INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1848, 6 September 1913, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

—— COURT'S ANTICIPATORY POWERS UPHELD. AN IMPORTANT DECISION. By Teltjrapli—Pross Association—Copyright Sydney, September 5. The Federal High Court lias delivered important judgments relating to an alleged dispute between the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia and various steamship proprietors, and involving tho question of tho powers of the President of the Arbitration Court to determine matters which lie might bo justified in assuming would come before him in duo course. The Court declared that the President of the Arbitration Court was entitled to exercise his jurisdiction in the case of a threatened', impending, or probablo 'dispute without waiting for an actual dispute. It was also held that it was. not a necessary ingredient of an industrial dispute that pre-existing dissatisfaction should be known or communicated to employers. Then, as regards officers and seamen on oversea ships, it was ruled that the Arbitration Court might award fixed terms and conditions to be incorporated in agreements of service between tho ship' owners and the Merchant Service Guild, such terms and conditions to be enforceable at law, even though tho ships traded outside territorial jurisdiction. POLICE AND STRIKERS. ORGANISED LABOUR'S PROTEST. London, September 4. ■ 'At the Trade Union Congress at Manchester, Mr. J. R. dynes, Labour M.P. for North-East Division of Manchester, lias demanded an inquiry into tho conduct of the police' during the china clay workers' strike in Cornwall, with a view to punishing tho offenders. Ho declared that tho importation of police for the purpose of repressing strikes was becoming unhappily common, and the police authorities were in danger of losing tho confidence of the masses. If repeated attacks on organised labour were tolerated the'power of tho police would soon vanishi The Congress rejected a motion that voluntary agreements should be legally enforceable. The congress favoured a minimum Wage for all adults, and demanded that the Government cease entering into contracts with firms where women's wages are below £1 a week. ; Delegates loudly applauded the German and French representatives' references to tlid workmen's growing influence against' war. In'view of tho continued rise in tho cost of living, the congress resolved in favour of trade unions taking early and simultaneous action to obtain an increase- of five shillings weekly for oil grades of time and piece-workers in public and private employ. CONCILIATION BOARDS. RAILWAY 'MEN' URGE ABOLITION. London, September 4. All the chief railway centres have sent resolutions to tho executive of tho National Union urging the termination of Conciliation Boards. ORDER TO STRIKE. AUSTRALIAN ENGINEER'S EXPERIENCE. (Rec. Soptomber 5, 1f1.40 p.m.) Melbourne, September 5. Tho Federal High Court of Australia has dismissed the appeal in tho Sydney case of the Amalgamated Socioty of Engineers v. Smith. Tho respondent was an engineer in charge of the Tramway Company's power-house, and was exeluded by the society because ho disobeyed ail ordor of the District Committee to cease work' during the strike in 1912. In March last tho Full Court upheld Smith's appeal, and the socioty thereupon carried tho case to tho Federal High Court. '