SYDNEY’S INDUSTRIAL ATMOSPHERE IS BRIGHTER ON THE SURFACE

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 January 1947, Page 5

SYDNEY’S INDUSTRIAL ATMOSPHERE IS BRIGHTER ON THE SURFACE

(Special from C. R. Mentiplay, N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) Reed. 7.20 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 21 Though the atmosphere in a number of industrial disputes affecting most of Australia lias cleared almost miraculously during Ihe past ten days, prospects are no less unsettled. The record of negotiations is a bright one on the surface. The gasworkers are back in production in three cities which were bereft almost completely of gas. To-day, Sydney housewives may even obtain meat, though at increased cost, and workers are assured that lor a few weeks at least they may travel to places of employment without the necessity of begging for lifts, relying on transport supplied by some employers, or walking. TAXIDRIVERS ABANDON BOYCOTT.

Taxi-drivers have abandoned their boycott against a return to peace-time conditions as regards multiple hiring, and watersiders have condescended to shelve their grievances concerning appearance money and holidays. Milk suppliers have grudgingly contented to withhold their threat of depriving Sydney and Newcastle of milk. At the moment the only troubles on the horizon concern shipyard and foundry workers and postal workers, and it seems that the lastnamed dispute will be settled without much difficulty. It is the method by which most of these disputes have been disposed of by the Federal and State Governments that leaves the Australian citizen puzzled, and disgruntled. Nearly all the strikes closures and threats were directed, either openly or indirectly, at Governments. To the citizen it now appears that the Governments have avoided trouble temporarily by buying off the strikers at the expense of the taxpayers.

The most curious case of all is that of meat retailers, who closed their shops ostensibly in protest against lack of price controls of livestock, and inadequate policing of controls of wholesale meat. Quite unexplainably, the Federal Government found a solution in increasing the subsidy, raising the price ceilings on wholesale meat, and authorising an even bigger increase in prices of retail meat. Butchers are not happy about the result because they claim the black market has merely been encouraged to lift its own illegal prices. Wholesalers are not being policed more closely, and the consumer loses both ways by having to pay more. Nobody appears satisfied, but the butcher shops are open again. MILK SUPPLIES. Milk supplies were assured when the Government agreed to pay almost the full amount claimed as a subsidy to the milk producers. This subsidy, of course, comes directly out of the pocket of the taxpayer. Gas strikers caused discomfort and loss to nearly half the Australian population before the Government secured a settlement by giving them some of their demands and promising an Arbitration Court investigation of others.

Sydney tramwaymen were prompted to strike because the:? Melbourne colleagues secured time and a-half for Saturday work after a nine-day stoppage. Before they walked oft the trams the Minister of Transport had agreed to half their claims, but that was not enough. It was the resolute disapproval of the rest of the trade union movement that sent them back to work.

The possibility of many other disputes developing into illegal trials of strength depends not on a firm Government attitude, but on whether or not the militant unionists will honour the promises extracted from the Government under pressure. While this attitude prevails the citizens can never be sure of transport, power or food.