INDUSTRIAL WAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1342, 20 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL WAR.

BRISBANE TRAM TROUBLE. iTHE UNION BADGE. POWERrHOUSB FIREMEN CALLED OUT. Br Toleerwli—Preu AroocJatloa—CaßjrrirM Brisbane, January 19. Both sidss are determined in tho tram troublo. Tho men' on tho trams not wearing badges were hooted and jeered at. Tho oompany stopped tunning all tho trams after business hours last night, and did not attempt to run them till a later hour than usual this morning. A large meeting of employees condomncd the refusal of permission to wear the badges. Speeches were made urging the men to make a stand for freedom. Further developments are expected today. (Ecc. January 19, 9.30 p.m.) Sydnoy, January 19. Thso Brisbane tramway authorities refused to allow men wearing tho badges to board the cars. The union called out the powor-houso firomeu. Twenty-four out of twenty-eight responded. Only a few cars are running. The nonunionists driving thorn wore hooted by the crowds. MINERS' CONFERENCE. DEMAND FOR A MINIMUM WAGE. (Rec. January 19, 11,15 p.m.) ' London, January 19. The miners' conference at Birmingham was opened to-day. Six hundred thousand men aro represented. Mr. Enoch Edwards, who presided, stated in a pacific specch that he hoped a settlement would bo arrived at without a miserable strike. The conference adjourned to enable the Executive to complete its report. Tho general opinion among tho delegates seems to favour exempting the aged niid infirm from the operation of the minimum wage. They are willing to discuss whether a joint committee of masters and men could exclude • habitual malingerers. Prior to the conference the Council of tho Miners' Federation considered the minimum wage demanded in various districts, particularly in South Wales. This matter aroused bitter controversy. Mr. W. Harvey, M.P., states that tho demands in Wales and Northumberland exceeded reasonable limits. This was doubtless owing to wild statements by Iccal leaders whoso panacea for all ills was the doctrine of "down tools." Mr. Harvey addod that seventy-five per cent of the miners already received a minimum wage, and another fifteen per cent could get it without a strike tlirough good management of Ihe min?s and avoiding fair facilities to all minors. Mr. Barnes, M.P., said that in view of the ballot and the masters' attitude a strike se-emcd inevitable.. If the meeting of masters and men in South Wales indicated the employees' spirit he did not think there was much prospect of an early Kfttlement. < WHARF LABOURERS. (Rec. January 19, 9.30 p.m.) i Sydney, January 19. : The wharf labourers refused'to'touch a cargo of dairy produce on one of the North Coast.Company's boats, which had been loaded by non-unionists during the strike of wharf labourers on the Richmond River, which has since been settled. A conference was held without result. ■ It is feared the trouble will extend to other boats. POLICE TO THE FRONT. Sydney, Tanuary 19. Owing to reported distirba.icos in connection with the strike of miners at Newnss, a detachment of police left the city for the soene last night.