INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17419, 1 April 1922, Page 11

INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA.

TYRANNY OF LABOUR. STRONG ENGLISH CBITICISM. {Bj Cable—Press Association —Copyright) (Australian 3.nd N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received March Ist, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 30. The Imperial Industries Glub gave a dinner to Sir Joseph Cook, Australian High Commissioner, who in the course of a speech dwelt on the progress made by Australia, making special reference to the opportunities for establishing factories there, Australia being destined to become one of the greatest manufacturing countries in tho world. The discussion on the address developed somewhat tense differences of opinion, verging on bitterness, regarding the attractiveness of Australia for branch factories of British firms. Mr George Pearson, representing the Burroughs Welcome Chemical Company, said he regretted that his firm's experience hardly justified Sir Joseph Cook's optimism. Theirs was the first British firm to establish a branch in Australia, as far back as 1902, at Waterloo, a suburb of Sydney. What was the result? The Wages Board, under Government auspices, fixed scandalous rates of wages for unskilled labour, making profitable development practically impossible. After twenty years' experience, he was convinced that Australian Labour conditions must be changed before British or _ any other capital would be responsive. "We struggled," he said, "to make our enterprise successful, and would have been able to do so liad we not been faced with wretchedlv impossible conditions. For instance, the trade unions insisted on drivers of stationary engines being paid the same rate as locomotive drivers, which was manifestly absurd." Sir Joseph Cook, intervening, exclaimed: "That is not so, and never has been 60." Mr l'earson retorted: "All I know is we had to submit to this perfectly idiotic imposition.'' „ Sir Joseph Cook replied: "I say you are wrong, absolutely wrong." .Mr Pearson: "I still maintain we were compelled to nay skilled men's wages to unskilled workmen. Even now, after war conditions have passed, I am compelled to pay war rates of waeres. I nm still protesting against skilled rates of pay for absolutely unskilled labour. If the Commonwealth expects British canity to be invested in Australia, the first tiling the Commonwealth must do is to direct their attention to Labour's onerous exactions. We have been long established, and might reasonably expect now to be able to pay our way; but even when we h?d made provision to meet labour conditions, wo found ourselves faced with differential Federal and State taxation."

Sir Joser>h Cook retorted that the combined Federal and State taxation was only £l2 per head against £24 in Britain.