RURAL WORKERS' STRIKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14836, 29 November 1913, Page 11

RURAL WORKERS' STRIKE.

(By Cable. —Press Association —Copyright.) SYDNEY, November '2s. There is every appearance of a striko of rural workers in tho northern districts. The present wages vary from eight to ten shillings a Uny with keep, and fourteen shillings is demanded. Tho Australian Rural Workers' Union is taking up tho matter, and preparations are being made for erecting a camp near Tnmworth, where the men will be quartered until their demands aro acceded to. In many of the sheltered districts splendid crops are now ready for harvesting.

The "Sydney Morning Herald had the following a few weeks «ro: — In New South Wales a record harvest is ready to bo garnered in. Harvesting has commenced with tho early crops out west, in Riverina. and in the north-west. uneasiness exists amongst tho primary producers, and fears aro entertained that poniethine untoward may happen before tho farmers reap tho reward of uicir labour. It is quito on the cards that an effort will bo made to hold up tho harvest as a result of tho A.W.U. demands. .Heports from the country show that the organisers of the rural workers are very active in many centres. Already there have boon differences between farmers and harvest hands as to the rates of pay. Tho trouble has been brewing for sonio years, and. even if postponed now, seems inevitable in the near future. In 1911 an application was inado by the secretary of the Rural Workers' Union to the President of the Commonwealth Court ot Conciliation and Arbitration for a conference, but tho Farmers and Settlers' Association, after consulting the branches, held that a conference would be useless and the President of the Court decided not to snmmonthe conference. Lntei on the Rural "Workers' Union became part and parcel of tho A.W.U., and in August last the secretary. Mr 15. Ciyndler, wroto to Mr T. 1. Campbell, secretary of the Fanners and Settlers' Association, asking for a conference. The log drawn up by the A.W.U. was submitted to the executive of the. Association, and on October 7th last Mr Campbell replied stating that ns there was no dis pute, between tho members of tho A.««rciation and their employees a conferenro was unnecessary. Thereupon the A.W.U. secretary mnde application to th© Common wealth Ooneiliji+ : nn Cmirt for a compulsory conference The Industrial Registrar. Mr A. At. Stewart, informed tbo Farmers and Settlers' Association of the apnlieation,, and was informed that as was no dispute, and as it was absolutely impossible to come to an agreement fin t'ho rlsims submitted in the latest lop. tho Association did not fioe tho advantage of any conference, as the fwisitton was unchanged. At -present Mr Justice Higcins. President of the Court, is consi(Win<r the A.W.U. application. A Ri'rnflnr ■nosition has arisen in Victoria, where tho farmers hold that a conferpn~* is unnecessary and would prove abortive.