COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 100, 23 December 1912, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH CABLES.

Melbourne, December 22. The Federal Parliament has adjourned until January 15th. The report of the Postal Department shows that during the year 566 million letters and postcards passed through the post, being an increase of 70 millions, an average of 95 letters and postcards per head of the population. Tho report states that the Government still strongly favours State owned Atlantic cable, and advocates calling a conference. New Zealand approves, and will co-operate m the matter, but Canada is indefinite.

THE TRAMWAY JUDGMENT

Melbourne, December 22

In the Arbitration Court Justice Higgins gave a lengthy statement dealing with the Tramway Employees’ Association case against the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Companies. He said that the Brisbane Co. refused to even consider tho agreement. It objected to everything, and the manager Badger adhered to tho time-honoured policy of absolute control over its own employees. The existing agreement left the amount of wages payable absolutely at his discretion.

Justice Higgins regretted to have to make an order in regard to the Brisbane Co.’s men which lie had al ways previously refus 'd to make. That was “preference to Unionists.” The history of the case was painful, ever ghastly, in the eyes of those who fancied there was a liberty of association in Australia. No doubt nearlj ail tho men who attempted to resign from the Brisbane Association did so under the intimidation of a man who could give or withhold the means of living. Badger knew that if the employees resented the conditions of labour they feared unemployment more. In his capacity of benevolent despot he. made ruthless use of the knowledge in playing-off the natural desire of the men to support their wives and children against their efforts i< unite for improvement of their conditions. He did not desire to restrict Badger in the choice of his employee, hut the law left them no other mean? of protecting the members of the As sociation from Badger’s intimidation