INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16429, 24 January 1919, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

engineers strike. (By Cable.—Prees Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N»Z, Cable Association.) LONDON, January 20. The strike of 15,000 London engineers threatens to spread throughout the metropolis, owing to the employers cancelling minor shop privileges since the forty-seven-hour week was granted. MINERS' PROGRAMME. (Received January 23rd, 8.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. The miners' programme of a thirty per cent, increase in wages and a six hour day, which involves an additional £40,000,000 yearly in wages, and an increase in the price of coal of 4s por ton, is causing alarm in the great industrial centres, particularly Birmingham, Sheffield, and tho Potteries. The export trades fear that the demands will strike a heavy blow at their attempts to re-establish their pre-war position and capture new markets.

THOUSANDS OF MEN)* OUT. (Auatrali-sui and K.Z. C&bto Atsoci&tioii>) (Received January 23rd, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, January 23. One hundred thousand Yorkshire miners struck on Wednesday night, and an additional fifty thousand Btrike today. Several thousand Notts miners and four thousand South "Wales oollievs are also out. HOMES FOR WORKERS. , LONDON, January 21. A serious house famine throughout England is causing growing concern. It is hoped that the invitation of tho Ministry of Supply for tenders for bricks, tiles, and other materials indicates tho f . a naitional housing programme is about to begin. Meanwhile the Local Government Board is considering schemes by municipal authorities for 150,000 working class houses. THE LAUSANNECONFERENCE. AMERICAN - S. (Australian and N./i. Cable Association.) (Received January 24th, 1 a.m.) LONDON January 21. The American Labour Delegation conferred with the Crmmittee of the Trade Union Congress, and discussed 'ir Gompers's proposal for an inter-AUnd neutral conference instead of an international conference. The meeting was adjourned. It is understood tho British favour a preliminary inter-Alli-id conference, and do not support tho American delegation's objections to an international conference. Mr Arthur Henderson, interviewed at Berne, stated that he was unable to understand Mr Gompers's change of front. He was one of the four members appointed by the last inter-Allied conference to organise a Labour-Sosial-ist conference to sit concurrently with the Peace Conference. It was this mandate which the conveners of tho Berne Conference were carrying out. Mr Gompers's objection was to meeting Bolshevists, but neither Russian Bolshevists nor German Spartacists would Do represented.