STRIKE-RIDDEN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 293, 6 September 1919, Page 8

STRIKE-RIDDEN AUSTRALIA

AO73,3<KS LOST IN SIX YEARS. Interesting information regarding retail prices, the purchasing power of wages, unemployment, labour organisations. industrial dispute?, and general industrial conditions during 1918 is to lie found in a renort just issued hv tlio Coinnionwealth Statistician (Mr. G. H. Knibbs). Mr. Knibbs'u investigations Teveal the facts that tho membership of trades unions increased from 175.52!) in 1906 to 581,755 in 1918. and that the male membership of unions was equal to 5G per cent, of tho estimated total number of male employees 20 years of age and over. The percentage of unemployed members of trade unions at the end of 1918 was 5.5 per cent., as compared with 7.4 per cent, at the end of .1917, and 11 per cent, at the end of 1914. The tables given in tile sections dealing with'variations in price?, house rents, and purchasing power of money show that in (lie six capital cities there was an increase of 3.3 per cent, in the weight ed average cost of food, groceries, and house rent combined. The cost of commodities and housing accommodation was above the average in New South Wales and below the average in the other States. The average wholesale price index-number for 92 commodities was 16.4 per cent, higher in 1918 than for the preceding year. The sections of the report dealing with wages show that during the year 1918 there were 89G changes affecting 381.581 work people who received in the aggregate an increase equal to ,£35,260 per week, or a weekly average increase of 4s. 9d. per head. A table sets out the number of industrial disputes.' tho establishments involved, the number of working days lost, and the total wages lost .in tho various struggles.' The last available year shows a marked improvement on its predecessor (1917), when tue "card system" dispute in New South Wales led to one of the greatest industrial upheavals experienced in Australia. Thero were nevertheless ?.9S disputes, directly or indirectly affecting. 5G.439 "workers. losing 580,853 .working days and .£372.334 in wages. In 1917 tlie'ra were 173,970 workers involved in disputes, the working days lost numbered 4,599,058. and .£2,594,808 was lost in wages. In New South Wales the majority _ of, the disputes occurred i'l the coal mines, but they were, of short duration. The small arms factory at Lithgow was thrown idle for eight week? owing to a dispute in the barrel straightening department. In Victoria there were 33 disputes, involving 57-13 workers, who lost dC99,31G in wages. A three months' dispute in the engineering trado wo-* the largest contributor to this result. Queensland had 84 disputes—a record for tho State.