SYDNEY STAGES BIG TRADE UNION MARCH

Chronicle (Levin), 7 October 1947, Page 5

SYDNEY STAGES BIG TRADE UNION MARCH

Received IMondav, 8.50 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 6. One of the biggest trade union processions for years was held today when (56 unions solidly supported the nationalisation of the banks in their annual Six-IIour Day mareh. Eiftv thousand people lined the route and cheered the inarchers and 1(5 bands who took 40 minutes to pass. The floats depicted top-hatted bankers dining lavishlv alongside a family on the dole with a bare table. Some banners demanded national coal, steel and shipping; others asked for an increase of £1 in the basie wage and a 30-hour 5-day week. The marchers ineluded three Federai and nine State Ministers, including the Premier, Mr. MeGirr. The unions demaiul that the Six-IIour Day, which is the first JHonday iu October and which eorresponds witl New Zealand 's Labour Day, should be a close holiday, aecording to tlie president of the Six-Hour Pay committee, Mr. T. Liston. "This will be Ihe lasv Six-Hour Day dn which' the MetVb|jo]i tan will be run, " he declared at an offieial luncheon. "We are not goiug to allow the Australian Joekey Club 'Trotting Olub or any other body, to make a proiit at our expense. We shall apply for the Six-Hour Dar oi Labour Day to be a close holiday. If there is any profit made it will be for j;he workers. ' ' After tlie luncheon the secretary of the committee said the committee intended to ask the Government for a holiday without any organised sport.