MINERS' DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 286, 27 August 1920, Page 7

MINERS' DEMANDS

BALLOT EXPECTED TO FAVOUR A STRIKE EXPORT OF FOOD STOPPED I By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright \ London, August 25. The miners' ballot on a proposal to 1 strike three weeks henco in order to 6 force the Government! to comply with s '•he Welsh demands, is commencing to- 1 day, and will be completed on Monday. ! A two-thirds majority in favour of a j strike is regarded as a. foregone conclu- < don, but opinion is divided nmong the [ leaders regarding the desirability of tho t strike. Mr J. B. Clynes urges a publio discussion between tho miners' lead- i ers and the Government. There are 1 many protests against 16-year-old pit- ( boys being allowed to vote on the same j terms as grown men with fnmilies. Tho i export of food is being stopped in view I of the possibility of a strike. _ 1 The newspapers have been interviewing trade union officials regarding tho ] stlrike. Many are of opinion that the i Miners', Federation should not by itself 1 havo power to call a strike which will ' causa widespread misery and unemploy- ] ment among industrial workers. It is I expected that! the question of dnterven- ( tion in tho coal striko will be discussed ( at the Trade Union Congress meeting ( at Portsmouifh on September 6—Aus.- ' N.Z. Cabla Assn. i GOVERNMENT MAY APPEAL TO COUNTRY | EIGHTS OP COMMUNITY AGAINST ' SECTIONAL INTERESTS. ] (Rec. August 26, 11.10 p.m)) London, August 25. '. While it is considered that the miners' ballot will result in a large strike ma- i jonty, ft is understood thaj; it is offi- < cially regarded as indicating little more ■ than loyalty .to the men's leaders, who i declare that they would not advise di- ' rect action without certain co-operation i between the ■ whole of the Triple Alliance; but liliero is evidence that the Alliance would hesitate to sanction _ a ■Mrn'oined" strike unless outs ; de unions agreed to finance it. Moreover, moderate constitutionalists will throw their wholo influence into the scale to preserve industrial peace. The Government is convinced that Mr. E. Smillie (president of tho Miners' Federation of Great Britain) will be unablo to stampede his own federation or associlated unions into precipitate action. It is possible as a last resort that the Government will appeal to the country on the single issue of the r'fchls of the community against sectional interests. In the event of a pro-strike ballot the Triple Alliance will meet next) week to consider the situation, but a- Labour official believes that the Alliance itself will noV take the course of d ; iect intervention against the Government.— Reuter. ENGINEERING^TRADES NEGOTIATIONS TO AVERT A LOCKOUT. London, August 25. It is, expected that a lock-out in the shipbuilding and engineering trades recently suggested as possible will be averted. Negotiations are in progress. Other unions are reported to resent the electrical . workers _ compromising them wiiiliout consultation with' strike action arising out of the employment of a non-union foreman in a Midland shop. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WOOLLEN INDUSTRY DISPUTE INCREASED WAGES GRANTED OPERATIVES. (Rec. Aupst 27, 1.40. a.m.) London, August 25. A settlement has been reached in tho wages dispute in the West Riding woollen and worsted industry, affectinpr two hundred thousand operatives. The workers will now receive increases of 263 per cent, on tho basic rates, and 10 per cent on tho cost of living wage, owing to tho cost of living figure' reaching 155 per cent, over that of lftl-t.-Reuter. SHIPPING TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA DEMAND FOR EXTRA TRIMMERS. (Rec. August 26, 7.20 p.m.) Sydney, August 26. Shippings trouble, is threatened owing to tho seamen demanding tho employment of extra trimmers on steamersOwing to the refusal of the demand a Commonwealth steamer is held up at Sydney and a collier at Molbourne. Similar claims will be made as othei vessels reach port. The outlook is serious.—Press Assn. , / 44-HOUR WEEK GRANTED CANADIAN RAILWAY ' SHOP HANDS. (Rec. August 26, 5,5 p.m.) Ottawa, August 24. The Canadian railway companies havo granted their four iihousand shop employees a M-hour week and recognised fee unions—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.