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Shannon News, 29 December 1922, Page 3

It pays better to be a promoter of strikes than an unpaid striker. An Australian contemporary gives some interesting figures as to the remuneration of the rrtembers of the Council of Action, the- Communistic administration set up by the All-Australian Labour Conference a year ago. Their salaries as union secretaries, organisers, and advocates range from £31.2 to £634 per annum, with pickings in travelling expenses. Eleven members of the Council collectively draw £51)00 a year from the workers, who b>ep the strike-promoters in comfort while they and their families do the starving during a strike. An - agit. tor with a sure £6OO a year, wet or dry, can well afford to urge a unionist to tighten his belt and fight for b.eedom.—Eltham Argus.

Strong exception was taken by Mr Chrystall at the meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board to the sorting charges of the Railway Department at wharves, which had recently been the subject of a successful Privy Council appeal. At present the department’s charges were 5/3 a ton—2/5 on ordinary cargo and 2/10 for handling and sorting. This latter charge had even been levied on a consignment of water pipes! He moved that the Minister be written to asking whether, in view of the recent decision referred to, he intended to cease to. collect these handling charges, and in default. of the board receiving a satisfactory reply, to ask other harbour boards to join in a united protest.