LABOUR COMMOTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1280, 8 November 1911, Page 7

LABOUR COMMOTION.

CLERKS' UNION FORMED. Ily Tclccraph--Prcss Association—Copyright Sydney, November 7. As nu outcome of tlu wluirf lalxiurers' strike, a meeting of clerks adopted resolutions in favour of tho formation of a clerks' union, and that any future request to them to do work other than that for which they aro engaged bo lest I'ieted. Tho resolutions have been forwarded to the steamship owners and tho Wharf Labourers' I'iiion. with a request for tho hitter's co-operation. MOUNT LYELL STRIKE. MORE MEN OUT. Hobart, November 7. Another conference between tho Mount; I.yell mine directors and representatives of tho strikers proved futile. After a short discussion tho directors announced that the.v were not prepared tii deal with tho miners while tho threat of an engine-drivers' strike existed. Tho conference then adjourned till Wednesday next. Subsequently all the engineers, firemen, and minors, numbering 130, wcro ordered out and ceascd work. ISesidcs stopping the mines, tho strike means the ekelrio lighting of tho town being out off. EIGHT-HOUR DAY. BILL PROMISED. Sydney, November 7. At tho Newcastle Eight-Ilour Day Demonstration a resolution was adopted regretting that the Government had not given legal sanction to tho eight-hour day, Mr. Edden (Minister for Mines) rnndo n speech. Ho said a lot of tho trouble tiio Government had experienced had como not only from its enemies, but also from its own household. If an EightHour Bill was not tho law of tho land next year, it would not bo the fault of tho Labour Government. THE LITHGOW STRIKERS. Sydney, November 7. An application was made to tho Arbitration Court for commitment warrants against the men fined at Lilhgow. I; was stated that negotiations for a settlement of the strike were proceeding. Tho matter was adjourned for a week. THE SYDNEY WHARVES. WORK IN FULL SWING. (Rec. November S, 0.15 a.m.) Sydney, November 1: Work on tho wharves is proceeding merrily, and every effort is being made to overtake tho congestion, STORY OF THE MOUNT LYELL TROUBLE. The strike at tho Mount Lyell initio was the outcome of tlio Amalgamated Mines' Employees' Association's decision to enforce the observance of an exact eight hours' shift by its members. The Mount Lyell Company has all through recognised tho eight hours' principle, so far as all the workers go; but in addition to what may be termed the regular statf of mine hands the company has a certain amount of contract work dono on the claim. This work is not set at a certain price. The men look at it, form parties, and then offer for it at whatever price they please. Thera is no minimum price regulation or minimum shift. The union officials, however, wanted lo bind theso men to exact eight-hours shifts, and applied to Mr. Sticht to give directions to that effect. Mr. Sticht, in reply, pointed out that the contractors were perfectly free agents, and that, therefore, any discipline that had to be done to enforce tlio observaneo ot the union rules ought to come from that organisation. Accordingly the union set itself lo discipline its members. Three of the four men wero called before the union, and were admonished, and promised to respect the rules. There seems to have been some doubts as to whether this was being done, and so at last one of tho union stewards, Norman White, is understood to have volunteered to find the fact out. After coming off his shift at midnight White went into the changing-house, changed his clothes, and at about 1 a.m. returned into the Mount Lyell mine. As a matter of fact, they had started at G p.m., and so hud only been at work for soveu hours. The contractors' statement is that they were asked by White how long they had been at work, and they declined to satisfy him. An altercation ensued, and finally White left. His visit was reported to tho management, and lie was dismissed. The management has firmly refused to reinstate 'White, saying discipline must bo maintained. On the question of the dismissal of White tho whole of tho trouble has hitherto rested. Tho demand for higher w'age3, for the use of ether explosives instead of Cape Company's, the right to smoke on shift, tho recognition of the union officials on tho mine, are all of later origin, and have been put forward to catch the union groundlings. Tho directors are in no way averse to conferring about theso otlicr matters, but they say Whito will have to go. That was made abundantly clear to .lustice Higgins and-to tho unionist officials, and they arc practically taking that ultimatum to Mount Lyell.