LABOR IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 5

LABOR IN AUSTRALIA.

THE SPIRIT OF UNREST. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 5, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 5. Before the Forty-four Hour Week Commission, the secretary of the Building Trades Federation gave evidence that numbers of employees have left for New Zealand, California, and other places, where the forty-four hours week is in vogue. In connection with the demand for shorter hours and higher wages for harvesters, the fanners express determination to resist, as there is plenty of labor available from their own ranks and outside sources.

The Assembly read a third time the Industrial Arbitration Amendment Bill. The main provision extends power to the Board of Trade to apply a living wage over the whole State. The Anti-Profiteering Bill continues its stormy progress through committee, but so far the Government has succeeded in smothering all vital amendments. Another fracas occurred between the opposing wharf laborers' unions. A posse of loyalists, entering Birts Wharf, attacked, and a general melee followed. Revolvers were brandished on both sides, but were not used. One loyalist was sent to hospital. The police arrived when the battle was over. A mass meeting of waterside workers discussed the executive's decision to declare an overtime strike, and a ballot was taken reversing the executive's action. The strike, so far as Sydney is concerned, therefore remains in opera-tion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, A SOCIALIST COMMONWEALTH. Received Nov. 5, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov 5. The Federal executive of the Australian Labor Party is convening an All Australian Union Congress with the object of amalgamating all industrial elements for the purpose of instituting a Socialist co-operative Commonwealth. —AU3.-N.Z. Cable Assn.