THE WAGES “CONSPIRACY”

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 228, 21 June 1921, Page 4

THE WAGES “CONSPIRACY”

ARBITRATION JUDGE’S WARNING

ROAD TO UNEMPLOYMENT The Deputy-President of ihe Commonwealth Arbitration Court (Mr. Justice Powers), in resuming, in Melbourne on Friday, the hearing of the claim by the Australian Workers' Union against the Bendigo Amalgamated Goldfields (N.L.) and, others for increased wages and shorter working hours, made an arrest- ’ ing statement relative to the question of wages. "It has,” he said, “been frequently declared lately by some of the recognised leaders of the unions that there is a widespread conspiracy by capitalists to bring down wages to the old level. If they knew the losses the capitalists are suffering by the slump all over the world by permanent loss of trade, etc., they would not believe it; but, assuming that they are right, every employee who is put out of work by awards that cannot Ire paid, or by union executives who will not agree to men being employed when they are willing to work at any rates above the basic wage, is unconsciously assisting the conspiracy believed bv them to exist, and are assisting importers to send to this country goods manufactured in cheap-labour countries, where men work 10 to 12 hours a day. “I mention this." proceeded His Honour, “because I know how greatly the unionists nre guided by their leaders., who, thev believe, know best what ought to be done in their interests.”