NATIONAL COUNCIL SCHEME IN DANGER.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15203, 16 October 1919, Page 5

NATIONAL COUNCIL SCHEME IN DANGER.

AGRICULTURAL WORKERS'

HOURS

{Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Oct. 15, 10.20 p.m.) London, Oct. 15

The "Daily Express" states that the National Industrial Council scheme is in danger owing to the Labour men*bers presenting to the Government an ultimatum demanding reconsideration of the decision to exclude agricultural workers from the Forty-eight Hours ■ Bill. The decision was made without consultation of either masters or men or the Industrial Council. Indeed the Employers' Council agree to the demand for the reversal of the decision. As the Government are adamant the Labour members have called a meeting for to-morrow to decide whether the whole scheme shall be dropped.

Moderate Labour members arc generally anxious regarding the outlook, especially as it was hoped that one re-' suit of the railway strike had been to make tho unions 'anxious to test the Industrial Council scheme. If it col> lapses it will mean that the chancea of a great forward industrial movement on constitutional lines and direct collaboration with the employers will be endangered. ,