LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

WITHIN NE'V ZEALAND. EMPLOYERS' PROTEST IN AUCKLAND. 'COAL-MINERS' CLAIMS. (DT TEtEORArn—ritESS "ABSOCIATIOH.) • Auckland, July 26. Tho decision of the Special Board in tho tramwayß casos was the principal topic of conversation in Auckland yesterday. Tho employers aro indignant, and therq is talk of. a public meeting being held to protest against it. Ono employer says it is likely to revolutionise matters so far as the relations bctwoon masters and servants are concorned. CREEN ISLAND MINERS. WORK TO .CEASE.IF CONCESSIONS , NOT GRANTED. (BY TELEGRArn.—-SI'ECIAI, COBRESPOMPENT.) Dunedin, July 26. Mr. A. Weston, tho president of tho Coalniners' Union, reports .that the genoral feels irig of the Green ; Island coal-miners is that there.is, every probability; of a satisfactory settlement of grievances being offected in the majority of cases at the conference to' be held';next' week.There is one exception, whicli, in the event of its proving a stubborn hindrance, may lead to the adoption of drastic action Uy tho men.. In plain words, tho miners wijl cease work if certain concessions aro'not granted by the mine owners at the conference next week. . \ The men consider that they have laboured Tinder pronounced, difficulties for the past 18 months, and they aro determined to obtain a remedy. Mr. Weston < explained that, if the present award were rigidly, enforced, Bomo of tho grievances would bo removed, but there seem,to'be many methods.of evading somo of the torms of tho award.' Com-1 plaint against ono mine owner is, exceptionally bitter. Tho men allege that they do not receive justice as regards the classification of tho'coal they, produce. They aro paicT2d. per box'moro for ..'round coal than for ongino .coal. In many instancos, however, they say that tho employers: classify what tho men fill for round coal as engine coal. That is ono of tho principal gricv-

- . anccs. . 7; ,' : y ' 'l'hen the' allowance ma!de for stono in coal'is'not • considered as adequate. Tho award allows shift wages to: men who work in "deficient" places, 'l'ho men state, that tho eniployoi's' do 'not: always hold to tho ' law. in this respect.7 " Tho opiniohs of tho. . miner ; and'the . mine'owner very often differ i as to, what is. a stony or"doheient". place. Tho conference will.be held,.and every ' : meatis ; 'will be; exercised to obtain a remedy < without drastic action! In tho event of certain 1 being granted, however, the worst, it would seem, is inevitable .as regards Green Island miners. (BY TEIEGEAPH—PBBSS ASSOCIATION.) . ' . Dunedln, July. 25. In the opinion of persons well informed -a to'matters in connection with the coal industry, .'there is no immediate prospect of. a strike. l At any rato,: tho conference aiv ranged for will be, held. The tension is apparently not so. keen as ! when tho Minister tor Labour make tho remarks published' yesterday. •• •■' ..' : Tho Minister for Labour had nothing further to' commuliicato last evening oxcept that a .probability existed of an arrangement being como to at tho conference to-morrow. ■ ■ "i' • •>i• i. 1,1 STRIKES DEFENDED. TRADES CONFERENCE DISCUSSION. A discussion, took, place at tho Conference of-tho Trades and Labour Councils on - Saturday, .when strikes were defended Mr. Long (Auckland) ' moved "That wiiilo tho Conference regrets l . • the ; present'' industrial unrost in tho \ Dominion, tho. Conference considers that tlioso trade unions which have used their industrial combination to -better Jtheir working conditions by other means than are provided under the Conciliation and . Arbitration Act wore more than justified' • • and extends to ■ those unions its hearty : congratulations' on the success of their ' efforts. That'.the Conference also desires to ■ place' oil record its recognition of. the'splendid moral and financial, support,given to .those; disaffected' unions : by the other unions throughout the Dominion, and j hopes that tno same suc- , cess and support will attend tho present ' bakers' strike." . . ' Regarding the bakers' , strike,, Mr. Long Baid tho bailors should bo supported. It was not a question of why they- were out, .but the. mere fact that they were on strike was sufficient. . Ho expressed gratification at the. victory of tho Auckland tramway men, Mr. A. Hart (Canterbury) said ho was no advocate of strikes., Tho delegates should, not express thoir private opinions as they \ could not bind their unions. ,

Mr.. Jackson pointed out: that the Conference had already expressed its disapproval of sectional strikes. . . _ , Mr. Rushbridgc (Canterbury) said that the motion was ridiculous. It was a 'direct incentiv'o to law-breaking. /' ; > Mr. E. J. Carey (Wellington) asked if tho strikes that had occurred.wero not justified. Mr. J. "Foster, (Westland) remarked that the Donniston' miners never struck. They merely fought tho law. : ■ '■ Mr. M. J. Reardon (Wellington) took exception to labour men expressing views contrary to tho ;; cause in tho Press, and he made' reference to resolutions which had been passed dealing with the ,bakers', Blackball and Auckland tramway strikes. Employers did.'.not act in such a. wayi Mr. P. H. Hiekey (Westland) explained that tho' Blackball miners : had great provo- " cation. . .. Mr. ;W. H: Westbrooko (Wellington) stated- that if tho _ striko of the Wellington bakers'was . examined by an independent tribunal, their action would be endorsed; G. H. Lightfoot (Wellington) said that, ho was a law-abiding oitizen, and ho trusted - the-other delgates, wero .so always, but -in certain eases action was justified. Mr. G.. R. Whiting (Canterbury) sympathised with tho Blackball miners on account of ' victimisation, but' he could not sympathise with 'law-breakers. . The motion was earned by 13 to 8. (Loud applause). ' ''' . . ,

Tho bakors' strike has lasted over, four weeks, and tho men are still in recoipt of .striko pay, but a change lias bben/madoin tho amount. Up to tho' presentj married men havo received £2 per .week and single men £1 10s. Tho former now receivo more and tho latter less than the above amounts.