CHAIN OF LABOUR DAILIES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17112, 6 April 1921, Page 10

CHAIN OF LABOUR DAILIES.

AUSTRALIAN PROPOSAL TO RAISE £360,000. (rHOlt OUE OWN COKRESFONDIirr,) SYDNEY, March 30. ■ A conference representing different Labour newspaper interests was held in Sydney recently, and it was decided to raise £360,000, if possible, wherewith . to estaDlish a chain of Labour dailies throughout the Commonwealth. The following daily newspapers have .already been established in the Labour interests-.—The .' "World," Sydney: Building erected an* machinery-in position since 1914, but publication still delayed, for various reasons. The "World," Hobart. The "Worker," Perth: Money raised for a daily, which is to be produced presently. The ."Standard," Brisbane. The "Echo," Ballarsit. The "Dailv Herald," Adelaide. "Truth" Broken Hill.

It was pointed out that in Western Australia the workers had raised a substantial sum for a Labour daily, and that Adelaide already; ( has one. A scheme had been mapped out for a Labour daily in Melbourne, either by the transference of the Ballarat "Echo" to Melbourne, or the production of an additional paper in Melbourne. .In Sydney everything was practically in readiness tor the establishment of a daily, and in Queensland the "Standard" was proving an effective organ., \ The workers wore turning out their own paper in Port Darwin and in Broken Hill.

It was estimated that there were approximated (350,000 trades unionists in Australia. "Teiv#hiHina each from every unionist would provide sufficient to establish a chain of labour dailies, winch would fight for the, Labour cause For £1 ner unionist the scheme would be placed beyond any. i'rar of failure,. It was estimated that a chain of papers would have a dailv circulation of 750,000 and in that regard they would be- a far sounder commercial proposition than any of the private newspaper proprietaries. It 'wasfi finally decided to make an effort to raise £360,000, and especially to anneal to the A.W.U., the biggest and most powerful union i:i Australia,' which practically established the "World."" in Svdney. The A.W.'CJ. authorised a levy on all its' members, if other unions would do the same. The whole matter will be dealt with at an all-Australian conference of trade union delegates at Melbourne in June next.