Sovietism in Australia

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1922, Page 3

Sovietism in Australia

WHAT THE MINERS PROPOSE

SYDNEY, February 8. The coalminers of Australia seem determined to introduce. Soietism here, despite the example they have had of its failure in Russia and Italy. Ihe New South Wales Council of the Miners’ Federation has published its policy, the objective of which is control of the industry by the miners themselves. About two years ago, it was announced on behalf of the miners that the first aim was nationalisation, which was to be regarded as ‘‘the first step towards the ownership of the mines by the miners themselves.” This ail nouncement was received coldly by unionists generally, and the “ultimate objective”—that is ownership—was not then pressed. The policy just published leaves no room for doubt «s to the organisation’s aims. There is an immediate demand for “an executive voice in the control of the industry,” and miners are asked |to recognise that “when we have I strength sufficient to dictate to the coal ( owners how they shall utilise their capital, we will be’ strong enough to take over the whole industry.” The declaration of policy sets out also that an early efforts must ,be made to carry into effect a six-hours day five days a week; abolition of the contract system; minimum weekly wage; fortnight’s holiday on full pay each year; abolition of the afternoon shifty The demands invovle large expenditure, and they are promulgated from Newcastle at ia time when the great Broken Hill steel works, established at a cost of millions of money, are idle because the wages apid, and the cost of coal—in which miners’ wages bear a largo part—are too great to allow profitable work to be done; and it is said that a 33 per cent, reduction must take place before they resume. How industries which can only he j carried on at a loss by experts are, even if taken over, to be worked at a profit by the employees who are all looking for an easier time, and less i trork is a matter that the pi'oclama tion does not explain.