LABOUR TROUBLE THREATENS N.S.W.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 1

LABOUR TROUBLE THREATENS N.S.W.

44-HOljfc WEEK DISPUTE MAY LEAD TO GRAVE DEVELOPMENTS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.——Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received May 1, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 1. If the employers in the metal trades carry out their threat, approximately 40,000 workers will be thrown out of work. The State Government takes a serious view of the trouble on the coal fields. Ministers fear that the trouble threatened by the Federal Unions respecting the 44-hour week may lead to grave consequences. The Minister of Labour (Mr Baddeley), who is in Newcastle, has been urgently summoned to return to Sydney in order to be present if any serious development occurs. It is stated in Ministerial circles that it is doubtful whether the Government could intervene effectively in the disputes, as both are concerned with Federal Unions. Mr Myhill, secretary of the :,letal Trades Employers’ Association, announces that he has been officially informed by Mr Pinkerton, District Secretary of the Federated Engine Drivers’ and Firemen’s Association, that the Federal Executive of the union has decided to instruct members to work forty-eight hours a week in terms of the Federal award. * Mr Atkins, State Secretary of the Association, said that it should not be inferred from this decision that the association was not in sympathy with the 44-hour week proposal. As a matter of fact, an application was now before the Federal Arbitration Court for a variation of the association’s award to provide a 44-hour week. Mr Garden, commenting on the refusal of Mr Bruce to convene a conference to discuss the 44-hour week, said that if an upheaval occurred Mr Bruce would have to shoulder the responsibility. It could not be said that he had not been given an opportunity to avert an industrial crisis.

UNREST RUMOURS ARE EXAGGERATED, SAYS AUSTRALIAN M.P.

RIGHT HON W. A. WATT THINKS TROUBLE WILL BE SETTLED QUIETLY. "Upheavals! Everyone is talking about upheavals in Australia. There are no upheavals in the Comsnonwealth; none whatsoever.” This was the emphatic reply of the. Right Hon W. A. Watt, member of the Federal Parliament of Australia, to a question regarding recent cabled reports from Sydney, of impending strikes and general trade unrest, this morning. The interview took place on the railway station. "The Commonwealth is working peacefully and harmoniously,” he continued. "Business is brisk and flourishing in the four capitals, and if the price of wool is maintained as it stands at present there is no reason why success and greater prosperity should not be generally shared throughout the whole

of Australia. In the Commonwealth we have numerous industries and numerous sources of revenue, but it is becoming more and more apparent that the life of Australia depends on the wool that she can gro won the backs of her merino sheep.

“That old thorn in her side, the fortyfour hour week agitation, is giving a shadow of trouble to Australia, but it is like the report of Mark Twain's death, ‘greatly exaggerated.’ There is no cause for alarm over this. The matter will be adjusted quietly.” In a reply to a question touching the insult to the British Flag that took place in S3 T dney a few days ago, Mr Watt said, “It reflects a bad light on Axistralia and on her people. I am convinced, however, that there is not a single dominion in the whole of our British Empire that is more loyal than either Australia or New Zealand. Unfortunately, though, every country is inflicted with its share of lunatics at large. I have seen this Communism lifting its head in practically country that I have visited. "We certainly have difficulties in Australia, but our greatest difficulty is the rain. It is a problem that will always trouble us.” Mr Watt left Christchurch this morning on a visit to Stillwater, in the Grey district, West oCast. He returns here on Tuesday and leaves for the south on the following day.