion favouring approaching the Government with a view to bringing about a reduction of wages and salaries of Shire employees. MELBOURNE GASWORKERS’ DISPUTE A GRAVE DEVELOPMENT. MELBOURNE, May IL (Received May 11, 11.30 p.m.) An important development occurred in the gasworkers’ dispute, the gas companies declining to postpone the reduction in wages or to discuss the question of wages with the union. The union has convened a meeting for Sunday to decide whether to strike. Grave fears are entertained that the employees will cease work on Monday.

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND PRINTING TRADE’S DISPUTE (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 11. The Wellington Newspaper Proprietors’ Industrial Union of Employers cited the Wellington Typographical Union and the Related Printing Trades Union as respondents to Conciliation Council proceedings. The assessors were Messrs N. Mcßobie (Auckland), F. Pirani, and C. W. Earle for the employers, and Messrs C. H. Chapman, J. Buchanan, and T. Sheerin for the Typographical Union. Proposals by the employers and counter-proposals by the Federated Typographical Association were considered. The Commissioner read a letter from the workers’ union expressing regret that the employers had not invited the employees to a conference before filing the application for a new award. It contended that the application was not in order, and therefore there could be no dispute. Mr Chapman said there was no dispute at the time of the filing of ’the demands. Their,contention was based on what happened in regard to the shearers’ and shedhands’ dispute taken before the Arbitration Court in 1910. The judgment in that case was that before the Court had jurisdiction to make an award it must be clear that there was an industrial dispute between the two parties at the date the application was filed. The Wellington Related Printing Trades Union had received no application from the employers. Mr Earle remarked that the point was purely a technical one. The two workers’ unions overlapped. The employers had no objection to both disputes falling through. Mr Chapman replied that that simplified the matter considerably. Mr Pirani pointed out that in February the employees’ union actually compiled its demands. In regard to the related trades absolute proof of a dispute was shown in the correspondence. He ridiculed the claims which had been made by the union. After some discussion, it was agreed to proceed with the Typographical Union’s dispute, and consideration of the Related Trades dispute was adjourned till June 1. Payment either by time or by picework was agreed to. No agreement could be come to on the question of wages, and the Board proceeded to consider other points in the employers’ demands. Consideration was given to the position of apprentices, but no decision was arrived at. The discussion of hours and wages will be continued to-morrow.