LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 161, 1 April 1908, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

UNIONISTS AND PREFERENCE.; ' PUBLIC CONSCIENCE SUPREME. 3 • i '■ I SPEECH BY SIR. REID. : , 1 r.V TELEGRAPH —-rItESL ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT. , .. Sydney, March 31. Tho Employers' Federation has resolved that' it is prepared to confer with the strifes, under cortain conditions. . : Mr. 0. H. Roid, Loader of tho Opposition in- the Federal Parliament,, referring to tho v ' strike') 'that trade, unionism was one of ? the'grodtost 1 developments in tho way of safcp, of the people.; hut,' how- ; •over.'go',Vd'their: objcct, there was a powci above that of ..employers and trade unionists — tho powor -of tho conscience of: the whole • eomrnunijy, l ...which would not allow acts of >' intolerance and injustice.- Ho compared nonunionists to martyrs at th'd stako, and added : that tli6 fires which had destroyed the martyrs of old had lit the fire of Liberty, . which ought Jo secure for men and- women in the twentieth century the. right to assert their. ■ ' freedom of choice in all lawful matters. 1 .STRIKERS OFFER TO CONFER. - (Reo. April 1, 1.0 i.m.) : , v ' , Sydney, March 31. ■ The joint executive of the Unions has de- ' eided 'that it is quite ready to meet representatives. of , the - coastal companies in con- • ference .nt ■ the oarliest possible moment, with a view of coming to a settlement. It is prepared, if this public expressjon of its desire. is '..'not sufficient, to make a direot i, request in. writing- ■ . :/ ~ , \. "NO CASE frOR PREFERENCE." . Sydney, March 31. 1 The Arbitration Court award, m comiecr tion with the demands of firemen and deolcliahds employed in the ferry service,, declares that no case for preference to Unionists has been made out. , <■ PAINTER'S DFMANDS. ■ Sydney, March 31. ■ The master painters liavo r declined tho strikers', proposal to hold a conference. , SCOTTISH IRON TRADE.

PROPOSED . REDUCTION IN WAGES. ' 1 London, March 30. ■ The ■ Conciliation and Arbitration Board, dealing 'with the Soottish iron: trade, favour a reduction in wages of per cent. .The Board of Trado lias power to set up Conciliation ■and : Arbitration Boards, but there,--is ,no'; power- to-compel; a :i settlement.,',.