AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

SHEEP-STEAJTNG.* SvoxßY, May 5

Matters are going from bad to worse at Cobar, the copper-mining community of about 50,00 souls which has had the ground suddenly cut from under its feet by the. closing down of the copper industry. The position became serious immediately the pay-sheets ceased to circulate, and the State and Federal Govern ments were urgently appealed to for aid. Each declared ir. could do little, but the State authorities promised work for several hundreds of the men, with free transportation. , Two or three hundred men with their dependants made the migration, but a larger number remained in the town, without sufficient initiative to get away, hoping for something to turn up. For a few weeks the town struggled along, thepeople seeming s to live on the system of taking in • each other’s washing, but sheer starvation gradually closed down upon numerous families, aud batik ruptcy stared the whole community in the face. Cobar is surrounded with a lialfdesert, let out in great runs, where sheep graze sparingly. Of course, the next development was inevitable, The fathers of hungry Cobar families went out into the surrounding country and carried pff the sheep. They did not make tQQ much fuss about it, aud the stationowners are only now beginning to find their Hocks less than expected, and they are proceeding to raise Cain.

This week, the men of Cobar marched ip procession to the police station and lodged there, for transmission to the Government, resolutions expressing regret that honest workmen should have been driven to slieep-stealing by the callous ipdiffeencre of the Government towards their plight. They demanded that the Government display at least some measure of humauitarianism, and cqnie to the aid qf the deserted, helpless, and starving little town.

The whole position is rather a scandal, aud the reflection on the Government is so plain and definite that it will be forced to take action ot some sort. So far, it has not even sent an official to Cobar to see what can be done for the unfortunate folk.

SOME LARGE EARNINGS

Sydney, May 5

The cost of living may he distressingly high in this country, but, judging from official information Irotn various sources this week, at least some sections of the workingmen of this country have no reason to complain. It may be remembered that, some three months ago, a number of boilermakers and others at the Cockatoo Island Naval Dockyards were dismissed owing to their “ goslow” tactics. It was proved that they were not doing one-tenth of the work that might have been expected of them. They were so obviously the wrong that even their union 'turned against them, and they capitulated aud humbly sought re-employment. They were taken on again on a piecework basis. It is now announced that these men have dropped “ go-slow,” and that t heir average during a recent period is as follows: —Platers, £1 15s gd per day ; hand riveters, £j 9s id per day; machine riveters, £1 2s 7d per day; platers’ helpers, £1 7s 3d per day ; pneumatic drillers,' 19s 6d, aud caulkers, 15s 6d. No comment is necessary.

Evidence about the earnings of the coahminers is now being placed before the Commission which is enquiring iuto the coal-mining industry, with a view to making a recommendation about the claims of the miners for increased wager. The evidence shows that at one mine, held to be typical of many, the earnings of men—taking the average period of a year—are as 1 blows: 22 miners, average ot £l6 s’s per man per fortnight; 38 wheelers, average of £g per map per fortnight. At another mine—i fairly big one on the Newcastle field—the average net earnings per pair of miners per fortnight has been Bs, with not a great deal of broken time. These rates rule in this country among almost all large bodies of half-skilled workers—slaughtermen, miners, wharf labourers, and so forth—who cleave closely to unionism. Is it any wonder that there is discontent among such classes as clerks and sjiop assistants, who are still 017 the £3 a week average ?

ANOTHER IRRIGATION SCHEME.

Sydney, May 5

The fame of the Murrumbidgee or Yanko irrigation scheme which is being carried out by the State of New South Wales has already spread far and wide. It has cost millions of money, has already created several settlements, and at least one moderate town and, wh§u completed, is expected to give a livelihood to 100,000 people and permit 6,000 farms.

An important step just taken brings now into prominence the Murray waters irrigation scheme. Under this £<\ 600,000 is to be spent by the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, in equal parts, in taking control of the waters of the Murray river for the purposes of irrigation and navigation. There is to be a great dam in the upper part of the river, and from Kchuea to Blauche • town, in South Australia, 26 weirs and locks will be constructed, affording at all times a navigable depth for vessels drawing sft of water. There are also to be locks and weirs in the Murrumbidgee river from its junction with the Murray up to Hay. The site of the great dam has ii 11 ally been fixed, alter investigations extending over a year, some miles above Albury, at the confluence of the Murray and Micta rivers. The water will be backed up lor a distance ol several miles.

along the valleys of both rivers. By means of this dam. the irrigation of a wide stretch of promising country hereabouts will be controlled, as will, also the flow- Of water in the lo\ye? part of tfie river during a gloat part of the year, The. complete scheme wiU occupy years, hut. parts qf it will be brought into operation from titne to time. Works now definitely authorised represent £2,500,000,