GENERAL CABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1929, Page 5

GENERAL CABLES

BRITISH CAPITAL AND LABOUR TO pONFER.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, Feb. 26

The Trades Union General Council, after a discussion of over 'three hours, accepted the employers’ organisations invitation to confer. , It is understood that the Council is reserving its decision regarding future action until it is more fully informed of the nature, scope and objects of the deliberations which the employers contemplate. There is at present no occasion to abandon the conferences with Lord Melchett’s group of employers. Meanwhile, the Council adopted with a few modifications the MondTwrncr joint committee’s draft of the interim report on unemployment which is being submitted,to the Trade Union Congress and Lord Molehett’s group. CHANNEL TUNNEL. LONDON, Fob. 27. The “Airways” newspaper, discussing the Channel Tunnel, points out it is easily vulnerable to aerial attack. A flight of bombers could wipe out the tunnel within a few hours of the declaration of hostilities. Moreover, the tunnel will be of litcle value commercially. It will cost sixty millions, and when completed after ten years, air transport will be at such a stage that those dreading the sen crossing would occasionally take a speedy air route. LABOUR CONTEST \ NTS AT GKNER AL ELECT]ON. LONDON. Feb. 27. It is announced a meeting of the Labour National Executive decided to run candidates for 561 constituencies •it the General Election. ATTEMPTED MURDER, COLOMBO, Fiffi. 27. A fiendish attempt at murder was made aboard the Mooltan. Chief Saloon Steward Fowler was sleeping in a cabin when a large quantity of caustic potash was poured over him by an unknown person. Fowler is in a critical condition Hayes, an officer of the Mooltan, is also in the hospital suffering from the effects of the acid. COOK’S HEALTH. GENEVA, Feh. 27. Cook stated the doctor advised a health trip to Australia, hut he was unable to make the journey till after the General Election, probably in June. WOOL WORKERS HOURS. LONDON, Feb. 27. The wool safeguarding inquiry dealt to-day with the extent of low wages and long hours on the Continent in the competition of which British manufacturers have to meet. Henry Spencer (Chairman of Shipley District Employment Committee Ministry of Labour), giving evidence, said wages in Poland were thirty to forty per cent of British. Italy and Czechoslovakia, forty to forty-five per cent, Belgium fifty, France and Germany fifty-seven. Holland seventy-five. Regarding Germany, Spencer produced statistics showing among 36,519 textile workers thirty-six point three worked 52 to 54 hours weekly. A substantial proportion in Wales actually worked more than 56 hours. Of 15,100 skilled male workers forty-two per cent averaged 52 to 54 hours and of 15,227 skilled female workers two-thirds averaged 48 to 54 hours.