THE REFENENDUM PROPOSALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1919, Page 4

THE REFENENDUM PROPOSALS.

Sydney, October 12

The general view in New South Wales State political circles (says the “Daily Telegraph”; is that Mr Hughes will prejudice the solidarity of the Nationalist forces throughout the Commonwealth if lie should submit to the people proposed constitutional amendments with which the responsible leaders of the States strongly disagree. The Prime Minister, it is pointed out, would naturally expect the support of Nationalist State Premiers at the elections, but he would place them in au awkward position if, while asking them for backing on his general policy, he were to align them against him by seeking endorsement of unacceptable constitutional proposals. The effect would be to cause'them to support him and oppose him at the same time, with results not at,all helpful to his party,s prospects of success at the polls. Mr Holman’s attitude towards the transference of powers to the Commonwealth is well known. He is prepared to go a certain distance, and no farther. On the occasion of the 1913 referendum, when proposals similar to those now -made were submitted, he refused to obey the dictates of the Labour movement, and speak in support ot the suggested amendments. He did not go so far, however, as to come out, in active opposition, but it is not likely that he would remain silent under existing circumstances. Daring the last five or six years many things have occurred to cause him to stiffen against any substantial enlargement of Federal powers, an.l it may be taken for granted that in the event of Mr Hughes going too far for him he would take every opportunity to nrge the people to resist what he considers -an undue inroad upon State functions.

COMMONWEALTH COTTAGES. Sydney, October 12 ** Serious reflections have been made on the designs for citizens’ homes prepared under the Federal housing scheme, but these have mot been allowed to pass unchallenged. At a meeting of the Federal Council of the Australasian Institutes of Architects the president (MrH. W. Tompkins, of Victoria), declared that the book of designs issued by the Commonwealth Bank to 1 the municipal repatriation committees throughout Victoria would be a disgrace to the worst type of unskilled practitioner of 30 years ago, “ I am of opinion,” said Mr Tompkins, “that drastic action should be taken to protect our men to whom we owe so much from being saddled with expensive and iuconveuient and unsuitable homes. The matter can scarcely reflect any credit on the administration of the Commonwealth Bank.” The council accepted these strictures as well founded, and decided to urge th u bank “to produce something better.” The designs referred to were prepared by Messrs J. and H. Kirkpatrick, whose architectural achievements include the designing of the Commonwealth Bank and dozens of other important works. They have nothing to say on the subject, but the governor of the bank (Mr Denison Miller), replying to Mr Tompkins, says:—“We are endeavouring to house the soldier in a home that is cheaply but well built of good materials, and with every modern convenience it is possible .to put into a home where the amount to be spent is limited. This book was only got ont,to let soldiers know how to go about getting a home. There are hundreds of .other designs, any of which may be chosen. We have to work within the Act, and the most that can be advanced is £7OO, which often has to purchase the land as well as build the house. The cottages are of brick with tile or slate roof. The first has been completed at Canterbury at a cost of £SOO. It was built in five weeks, and it contains three rooms, kitchen, and offices. It is a plain house, but is fitted with electric light, and water is laid on. The soldier has 37 years to pay for it, at the: rate of £2 9/7 a month. To stand 37 years it must be substantially built.”

A LIVING WAGE. Sydney, Oct 12. The New South Wales Minister for Labour and Industry, introducing the Government’s Bill to meet the award ot the Board of Trade fixing the living wage at £3 17/6, and by which it is proposed to reduce the estimated extra cost of £14,000,000 to industries to £6,500,000, said that the living wage in the other States was so much below that of New South Wales that trade would be diverted to the other States. In Victoria, lor instance, the basic wages of bedstead makers was 56/a week, and in New Sooth Wales 60/6. Boot salesmen in Victoria had'a basic wage of 48/ and in New South Wales 60/, cardboard-box makers in Victoria received only 2/6 less than in New South Wales; in chemists’ shops the difference was 10/ a week. The Minister illustrated the expected effect of the new basic wage on industry in New South Wales. The prosperity of the city of Newcastle had been greatly enhanced by the large ! amount of employment provided by the steel works. The new basic wage would affect the steel works to such an extent that it might even lead to their closing down. It might also prevent the establishment there of a large new industry in nail-making. The steel works had had to carry an additional burden during the past

year of £66,000 for the increased cost of coal, an d another £55,000 for the increased wages arising from a Wages Board award. The new basic wage would mean to the steel works a farther additional £182,000 a year. As the steel works was in competition for a large amount of its trade with outside sources, the effect would be very serious. The Australian Nail Works now established in Victoria, was contemplating starting in Newcastle, but would not do so if the new : basic wage went on. The question ! for the Government was how to meet the new basic wage. At present the new basic wage is for a man, his wife, and two children. The Government had decided to send back the inquiry to the board to find oat what should be. paid for a man and his wife only. A single man would, in any case, be | receiving rather more than enough for j his own support; he would be able to ! save something towards getting j married. The percentage of unj married men to married was about 40. The unmarried received more than a living wage, and men with a wife and more than two children received less than a living wage. At present the percentage of children to men working was 1.6.

HOPE OF FEDERAL LABOUR PARTY.

Sydney, Oct 12,

Mr T. J. Ryan, Labour Premier of Queensland, is the Federal Labour Party’s “white hope” in Rederal politics of the future; ’He has resigned a seat in the Qiibetisland State Legislature as a preliminary to his candidature for the Federal House, but in the meantime is retaining the State Premiership. There is a. very definite opinion in Labour political circles in Sydney, says “ The Daily Telegraph ” that Mr Ryan, instead of standing for a safe seat like West Sydney at the forthcoming general elections, shonld endeavour to win his way into the Commonwealth Parliament by contesting an electorate like Illawarra, at present held by a Nationalist, or that-, at any rate, he should run the gauntlet of selection the same as any other Labour candidate. He is also being subjected to adverse criticism for his acceptance of Dr Mannix’s invitation to preside at the Irish Race Convention mMelbonrue next month. One section of the party go s so far as to contend that he should contest Bendigo against Mr Hughes, and, in answer to the objection that this would cause him to confine his platform campaign activities principally to that electorate, points out that neither he nor his party would be any more disadvantaged in this respect than would Mr Hughes or his party.