LABOUR MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS.

THREATENED MINERS' STRIKE.

A MILLION MEN AFFECTED

Bt TeleeraDH—Press Association-OomriEht London, February IG. The English Coal Conciliation Board meets on Monday in the hopo of arranging a temporary settlement of the strike, which will involvo 1,000,000 minors.

The ironmasters at Cleveland, South Durham, have given the workmen a fortnight's notice owing to tho expected shortage of coal.

Lord St. Aldwyn (formerly Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), who acted as independent chairman Jf the Conciliation Board, awarded rho South Wales miners an increase of H per cent., which the owners recently refused.

The owners agreed to meet the men and discuss the crisis, while intimating they would not grant a minimum wage in the form demanded. OWNERS REMAINING FIRM. ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED. (Rcc. February 19, 0.45 a.m.) London, February 18. On the ground of tho possibility of falls of stone or t.ho flooding of the workings, the Northumberland mineownors have rejected tht deputies' and engino men's application to cease work in the event of the miners striking.

The owners have also resolved regarding colliers' notices not to depart from the principle of payment according to tho work performed. Several newspapers in Loudon and the provinces urge the Government somehow to. stop tho strike.

It is reported that the Industrial Council is about to bring masters aud men together, with a view to offering a Royal Commission, the men to resume awaiting the findings of the Commission, and then to take a ballot on the question of accepting the findings. . UNREST IN FRANCE, MINERS DEMAND PENSIONS. (Roc. February 18, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February 17. A referendum of the French miners has resulted in an enormous majority declaring in favour' of a strike on March 1 unless Parliament legislates to grant a pension of two francs (Is. 7d.) daily at tho age of fifty, to those who have worked for 25 years. A BREWERY TROUBLE. STRIKE IN ADELAIDE. Adelaide, February 17. , Tho brewers' employees have struck over I the question of pay. Barmen and cellar- ! men demanded .C 3 ss. per* week, with, tho right to board out, instead of JC2 ss. and their keep. A conference failed to effect a settlement with tho liquor trado employees, and the officials called out the brewery workers, and threatened to cut off supplies. Unless the matter is settled the barmen will cease work to-day. EIGHT-HOURS' DAY. THAMES IRONWORKS CONDITIONS. London, February 16. Mr. AVinston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, in receiving a deputation, said that nothing would give the Admiralty greater pleasure than to see an eighthour day maintained at the Thames naval ironworks. He would gladly do his utmost to seiure its maintenance. TRADES UNION CONGRESS. RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED. London, February IG. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, tho Home Secretary, Mr. M'Kenna, and Mr. J. A. Pease, President of tho Board of Education, sympathetically received deputations presenting the resolutions passed at the Trade Union Congress. ADELAIDE LABOUR SHORTAGE. Adelaide, February 17. The Inspector of Factories has stated that thcro is a shortage of labour. Positions enn bo found for 977 men, 13G youths, 72G women, and 279 girls.