FEDERAL LABOR LEGISLATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 15 November 1907, Page 3

FEDERAL LABOR LEGISLATION

HARVESTER WORKS CLOSE. BONUS FOR IRON MANUFACTURE. LABOR ADVOCATES NATIONALISATION. Melbourne, November 14. As the result of the recent Arbitration Court decision, the Sunshine Harvester works have been closed. The Government is considering the position. Over five hundred hands arc rendered idle. [The Arbitration Court decided that the Sunshine Harvester Works were not paying a fair wage. Under the new Excise law power is given to prohibit the sale of goods which do not bear the Commonwealth certificate to show that a fair wage has been paid in the manufacture of the goods. The Court fixed what it deemed a fair wage and fair conditions of work for the Harvester Company, but apparently the Company believes it could not pay its way if it gave such wages.]

A conference of trades unions apa committee to watch factories' legislation . It was resolved that the time had arrived when- the whole of the industrial legislation of Australia should be taken over by the Commonwealth Parliament.

Sir W. Lvne introduced the Iron Bomis Bill A total of £304,000 is apportioned in bonuses— £250,000 for iron and steel at the rate of 12s per ton, £50.000 for wire-netting and pipes at the rate of 10 per cent, and £4OO for the first 500 reapers and binders at the rate of £8 eaeh. The last-named bountv expires in July, 1000.

The Federal labor Party decided that, on the motion of the second reading of the Iron Bonus Bill, they will table a motion in faror of the natfotf" alisntion of iron industry.