Although rages are governed by law in Australia, certain powers are given to the Trade Unions by which the unions an grant permission in certain cases or workers to work at a wage below hat fixed by the court. This applies particularly to the case of a man who has been employed in one trade for a period of years but who, owing to his inability to find employment in his trade, is desirous of accepting work in come other direction. Since his training does not fit him for his new occupation he is unlikely to be worth to (###)is employer the wages prescribed for (###) workman in that trade. In such circumstances the Trade Union grants (###)m a “permit” to work at a lower rage and itself prescribes the minimum wage that he shall be allowed to reaccept even under that “permit.”
As a result of what the Trade Unions describe as an “abuse” of the permit system by Jews, they have refused to grant them except on very special occasions. An appeal is to be made to she Registrar of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court over the attitude of she unions.
The activities of the Victorian Jewish Welcome Society having practically ceased consequent upon the stopping of immigration to Victoria, the executive of the Society at its meeting discussed at length proposals for the disbanding of the Society.
It was felt that in the absence of demand for the services of the Society he expenses for carrying on the office was unwarranted. During the period of its activity nearly two thousand immigrants have passed through the lands of the Society. It was chiefly concerned with meeting the newcomers, placing them in a home and finding them employment. Its only activity today is the conducting of classes for the English instruction of immigrants. For this purpose funds have been found by the Levinson Trustees.
The Australian Jewish Land Settlement Trust has decided to build in the heart of the Jewish settlement at Ber(###)vick, Victoria, a communal centre for the settlers. The centre, it is understood, will comprise a “Shul,” a recreation hall, a hostel, a dispensary and a plant nursery. It is estimated that the structure will, cost about £3,000. Mr. S. Keith, a prominent Melbourne merchant, who recently made a donation of £1,000 to the Trust, has forwarded a further check for £1,000.The campaign of the Ort Oze Emigdirect having concluded, the Sydney community is endeavoring to obtain financial support from the Australian Land Settlement scheme directed from Melbourne and on behalf of which representatives of the Victorian community visited Sydney in August of this (Continued on Page 4)
After having occupied the present site for some eighty years, the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation has disposed of its present synagogue for £52,000 and having purchased a site or St. Kilda Road. Melbourne’s boulevard has called for tenders for the new building. Mr. Nahum Barnet, a prominent Melbourne Jewish architect, ha prepared the plans and it is estimated that the cost of construction will be in the region of £40,000. It is expected that the synagogue, when completed will be the finest in the Souther Hemisphere.
JEWISH WOMEN’S COUNCIL REVIEWS WORK
I want you to try and visualize the picture of a united band of the Jewish women of Australia,” declare the President of the New South Wales Council of Jewish Women, Dr. F. Reading, at the first annual meeting of the Council of Jewish Women of Victoria.
“We all have the same problems, the same ideals. We could do the same work with less waste of energy and with greater understanding. This women’s movement will become the greatest movement in Australia. Its educational influence upon our Jewish womenfolk must u(###)mately have far reaching effects upon the future of Judaism in the Commonwealth.”The establishment of the Council in Victoria was a result of the initiative of Dr. Reading some twelve months ago. It has already some six hundred active members. The feature of its first annual report was the large contributions which the Council had made to several Jewish and non-Jewish philanthropic institutions and hospitals. Representatives of the Jewish Philanthropic Society and other charitable organizations conveyed the thanks of their societies to the Council. Victoria is the third state to have the Jewish Women’s Council. New South Wales and Queensland established one some years ago. It is proposed to proceed with the establishing of similar organizations in Adelaide and Perth. Over one thousand-Jewish women are organized for charitable and educational work in the three Councils at present in existence. Mrs. Manrice Packim was re-elected president for the ensuing year and Mrs. L. L. Heymansom, sulfur vice-president.
The death occurred last night of Alfred Shacked. J.P., one of the most prominent of Sydney’s communal workers. Mr. Shacked, a member of many charitable communities was presiding at the meeting of the Federation of Jewish Charitable. Organizations. He had just closed the meeting when he collapsed in his chair and died. In addition to his work within the Jewish community, the late Mr. Shacked identified himself with social and (###) life outside. He was at one time major of Waverley, a suburb of Sydney, and took a large interest in the management of hospitals.
Every year, during the summer vacation, December and January, sport teams representing the New South Wales, Victorian and West Australian communities, engage in tennis, cricket, swimming and other athletic competitions.
This year the sports gathering will take place in Melbourne and extend over a fortnight. The visiting teams, unless they desire to make their own arrangements, are billeted in Jewish homes and a round of festivities is arranged for them. These annual visits have done much to foster interstate cooperation.
Shura Cherkassky, Russian boy pianist, has taken Australian musical audiences by storm. Newspaper critics have been most extravagant in their praises and wonder what he is likely to be when he “grows up,” as, still in his teens, he can rank with the greatest masters of the art. Cherkassy, who is concluding an Australian tour, left Melbourne for Adelaide en route for Europe. The young pianist will make his next appearance in Paris.
H. I. Cohen, K.C., well known in the Melbourne Jewish community, has been appointed Minister for Education in the recently-elected Victorian Ministry.
Mr. Cohen is the only Jew in the Victorian House of Parliament. He has represented Melbourne province in the Upper House for the last seven years. He was an honorary minister in the Lawson government in September 1922 and in March 1923 became Minister for Public Works. Later in the same year he accepted in addition the portfolio of Attorney General in the State House until 1924.
Local newspaper comment accepts the appointment as ideal Mr. Cohen is a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law, a prominent barrister and a King’s Counsel. He is the only Jew to be elected to the Victorian Parliament since 1900. New South Wales is the only other state in Australia having any Jewish members. Mr. Cohen is the first Australian Jew to achieve cabinet rank.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
