N.S.W. FINANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1930, Page 7

N.S.W. FINANCE

KAILAYAY PROPOSALS

(Australian Press Association) SYDNEY, March 24. / The State Cabinet sat protractedly during the week-end discussing measures to relieve tlu> finance ami industrial depression. '{'lie Premier and Treasurer declined to issue a statement concerning the deliberation. Later Mr Stevens (Treasurer) met Mr 'Cleary (Commissioner of Kailwavs) when it was decided that all railway employees under Federal awards should work forty-eight instead of forty-four hours weekly. ThL was announced late last night with dramatic suddenness, as the Union representatives were to have met today to eon-filer how far they will cooperate with the Commissioner effecting economies lie had already outlined to them. Twenty-two thousand railway men will be immediately afforded by the lengthened week which means savin’!; £303,000 sterling oai the wages bill. Mr Cleary is arranging in order to avoid dismissals, that men work reduced time. A general forty-eight hours week is to be reverted to in the State and others besides public services they will be asked to make sacrifices in order to reduce the cost of production, relieve distress and unemployment.

Wills (Secretary of the Public Scrim Association) says if the propos-

1s are put into operation the Gov-

eminent will have to face a charge of reduction. It looks n.s if we shall have to fight the Ministry in opposition to these obnoxious schemes of reduction, lie said.

The miners’ representatives will meet Mr Theodore and Mr Beasley to-day in an endeavour to force the Federal Government to intervene on the grounds that the reopening of the mines at reduced rates of wages is illegal. If they cannot obtain this object, lie will ask for subsidy of ningpeiice per .tonyof coal, pending a new award. • j