Paralysing Hold-Up In Sydney

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23332, 16 October 1945, Page 5

Paralysing Hold-Up In Sydney

Power Rationing Displaces 150,000 Workers Factories And Stores Closed (Received 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 15. rpHE most paralysing industrial hold-up began to-day, 1 when 150,000 workers were stood down because of electricity rationing. Industry, with the exception of foods manufacture and processing, was brought to a standstill. Several hundred factories closed down, many retail stores did not open and city cafes and restaurants were unable to cope with the demand for food. Practically every engineering works in the suburbs affected by the rationing is closed. More than 50,000 employees in the metal trades are without jobs. The State’s blackest Monday for years saw 30,000 more workers idle because of disputes at Newcastle and on the coalfields. In Newcastle about 16,000 workers are holding a 24-hour stoppage in sympathy with 6000 iron and steel workers on strike at Port Kembla, while 5000 miners and about 4000 printers are also idle. Parties to the Bunnerong dispute appeared before the full bench of the Industrial Commission and Mr Justice Ferguson has been delegated to confer with the parties later to-day. Confusion occurred at the offices of the National Service Department, when there was a rush of workers to register as unemployed, so that they would qualify after a week for relief.

Failing a settlement of the dispute, an early meeting of the Labour Council Executive is expected to consider plans for a State-wide 24-hour stoppage of industry to demand a 40-hour week generally.

Under the Electricity Rationing Regulations inspectors have been empowered to enter private premises and homes to police the regulations, and it is an offence to refuse admission or to obstruct them in any way. However, the police, who fear that crooks may try to pose as inspectors, warned householders to make anyone wishing to enter their premises produce an authority. Most city stores carried on to-day lit by lamps and candles. A5O per cent drop in sales and the possibility that shoplifting gangs may take advantage of the gloom are among the worries of shopkeepers. Four city theatres and suburban theatres are closed and other city theatres are carrying on with emergency plants. Newspapers and radio stations are operating as usual. Most Sydney men will have to go without a haircut. It is estimated that 500 hairdressers are not working because of the lack of lighting and inability to use electrical clippers. Most hotel bars will close about 4.30 p.m. owing to lack of light. A number did not open at all to-day. .One of the worst features of the tie-up is that the distribution of thousands of pounds worth of drugs, vaccines, serums and other medical requirements urgently needed by hospitals, doctors and chemists ceased to-day because of the closing of a large city warehouse, which was refused exemption from the restrictions. Optometrists cannot use electricity and have been forced to close. Tire production of woollens, clothes, boots and rubber are among the industries at a standstill. Loss of Wages If the disputes continue, workers will be losing nearly £1,250.000 a week in wages, and Australia, particularly New South Wales, will face one of the greatest industrial crises in its history. Electricity rationing, the result of the six weeks’ dispute at Bunnerong, and the cutting off of coal supplies to the powerhouse, began at midnight. There was no last minute move infany quarter to avert rationing. Failing a speedy settlement, more drastic restrictions are regarded as inevitable. The number of unemployed is expected to rise to 250,000 by the middle of the week. The compulsory conference cal'ed by the Industrial Commission was resumed to-day, but Labour officials claim that the indications are for a long dispute. The Labour Council has instructed all workers thrown out of work to applv immediately to seek Commonwealth unemployment relief. Most Federal awards provided that employees on weekly hiring need not be paid for any time they cannot be usefully employed because of a strike, breakdown in "machinery or any other stoppage of work by any cause for which the employer "cannot reasonably be held responsible. Parties Confer (Rec. 12.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 15. The conference of parties to the I unnerong dispute presided over by Mr Justice Ferguson met this afternoon and adjourned until to-morrow morning. Certain suggestions made at the conference are being considered by both parties.