LABOUR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16857, 10 June 1920, Page 7

LABOUR.

CONDITIONS IN JAPAN. LONDON, June 1. Writing in "Tho Times," Mr J. O. P. Bland (who was formerly correspondent of "Tho Times'' at Shanghai and Peking) states that he came to Japan oxpoeting to find evidence of serious unrest and organised movements amongst the workers. He had heard a good deal about the exorbitant demands and modern lack of discipline of the men, but capitalist's generally were not paying attention to labour problems. There was little evidence of a general desire by the country to subscribe to the findings of the International Labour Conference. On the contrary, there was a definite desire to let things be, and to allow Japan to onjoy the competitive advantages of free trade in human material, unfettered by restrictions on child labour, hours, or wages. Two salient facts are that the Government declines to allow two million factory workers to organise any union, and second that there is no organised labour party nor prominent politician prepared to lead. TRADE UNION OBSTINACY. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 8. Lord Haig, addressing tho National Association for the Employment of Ex-soldiers, attacked the trade unions' selfish obstinacy, which, ho said, prevented thousands of men who fought for the principles and even the very existence of trade unionism, from obtaining employment. I.W.W. PRISONERS. SYDNEY, June D. Arrangements havo been made for Mr Justice Ewing, of Tasmania, to act as a Royal Commissioner to inquire into the cases of the imprisoned I.AV.W. men (regarding which there havo been many recent labour protests). Mr Justice Ewing has been authorised to exercise wide powers to revive old and now evidence, and .to decide whether the convictions are sustainable or the sentences excessive. LABOUR IN POLITICS. (Received June 9th, 7/40 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 9. The Labour Conference recommended that sufficient Labour men and women lie appointed to the Legislative Council to give the Governmmont a majority in that Chamber.

BASIC WAGE CLAIM. (Received June 9th, 9.45 p.m.) BRISBANE, Juno 9. Unions appearing before the Basic Wage Commission aro claiming an animal basic wage of £625 for a man andv his wife, and three children under fourteen years of age.