LABOUR MATTERS

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS

AUSTRALIAN MINERS. BIG UPHEAVAL THREATENED. (By Cab;*—Press Associnior.— Copyright.) (Austnliui *nd N.Z Cable Association.) SYDNEY, June 1. Tho conference between the coaloivners and the miners proved abortive, the miners not agreeing to amy reduction in wages. The owners will refer the claims of the coal industry to a special tribunal, but the miners threaten a serious industrial upheaval if tho owners' claims are gi anted. [Tho coal owners announced in April that they were reducing wages by 33 l-3rd per cent., and intended to revert to a working day of two shifts of eight hours. The terms offered to the minors also included the restoration of front and back shifts, the abolition of the "cavilling system or a 12 months' cavill, that machines be used in pillar work when required, that if the management desires tho employees shall work six days each week, that the hours of surface workers shall bo calculated exclusive of meal times, and those of underground and contract men from the time tho last men descends until the first ascends in each sJiift, that the distribution of coal free or below the selling to householders ho discontinued, ouly six recognised holidays a year to be observed and the hours of back Saturdavs to be raised from six to eight. A special me?ting of the Council of the Coal-miuers' Federation on April 23th rejected tho employers' proposals.] SHEARERS' DISPUTE. SYDNEY, June 1. T]r Graziers' Conference decided to combat any attempt on the part of tho Australian Workers Union to create a strike in the shearing industry, and appointed a committee to consider ways and means in case a hold-up is attempted. A denial has been given to the stealers' statement that some of the Now South Wales shods have started under the Queensland rates, which the Australian Workers' Union is seeking to enforce. It is reported that shearing is in full swing in West Australia under the new Federal award rates. A UNION STATEMENT. (Received 'June Ist, 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 1. Mr Barnes, general secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, referring to Mr Justice Power's award, said it was certain it would not be accepted by the forty thousand members of the Workers' Union, and awards of this nature would drive every labour organisation of Australia out of the Arbitration Court.

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. SYDNEY, June 1. The New South Wales section of the Commonwealth Single Purpose League, for the abolition .of the compulsory clauses of the FederaJ and State Arbitration Acts, has issued a manifesto to the public. It claims that arbitration has broken- down. The overlapping of awards, the conflicting decisions, the farcical enquiries into the cost of living, and the open defiance of the Court's decisions nave created a maze of industrial chaos. The league does not propose the abolition of the Arbitration Court, which should remain in the event of both parties agreeing to approach it. ENGINEERING WORKS TO CLOSE. (Received June Ist, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 1. The management of the Clyde Engineering works has decided to close down next week rendering one thousand employees idle. The reason given is the inability of the company to 6ecure additional money from the Government on a locomotive manufacturing contract, which the company otherwise is unable to carry out.