UNEMPLOYMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT

MR. HUGHES BLAMES UNIONS. According to a Melbourne . published in the .Sydney Daly graph," a deputation of unemployed saw the Prime Minister last weak and deliavted unsatisfied, after a somewhat tempestuous interview. It was stated that there wero between 8000 and 10,000 men and. women, out or work in Victoria, including many .who had hitherto been employed munition Minister expressed surprise at the closing of the Colonial Ammunition Works, but said they could not havo it both ways—if they would not send sufficient men to figlit - Cries of "Shuffler" and "Economic conscription" prevented Mr. Hughes from, completing tho sentence, but he went on saying that presently .£2,600,000 would ba spent in tho construction of silos, of which about .£BOO,OOO would ba expended in Victoria, arid probably another .£IOO,OOO in flour storage. He was sorry some of the unions had not accepted tha Government's shipbuilding proposals; until they did, not one ehip.woujd bo built". Because about ono-third of tho unions, for reasons of their own, choose to holdup this industry, on which millions would be spent, tho safety oftht! country and the Entire was jeopardised. Jimploymcnt was being demanded, yet it was impossible for any man to start any industry in the country with a guarantee that it would continuo for &L hours. Shipbuilding would go on as soon as tua unions were willing to do the work on the Government's terms. , The Prime Minister was subjected to a constant fire of interruptions during the interview. Finally the members of the deputation became so insistent that Mr. Hughes seized his hat and departed to attend a party meeting at lar-.ament House.