RAILWAY DISCONTENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1274, 1 November 1911, Page 5

RAILWAY DISCONTENT.

THE TROUBLE " J.UST BEGINNING." NO TWENTY-FOURS' JOB. By TclecraDli-Prcss Association-Copyright London, October 30. A meeting of railway men at Swansea demanded tho resignation of Mr. Williams, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servant, as a member of tho Industrial Council. Mr. Thomas, organising secretary of tho Western (Vistrict, at a meeting at Crowe, denied that; the men's representatives had been pledged to accept (he commission's finr'rinss. His advice to the railway managers would bo to discuss the report with the men's representatives, eliminate tho bad, and adopt the good recommendations, and thus prevent a disastrous striie.

Mr. Ranway MacDonnld, Labour M.P., speaking at Chester, said unless tho men's grievances were properly discussed, tho public must be prepared for tho conse-quenccs-namcly, a paralysed railway service. Mr. Bellamy, speaking at Glasgow, declared tliat the railway men's agitation was only just beginning; it would be no twenty-four hours' job nest time. Hβ added that ho was going to fight for direct collective bargaining.

FREE LABOUR CONGRESS. London, October 30. A congress of tho National Free Labour Association, representing 800,000 workmen, has opened in London.

It was resolved that, in view of tho many violent scenes during the recent strikes, it was essential to repeal the Trade Disputes Act, which trade union pickets regard as an excuse for industrial terrorism.

PICKETING AND INTIMIDATION. London, October 30.

Questioned as to the Employers' Parliamentary Council's memorial against tho tyranny of so-called peaceful picketing, in which it was contended that tho trades unions should be made responsible for their actions to the ordinary law, and also urging that the Government should suppress as unlawful any federation of unions formed to paralyse tho country by a general strike or lock-out, tho Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) replied that the Government was considering the matter. The law, he paid, was not inadequate to stop intimidation; tho difficulties were due to the impossibility of procuring evidence.

MOUNT LYELL STRIKE. Melbourne, October 31. The Mount Lycll strike is still on. The company demand that the men shall return to work unconditionally. If they do tho company will grant a conference. Tho men decline to return until the question, as to tho reinstatement of White has been disposed of satisfactorily.

CLERKS' UNION DEMAND. Sydney, October 31. The Clerks' Union has filed an application with tho Wages Board. They claim £3 a. week of 39 hours. LABOURERS' AMALGAMATION. ' Melbourne, October 31. A conference of various Labourers' Unions throughout tho Commonwealth decided to amalgamate. They will start with a. membership of 25,000, and will have a uniform ticket at 10s. a year.

STRIKE LEVIES ILLEGAL. (Rec. October 31, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 31. Judge Scholes has dismissed au application by the Furniture Trades' Society asking for power to enforce a levy on a member in support of tlio women and children involved in tlio coal strike. The grounds of dismissal were that tho raising of strike levies' was against tho spirit of the Industrial Arbitration Act, any contract mado to pay levies being void as against public policy.