Unemployment in Australia.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1921, Page 1

Unemployment in Australia.

ISITTFR FRUITS OF HIGH WAGFS SYDXIOY. Sept. JI. In most of the industrial centres of Australia there is an alarming increase in unemployment, and in some parts organised demonstrations have taken 11]) a menacing attitude. On two occasions 1 evently large bodies of police have Iseen asscmpled outside Parliament House in Sydney during demonstrations there, and wild and revolutionary doctrine* are freely preached by agitators. Ii cannot lie said that this state of affairs is the outcome of any deep-rooted tradii depression. On the contrary, things are very much easier than six' months ago there appeared any prospect id' their being. The operations of the semi-official British Australasian Wool Realisation As•soeiation in allotting quantities for sale and fixing reserves, is goneraliy j acknowledged to have been ol inesii- I malile service, and llii-. together with the good harvest, has left the community in a state of lather unexpected affluence. The causes appear to be more local than a reflex of world conditions. The prevailing high rate of wagos, and the socialistic trend of legislation in Queensland anil New South Wales, in which States the posi- 1 tion is the most seiioiis. and wlmie , Labour ( lovenin ein s are in powv; , j seem to constitute the lo y-t me of tlw . situation. 11l Quecn-luml. notably. a. 1 striking denunciation of the Labour 1 Government had roti'v fro-i o:v of th' leembeis of tin- pally. Mi Peterson, who deela led ill a spoeeli ill lii: e'.e torate that, any ai tion was justified wu.i; ~ would lead to ti:e es!'iblislimeilt ol a t Governmoiit which would tc tire inilusiries ami provide 1 mployiueut. 11l Xow South Wales some indication of r till' feeling amongst the workers was h piovided b'.- a by-elect ion lor a \.ea :■ v seat in the Fedot a I I louse. W. -; ' d a m'.v electoral eislamof Dm : 'o: ! . ~

pregnable Labour st ronglml L. an 1 i" ihe lasi election the late .Mr Ryan 10I oil eel I 1,21111 votes. ’I b v previous , a tion put ihe Labiuiv eaiiiliilate ill by ■ 'il l; I hundred limn'. Lilt 111 the byelection list week the Labour (and.i dale receive I only 7* !') vo'e hi'c 1 opponent polled hilly up to He P'i'f v -t reiiL'l li. This and the I'eeen; 1.." 1 ' debacle in the Queensland miiiiiei] al Dee! ions lire interpret'.' I a • giowm I I i-1 we lor La bom- admin isi ■;■' n .a. Added lo Dus iineerl a ini v. who b liii'lo'ibi "ill . iel ardl'ig. i' 1•I■ 1 It- 1 ■ 'l' problem ol high w a go: . All: at' ' ‘r |,a\ :■ been ihe deal li oi ,an ae mining eoiiecnis. and over 2(MI employees we"' dismissed Irom the hilh.'O'W iroiiwo' 1 1 111111 g tie week, owing, the mniuigenieiil deelaied, to tbe iIIIIV, 1S..1 1 )1 1 1 1 >*• ■ : competing wit Ii impoi Is. A no' :•■! -I a 1 allien 1 oil Ibe 1:0 -P 101 l ■ a ■ 'im'.le 1,. V■■ (); ill'll . a p: t,m iin a t 1a I -HI i mem - ber of"'I he Tasmania 11 Pa Hi a on Thill's,lav. •He declared that the wet's hail not been readied, and urged that demands for ■higher wages should be I eld in abeyance when they caused unemployment. All tlm timber mills at GYeveslon, lie said, were being closed down, and vet timber workers were asking C l2 weekly. If sudi demands were frightening private industry, the unions might to make saci dices to keep the industries going.