AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 2

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY.

(from OTJR OWN COnRESrOXDENT.) SYDNEY. January 24. THE STRIKE GERM. This week has seen another illustration of the extraordinary susceptibility of wharf labourers to the strike germ., The time having como for tho reconsideration of the agreement between the shipping companies and the Wharf Labourers' Federation, the wharf labourers resolved to demand nothing less than a rate of two shillings an hour as payment for ordinary work, and three shillings an hour for overtime work. A first conference in Melbourne last week failed to' produco agreement as to what the.future rates should be. Then arrangements were made by the wharf labourers' executive for another conference with tho employers, and there was also talk about an appeal to the Commonwealth Arbitration Court. But at Sydney the I .WAV. section (called by some tho I Won't Workers) in the local Wharf Labourers' Union saw a chance to work up a strike as a sequel to tho first conference. An I.W.W. emissary went round-the wharves, and told the men working there that they were not to handle any goods after 5 o'clock, the knock-off hour for ordinary, work. This was accepted by the men as an authontativo instruction from their union officials, and there was the usual unquestioning compliance with anything of the nature of a suggestion to strike and hit th, employer and the public. Now, a wharf labourers' striko here is. like a - bush fire—very ensy to start, but mighty hard to confine and extinguish. The officials of tho local union and of the Wharf Labourers' Federation told the men that they had : no right to strike at this juncture,' and that they were playing into the hands of foolish extremists who would wreck tho union if allowed to have their wild way. The shipping industry was being seriously dislocated through the refusal of the men to handle any cargo after 5 p.m. Happily, enough of the more soberminded members of the Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union attended a big meeting of "that body held on Wednesday night to outvote, the fanatic I.W.W. section, and the strike has been declared off, and the decision come to that, there is to be no cessation of work except by specific direction of tho union executive after the holding of a "stop-. work" meeting of the union. Thus the extremists.havo. been thwarted in their desire to "havo revenge" upon employers for the setback they re- j ceived in New Zealand. But [t is avowedly their intention to persevere in efforts to start a huge industrial blaze hero in the highly inflammable material which exists amongst wharf labourers. ANOTHER FORTUNATE. Fortune's wheel has again made a turn that has brought sudden wealth to a toiler in a humble position. During crib time on the Melbourno wharves, Edward Head and other wharf labourers wero reading- scraps of information from bits of newspapers that lay at hand. One of them on looking over a portion of a paper of recent date that had been wrapped round a billycan turned to Head, and asked, "Say, Ted, what boat did you come out from England in?" "The Gadynne," replied Head. "Well, you're the one," replied his mate. "You are wanted to 6hare in a fortune." In truth it was so. Head replied to the advertisement, and learned from the firm responsible for it that if ho could formally establish his identity ho was the man wanted. He was able to furnish the requisite details, and a cable message has been sent to England conveying bis claim to a substantial share in the distribution of a big estate. Head has had an adventurous career. Before he came to Australia in 1880 he served in the Britisb and American Armies, and hs has since engaged in a wide range of occupations, none of which brought him more than enough to live on. He can now look forward to motor-cars and champagne if he cares to have them. » A VISITOR. You are going to have an opportunity of seeing and talking to one of the most interesting figures; in present day Australian public affairs. Accompanied by his wife the Premier of New South Wales, Mr W. A. Holman. will leave next Saturday for Wellington. They will visit Auckland. Kotwua, and Christchurch, and

