COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATIONS
377
At June 30, 1919, there were 238 Boards, but since 1916 their work has been gradually curtailed, except in special casesj and awards are now made by the Court. in order to prevent delay in hearing and in determining, and to prevent the overlapping of awards.
The awards are binding on all persons in the industry and within the locality to which they relate for a period not exceeding three years. Application for variation may be made whenever a living wage declaration has been made by the Board of Trade. Appeal from an award of a Board lies to the Court.
The Board of Trade, with powers of a Royal Commission, is composed of a President (who is Judge of the Court), a Deputy President, four Commissioners, and four additional Commissioners to represent rural industries. After full inquiry as to the cost of living, the Board declares annually the rates of living wages for adult employees of each sex, the administration of all matters relating to apprenticeship, the welfare of juvenile labour, kc. , and for the improvement of industrial relationship between employers and workers.
Living Wage. — The Board of Trade in October, 1919, fixed the living wage in the metropolitan area at 3*. 17s. per week for adult male employees, and in October, 1920, at 4*. 5s. per week. In the Newcastle district the living wage is 3*. 16s. 6(*., in the South Coast area 3*. 17s. 6rf., and in the Central Tablelands area 3/. 18«. per week. For adult female employees in the metropolitan area the wage has been fixed at 1/. 19s. per week.
Commerce and Communications.
The external commerce of New South Wales, exclusive of inter-State trade, is included in the Statement of the Commerce of the Commonwealth. The total external commerce of the State is given in the following table : —
Imports Oversea
Export.--
oversea
Year ended June 30
Australian Produce
Other Produce
Total
£
£
£
£
1913 1
32.350,663
31.135,160
1.704,620
32,839,789
1916
33,379,698
38,656,163
4,319,253
40.975,416
1917
32,742,297
47,871,075
2,419,119
50,290,824
1918
29,519,936
37,J43,979
2,376,114
39.619,093
1919
40,013,102
48,621,036
2,406,323
51,027,359
1920
44,690,204
60,570.47^1
4,0*2,909
■ '■•3,385
1 Calendar Year.
The chief exports are gold, .silver, copper, lead, tin, ores, coal, wool, wool tops, metal manufactures, butter, wheat, flour, fruit, jams, &c, timber, i meat (frozen and preserved), rabbits, hides and skins, tallow, leather, cocoa- nut oil, pearlshell.
With the exception of a steam tramway of 2| miles in extent under private control all tramways are the property of the Government. There were, on June 30, 1920, 22*6 milcsopen fortraffic, the capital cost being 8,768,548*. The gross earnings for 1919-20 were 2,881, 7971. ; the working expenses, 2,486,121*. ; and the percentage of working expenses to earnings 8627. On June 30, 1920, 5,015 miles of railway were open ; the revenue for 1919-20 was 13,083,847*. ; the expenditure, 9,570,984*.; the number of passengers carried, 114,654,660. There are 8 private railways having a total ! mileage of 158 miles.
For Shipping, Posts and Telegraphs, see under Commonwealth of Australia.
