DEPRESSION IN AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17977, 24 March 1930, Page 7

DEPRESSION IN AUSTRALIA

EFFORTS TO MEET IT, 48-HOUR WEEK PROPOSED. OPPOSITION FROM UNIONS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright (Received March 24. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 24. The Slate Cabinet sat protractedly during the week-end discussing measures to relieve the financial and industrial depression. The Premier and Treasurer declined to issue a statement concerning the deliberation. Later, Mr Stevens, the Treasurer, Met Mr Cleary, Commissioner of Railways, when it was decided that all railway employees under Federal awards should work forty-eight instead of forty-four hours weekly. This was announced late last night with dramatic suddeness, as the union representatives were to have met to-day to consider how far they will co-operate with the commissioner in effecting economies which he had already outlined to them. Twenty-two thousand railwaymen .will be immediately affected by the lengthened week, which means a saving of £303,000 in the wages bill. Mr Cleary is arranging, in order, to avoid dismissals, that the men work reduced time. A general 48-hour week is to be reverted to'in the State, and others besides the public service will be asked to make sacrifices, in order to reduce the cost of production and relieve distress and unemployment. Mr Wills, Secretary of the Public Service Association says : “ If the proposals arc put into operation the Government will have to face a charge of repudiation. It looks as if we shall have to fight the Ministry in opposition to these obnoxious schemes of reductions.” He said the miners’ representatives will meet Messrs Theodore and BeasIcy to-day in an endeavour to force the Federal Government to intervene, on the ground that the re-opening of the mines at reduced rates of wages is illegal. If they cannot obtain this object the men will ask for a federal subsidy of 9d per ton of coal pending a new award.

ALL OUT POLICY. RE-AFFIRMED AT CESSNOCIJ. STOCK EXCHANGE BRISK. United Tress Assn.—Elec. Tel.—Copyright. (Received March 24, 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, March '24. The rank and flic of the delegates at the meeting at Ccssnock rc-attlrmed an all-out policy for (lie coal mines. A resolution is being forwarded to the miners’ conference at Sydney today. The Railway Budget will he suitmilted to the assembly thin week, outlining the various economies decided upon, also forecasting reduced fares and freights. The Sydney Slock Exchange was brisker during the week-end. The turnover was larger and prices firmer, tending to recover some of I lie ground lost during tHe previous two or tinea days.