Sunday, Oct. 10. some sort, therefore the Sydney A comparatively large number of fellmongers "went out" last month. Australians are determined to have The complaint of the strikers is the their country well defended, and led usual one—more pay, They claim by Mr. W. M. ("Billy") Hughes, a that the employers can afford to. "Citizen's Defence League" has reay more, and the employers clam cently been formed with suburban that they cannot, Thus the dispute [and country branches springing up; continues. Attempts were made to as it were, overnight, This demand embroil other unions, but they met with bitter opposition from the men, for adequate defence, though growing, is not of course popular among who realise that the empl the' labour faction, The agitation would Fe inundated with applica started by Mr, Hughes is in marked tions if they decided to fill the men's contrast to any agitation associated places, The strikers walked off Teav-With sport, The fact is commented ing £35,000 worth of skins to de-upon by people who appreciate comterionate until they wore, valueless parative A stir may ut the employers of one large concreated quickly by cricket or foot-cern, with the assistance of their ofice staffs and their friends, worked hall, pugilism or racing, but "it is plugging," a veteran Sydney day and nig) mise the loss.
melan remarked, to rouse any They were able to reduce the losses reelable degree of interest in by almost half, and decided to close the works, until the men "have rethings that matter, turned {0' their senses." Loss of The strongest advocates of adequate Australian defence find them-wages sifeved by the strikers and selv inst two stone walls. The some six hundred odd employees who first is the indifference of the people have lost their employment because of the dispute totals $7,500 per generally, and the second is the fact that there is said to be no money for the purpose. In any ense, The export trade has been com-Te'was Inevitable that the Govern: otoly "dislocated and. speculation ment's defence policy should be ex-taken place as to whether the plained in detail, and this was done Federal Government would invoke George Pearce, the Minister the Grimes Act. The Act provides fence, at a public meeting in that if a serious industria} disturb-
Vfact that the Government had ap-Sydney. Sir'George made known the merce other countries conance prejudicing trade and com:
(proved a plan, extending over some rines, any person who participates Mhe years, to put the defences on a bet in a strike may be imprisoned for iter footing. It is to intended twelve months, or deported if he is strengthen "coast fortresses, 0 not born in Australia, mechanism the army and to The Upper House Bill mnditions, manufactured Other plans are, to send Australian officers to, England and India for training, and to train ders and staff, Am regards the Air Force, wastage will be replaced with the most modern machines, and [obsolete seaplanes will be replaced. Anti-nireraft guns are also manufactured in Australia, as well ammunition and high explosives, regards the Navy, the Govern: ment will aim at providing a squad-iron of four effective cruisers in full commission with requisite aircraft, fag well as a destroyer leader and four destroyers. In spite of the Minister's declaration, there con-question of defence generally.
'Thoughtful people say at once that every effort should be made to gnaure adequate, defence, but, they ubt whether the people will pay for it, and whether it is the best policy' to proclaim Australia's pret ent helplessness. Others say it does not matter whether the situation be proclaimed or not, as foreign Is know more' about Austral ian do most Australians, There is "writing to the papers about, ity" and many people believe that those who direct attention to the Commonwealth's inck of defence do '8 public service for which the coun- P' try ought to be grateful, Labour Day With Labour Day" there came when Labour straightens fix" bask in that yearly breathing. space,
points to goals i considers fair, though still unwon, and when, in the hopeful: mood of "spring, it, turns from toil to pageantry.' Although thie is the age of machines, for the great occasion the Australian worker Temembers something. of the guild spirit. of his "homeside" forbears, frying, with hie banners and his iccorated, cars, to. recapture the craftsman's fancy, The procession in fund in that were graceful. The note of political satire was heard throughout the mile-long, Procession. A notable display was thet of a. suburban Labour Party Younger Set. These young people wore the fashions of other days, and their state of mind was signified by. a watch dog tied to a shaft—no aristocratic "Pom" naturally, but a worthy labouring animal.
There were several anti-war demonstrations, and intruders in the procession contrived to display some anti-war signs, among them "Low Wages mean more money for war." Socialists pointed out that under lism, women were doubly oppressed, while socialism would estity of the sexes. On the whole the procession was orderly. In the front rank marched Mr. J. Long, with whom were several 14° hour Senators and members of the State Parliament.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.