LABOUR TROUBLES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9103, 24 March 1908, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

NO SETTLEMENT YET.

■Press Association —Copyright Sydney, March 23,

The conference of coastal steamship companies and the "Wharf Labourers’ Union resumed this after noon. The representatives of| the shipping companies presented the final terms under which they are prepared to settle the strike. These were subsequently considered and refused by the representatives of the men. The conference adjourned till to-morrow.

Mr Hughes states the position is ■critical, hut not hopeless. The Employers’ Federation meeting discussed the course of action merchants and traders should take in connection with the strike, and resolved that the time had arrived to assert the right for an employer to utilise non-union labour, especially at a time when Unionists refuse to work at Arbitration award wages. It was further decided to give full support to coastal companies maintaining this principle, also expressing admiration at the courage, patience, and consideration for the public interest exhibited by the representatives of’the coastal companies in connection with the present dispute. The painters employed in many of the large city firms have struck for an increase of a penny per hour. Three hundred are idle, and .a number of Government contracts are involved.