WORK AND WAGES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1225, 6 September 1911, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

;TRADE UNION CONGRESS. "THE RAILWAY DIRECTORS TAUGHT A LESSON." STRIKE ENQUIRY EVIDENCE. By Tcleßraph-l'reE3 As3ociation-Oopyright London, September i. Thcro are present at tho Trade Union, Congress at Neweastlo 520 delegates, re-j presenting 1,607,(100 members of unions. The presidential address staled that the recent Labour unrest had resulted in the securing of concessions that had been hitherto denied. The railway directors bad been taught a lesson, and wore probably wiser men for their trouble. It was supreme folly for any body of employers to decline to recognise a powerful trade union. Tlio principal resolutions passed sock to secure the amalgamation of all tho unions connected with each industry; also a central national organisation comprising all union societies! THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. (Eac. Sept G, 0.20 a.m.) London, September 5. Tho president of the Trade Union Congress declared that a valuable method of dealing with tho administration of tho insurance proposals would bo by the proposed federation of trades unions. Referring to the Osborne judgment, ho said tho Government was still confronted ifith tho selfish spirit of a minority which burked duty, but greedily took every advantage which self-denial had secured for the majority. Tho Government had boon neglectful of its duty in sending troops during the strikes without -awaiting an application from the civil authorities. It should instead have sharply laid down the law to the railway magnates. THE STRIKE COMMISSION. FAILURE OF CONCILIATION. .London, September 4. Sixty railway workers gave evidence before the Strike Commission. Ona declared that the conciliation scheme, as an instrument for collective bargaining, was useless, because a company dealt with individuals. If one man's wages were increased tho amount wns taken oil elsewhere. The civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers are forming a citizens' service corps to safeguard food supplies and maintain communication and distribution during strikes. Tho Sheffield railwaymen's strike lias been averted, the guards' wages having been restored. CONCILIATION AND WAR. (Rcc. Sept. 5, 9.15 p.m.) Most of the witnesses beforo the Royal Commission favoured (he creation of special conciliation boards for each railway .company, with a national board as a court of appeal. The Commission inquired whether this tribunal should bo empowered to arrive at a binding decision. Tho spokesmen for tho Great Eastern and South Eastern and Chatham employees were against giving tho independent chairman of tho national board a casting voto in order to secure a definite, result. Sir Thomas Ellis, one of tho Commissioners, remarked that, without au independent chairman, all differences must lead to a deadlock. A South Eastern man replied that there must bo conciliation or war. Tho companies must know that unless they conciliated the men there v;ould bo war. Two witnesses suggested that thero should be a fortnight's notice of a strike in the ovont of the failure of tho conciliation machinery. GENERAL MINEnS' STRIKE. DECLARED IMMINENT. (Rcc. Sept. 5, 11.30 p.m.) London, September 5. Mr. Onions, secretary of the South Wales Miners' Association, in a speech at Blackwood, declared that thero would be a general strike soon on the question of a minimum wage for miners. STRIKE AT BELFAST. LAWYER'S EEJIARKS BESENTED. (Eec. Sept. G, 0.20 a.m.) London, September 5. Six hundred dockers at Belfast have struck. The men demand an apoloav from a solicitor, whose remarks at the inquest on a labourer killed on the quay wore interpreted as a reflection on their conduct. Tho ships aro unable to unload. The timber yard labourers have joined the dockers. LITHGOW RIOTERS FINED. "PAID ASSASSINS." Sydney, September 5. Several of the Lithgow rioters have been fined £5. They were allowed time in which to pay. The Broken Hill Amalgamated Miners' Association carried a resolution expressing disgust witli tho Ministry in sanctioning tho transference of "paid assassins" to Lithgow for tho purpose of bludgeoning the workers into submission in the cause of Capitalism, and calling.upon Mr. Griffith, Minister for Works, who is the local member, to show why he should not resign. The resolution is said to bo the laugh-ing-stock of the majority of the Tosidents. LABOUR LEADERS ARRESTED. (Rec. September 0, 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, September 5. Eight more arrests have been made in connection with Tuesday's disturbance, at Lithgow. Among tho prisoners aro Messrs. Scnlly, president of the Western Miners' Association, and Dixon, secretary of the Iron Workers' Association, who aTO charged with rioting. TROUBLE AT NEWCASTLE. MINING STRIKE FEARED. Sydney, September 4. The Northern Colliery-owners have created consternation among the miners by declaring that thcro will be no more conciliation; in the future tho miners must refer their grievances ti> tho Wages Boards. Thero are many rumours that the present troubles will develop into a general strike. THE POSITION ACUTE. (Rec. September G, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, September 5. Tho position at Newcastle is becoming more acute, and there is general nnrest amongst the miners. The New Lambtou men have given a fortnight's notice. ' PORTUGUESE STRIKE ENDS. Lisbon, September 4. Tho lightermen and dockers' striko has ended. Eight cork-workers have boon convicted of burnins a cork factory.