BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

SITUATION CALLS FOR NEW POINT

OF YIEW

PROBLEMS WHICH MUST

BE FACED

By Telegranli-Presß Assoeiation-CopyrlßUt

London, March 13. Sir R S. Home, Minister of Labour, speaking at tho Aldwych Club, mid that the Labour troubles were not entirely tho result of tho war. The demands for shorter hours,. profit-sharing, and some control over conditions of work could not be neglected longer. Tho war hod given tho general community a clearer perception of tho merits of theso demnnds. No enlightened' man wished to sec a return to pre-war conditions, some of which were intolerable. There must bo a revaluation of human effort. Tho employers were prepared to meet tho men m a new spirit.' Unfortunately, industrial negotiations in the past had been conducted at arm's length. Each sido was unwilling to trust tho other. Ho hoped that tho new spirit, would ovolvo a scheme by which employers and workmen m each iwliHt.-v would sit at tho same tablo and arrive at decisions for their common interest! Tho provisional committee ot the' National Industrial Conference was dtawing up a proposal for the creation of an industrial council. Franco possessed nuch a council, composed of t nrty-ono rerresentapves of employers, thirty-ono worke-s. three senators, three deputies three professors of economic law and three rcpiesentaiivcs of chambers of commerce and trade unions. This supremo Labour Council hold a fortnight s session annuallv, and discussed the great industrial issues. There was also a subsidiary permanent commission, composed o seventeen members, which investigated all Laboin disputes as they arose, and on the instruction of Parliament reported on the conditions and hours of labour ia various industries. This mechanise would be extremely valuable and efficacious. Tho supreme laboiir Council had instituted practically, all tho Lahour legislation passed in Franco in reX years. Ho did not desire a precisely similar council, but ho. ospcrier.ee.of Franco would bo useful in formulating the British council. . Tho Peace Conference was considonng. a draft convention for tho creation ot an international Labour conference, to moot annually. Each country would «oad four delegates, of which number the Government would nominate two, (ho employers one, and the workers one. The decisions of the Labour Conference would be referred to tho respective Parliaments for enactment. The convention also provided for a permanent Industrial Labour Bureau to collect information in all countries, and report to the Laboui Conference.-Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn.

A CRITICAL WEEK 1,900,000 WOHKBBS AFFECTED BT PEESENT TENSION. , London, March 17. The present week is a critical one for Labour. Tho Coal Commission will report on Thursday and tho lriple Alliance" or. Friday will discuss a strike imtiring 1,000,000 railwaymen, minors, and transport workers. The miners stnko notice? expire on Saturday. t,i,. Thomas, and other Labour .loader have been in communication with the Board of Trado during the week-end. Th to have also been a series of conteromes and branch meetings of railwaymen throughout the country. Jho rank and file display .a better feeling bubstantuil progress has been made towards n settlement of tho transport workers demands for forty-four hours and twenty p>r cer.r. increase for piecework, but the alliance has decided that,there shall he no settlement unless the full demands of all three groups are granted.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EXTREMISTS THE CHIEF DANGER TIME ON THITsiDE OF PEACE. iKcc. March 18, 11.5 p.m.) London, March 17. The Eailwaymon's "Union's Executive conferred witli the companies to-day, but adiourned till Wednesday. It is understood that the position is rather worse, bus it is believed that the chief companies aro likelv to make a further offer. The chief danger lies in the extremists' efforts t) force a crisis this week, whereas an extension of time might produce an agreement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE TRANSPORT BILL EXPECTED CONCESSIONS. London, March 17. It is expected that Sir Auckland Geddes, in response to the insistent popular demand, will announce a series of concessions in the Transport Bill, including the modification of tho Ministers powers. Mr. Lloyd George will probably return at tho end of the week, in view of the fstfatul labour decisions which are pendj in;?.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

STRIKE TROUBLES IN AUSTRALIA COBAR MINES ALL IDLE. Sydney, March 18. <V meeting.of Cobar unionists decided not to pav' rent while the mines are cl.ised. All the mines are now idlePress Assn.