will remain in the Dominion for about a fortnight. When you see Mr Holman you will almost certainly bo struck by bis youthful appearance. You will also discover that he has a pleasant manner, a quick and wellstocked mind, and an admirable command of language. Undoubtedly ho is the brainy man of the Labour Party in the biggest State in the Commonwealth. It was in a very substantial measure due to his judgment and personal efforts in the recent general election campaign that Labour was after three years' trial and criticism given a renewal of administrative and legislative control with an astonishingly increased majority. It says a lot for his ability that he has gained his present eminence despite occasional conflict witlf the power outside of Parliament that is really the controller of Labour politics, and he has earned the scarcely veiled hostility of 60„ie "thorough-going" Labourites who would like to see in the Premier more of the. qualities of an ever obedient tool of the Political Labour League. Whilo there is in Labour ranks approval of the mental capacity of a man who can establish Labour domination in Parliament as Mr Holman has done, many chafe because he does not seem to them sufficiently aggressive in class warfare. There are indications that envious ! fellow members of the Labour Party are planning to displace Mr Holman, j and a few others by asserting "themselves when opportunity offers as the true champions of aggressive Socialism. But Mr Holman is a cleverer man than any of his present im- ! declared rivals for high office. Ho lias ambitions too, and while it is quite on the cards that before long there will be forced on in this State a sphtting-up of the present Labour Party into Moderates and Radicals, it may be taken for granted that Mr i Holman has thought out well ahead moves which will leave him on top. For the present he moans to tako a little holiday, which he well deserves and Xew Zealnnders will doubtless admit that he is a man of accurate judgment who knows which is the best place to go for the holiday trip. You will find the Premier's wife an interesting lady with brains. She has Had n good cK.I of experience in journalism, and has just had published a book in which «he has recorded in able fashion scones nnd imn-essions of a journey to the Old World. ] POOR AMMUNITION. j In connexion with the recent bi"- ' .series of rifle matches at Sydney. grave complaints were made about defects in the ammunition supnlied by the Defence Department and served out to the ! riflemen. It is said that the military authorities are keeping secret the special report which they caused to be made on the matter. It is pointed out I in the Press that the excuse "military secrets" can scarcely.be held to cover blunders in connexion with such a matter as ammunition intended for the use of our citizen defence forces, whilst if there is nothing wrong ther.o is no harm in saying so. One apologetic statement which lias found its wav into the public Press reads, "It- is admitted that the report boars out the complaints that, in effect, while the ammunition might be good enough for active service conditions, it was not good enough for exact marksmanship on the ranges." We aro waiting to hear whether our military authorities subscribe to the belief that it is more important to hit a target than the enemy 1 FARCICAL. For the purpose of expediting necessary harbour improvements, the Government of the State of Victoria has hired from the New Zealand Government for two years a dredge. It is not a new dredge, and is to be sent back to New Zealand when the term of hire k over. But to tho astonishment of the Victorian Government, tho Commonwealth authorities have entered a claim for the payment of between £4000 and £5000 as Customs duty on ! tho dredge. From ; the Victorian, stand,point, this shows a churlish'spirit on the part of the Commonwealth people, and tlio Victorian Premiei has addressed to the Prime Aftnister, Mr Cook, arguments about the absurdity of the demand. Mr Cook says . the thing strikes him as a little farcical. He was surprised when he learnt for the first time through the newspapers that the demand for duty had been made. Tho Customs people say they have to make the demand, otherwise they would be breaking tho Customs law, and that would never do. But Mr Cook says he intends to see if there can be discovered in the law somo little corner which is to tho advantage of Victoria in the matter. After tbis we may expect to find! the intensely zealous Australian Customs officers interpreting the Immigration Restriction Act in A such a way as to make failure to write fifty words at dictation in the, Turkish language a reason for not allowing New Zealanders to land in Australia. POWERFUL SMELLS. The historic town of Parramatta has septic tanks—also fairly historic—and these septic tanks are capable o_~producing sewer gas in great volume. As residents, in tbe l'ocaijty can corroborate, the gas is of great potency, and some local patriots are prepared to back their sewer gas. against sewer gas produced anywhere else for horse-power strength in proportion to cubic measurement. Thus far the commercial or industrial potentialities Of the Parramatta gas have been overlooked. But the enterprising members of the local Sewerage Committee mean to. stop any waste. They recommend the utilisation of tbe sewer gas for the generation of power, which will be sufficient to keep up all pumping requirements. It is estimated that the plant required will cost only £200, and that by the adoption of the scheme the Town Council will save at least £400 annually. Tho Council's engineer has obtained patents for the use of sewer gas. It is not stated, however, whether his invention would work with any gas other than that generated at Parramatta. The Town Council has adopted the recommendations of tho Sewerage Committee, so Parramatta's gas may ero long be earning its own keep and hundreds of pounds besides. One can now justifiably expect that in the near future a largo part, if not .the whole of Sydney, will be lighted electrically by means of the gas which now goes to waste at Parliament House.