LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

NEWCASTLE STRIKE. | MILLION POUNDS IN WAGES LOST RIGHTS OF FREE LABOURERS. lly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, March 14. A million pounds in the shape of wages was lost by the Newcastle strike. . The Victorian Government trade, which practically represents" 300.000 tons yearly, has been lost throuch the opening of the Powlett River. (Victoria} mine, the trade with the Philippines has received a set-back, and the coal industry will take some time to recover. : (Rec. March 14, 11.15 p.m.) Newcastle, March 14. ■ Work was'resumed at the. mines this morning. Hitches occurred at some collieries . over, the working conditions. In -ono or two cases these were adjusted,, and work :will commence to-morrow.. There appears to be nothing in the troubles to 'prevent a general resumption of work within the next day or two. POSITION OF FREE LABOURERS. THE RIGHT TO WORK. . (Rec. March 14, 11.15 p.m.) Sydney,' March. 14.. ' The Industrial Court granted the claim of the Free Labourers' Association to be represented on the Wages Board. The Wharf Labourers .Union strongly opposed the application.' : : Judge Heydon; in granting it, said he thought' it very singular that tho' dismissal. of free labourers at. the Central Wharf a; fortnight, ago was rendered possible by. the fact that the Act contained ' no provision protecting nonunionists against such treatment. Had unionists been'-, dismissed because - they were ■ unionists, instead' of non-unionists being. dismissed because they were. nonunionists, the employers would be liable Ito penalties - aggregating i! 3000. If l;he right to work was not a right which tho law' should protect,."it was to say what .was. To be a -non-unionist was not an. offenco against tho law. He 'was afraid strong feeling would bo aroused, but he came to the conclusion that the free labourers' claim- must be conceded. BOREHOLE MINERS DISSATISFIED. Sydney.-March 14. 1 The borehole miners, are fractious, and will not return to work .to-day.- They complain that the .management, contrary to, an undertaking given to; Mr. Charl-. ton, the miners' representative on' tho Wages Board, ,is endeavouring-to,' make alterations in . the working, conditions. • ) . THE EIGHT HOURS ACT. - London, March 13. The employees of sixteen Northumberland collieries have tendered notices that ..they intend to strike against the working. conditions under the Eight Hours Act. The Durham minors' delegates have decided to - seek., alterations in tha eight Hours agreement instead of its. abolition. (Rec. March 14, 9.35 • p.m.) London, March 14. f The Northumberland. Miners'. Association asked the owners to receive a deputation: to consider the eight hours agreement. . ..The' owners, however, • .declined, but said they were willing to , discußs any jther question. ' : . A FIFTY-THREE HOURS WEEK. ! ,(liee. March'l4, 9.30 p.m.) ' _ . London, March 14. ; The North-west, Engineering Employers' Association 1 has : rejected the Clyde ' enfor 53. hours a week, similar to that in force on tie north-east coast. ' ' THE CHICAGO STRIKE. (Rec. March 14, 10 p.m.) London, March 14. , Renter's Chicago correspondent states that. 30,000 firemen, have demanded from 49 Western' railroads to have the control of promotions as a pre-requisite to arbitration concerning wages. -MUTUAL CONCESSIONS. New York. March 13. The giving of mutual 1 concessions by owners and men averted a strike on the Baltimore-Ohio railroad. - DEMAND FO?, INCREASED WAGES. ■ New. York, March 13. / Mr. Lewis, president of. the United Mine, ' Workers -of North America, threatens to call a . strike . affecting tho hard and soft coal industries unless an increase in wages is granted. This is interpreted to mean that it is desired to expedite the present negotiations with regard to the wages scale of the' bituminous coal-workers' in Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. .