INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 5 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

TOO MANY QUESTIONS. London, January 4. Mr. I'. Burt, M.P., lias circularised the Northumberland Miners’ Association to the effect that too many hip; complex questions are being simultaneously raised. First, the raising of the minimum wage for hewers; then the payment of average wages in abnormal' places; and, finally, the enforcement of a minimum wage for all grades. Mr. Wilson, secretary of the Durham Association, is similarly antipathetic to the agitation for a minimum wage, on the ground that it is impracticable from a business standpoint. BELGIAN MINERS. Brussels, January 4. A strike has occurred at Borinag, owing to the masters paying wages fortnightly instead of weekly, in older to facilitate the stoppage of contributions for old-age pensions. ENGLISH COTTON SPINNERS. (Received 5, 8.5 aim.) V London, January 4. Sir G. Askwith met the masters and operatives separately. The conference continues. NATIONAL STOPPAGE BALLOT. (Received 5, 10.30 a.m.) London, January 4. The miners ■ hnwe. begun a ballot oh the national stoppage, l to enforce" a minimum wage for underground workers. RABBIT-TRAPPERS GO OUT. , Sydney, January 4. A strike of rabbit trappers is in progress in Marram hurra, owing to the freezing works lowering the price. The trouble is spreading to other districts. The president of the Trappers’ Union says it may involve six thousand men. The trappers only recently organised. SHIPPLNGHELD UP. Melbourne, January 4. Shipping was held up while the wharf labourers met to discuss the question of an increase in pay from 15d to 17d an hour. The meeting, which was'extremely noisy, appointed delegates to confer with representatives of the Steamship Owners’ Federation on Monday. Meantime the men resume to-morrow. AUCKLAND TRAM TROUBLE. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, January 3. Meetings of the morning shifts of the Auckland Tramways Union were held to-day to consider the agreement drawn up by the company and delegates from the union with respect to working conditions. It is understood that most of the conditions met with no antagonism, but those relating to the spare list mot with hot criticism, and at the morning meeting most of the spare men left in a body, as a protest against the conditions. The meeting was very stormy. The union had asked that the spare men lie given eight hours’ work in twelve, and tiie company’s offer was eight hours in fourteen. It was finally decided to note objections and forward the agreement to the company. The agreement will be furthr considered by the union before they sign it.

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS. Wellington, January 4. The ease of Inspector Fuller, of Wellington City Tramways, was further considered at a special meet ng of the City Council this afternoon. Last montn the Tramways Union wrote to the Council demanding Fuller’s removal on the ground of alleged questionable methods of performing his duties. The Council decided to remove him from the position of inspector, but action was deferred pond ng consideration of notice to rescind the resolution. Fuller was then on holiday leave, hut returned to duty a couple of days later. His reappearance in uniform on the cars led to a threat by the union to strike on New Year’s Day unless ho was immediately removed. As a result of mediation by the Mayor (Mr. Wilford), the,threat to strike was withdrawn on condition that the Council held a special meeting to consider the whole matter. At the meeting to-day the union peferred a list of seventeen charges against Fuller. The list included several charges of reporting men for betting and wasting time, and insulting passengers.' A supplementary list included two charges of insulting passengers, and seven of annoying employees. The latter was added to the original list. The charges were characterised as extremely indefinite. The Council decided to insist on fuller particulars. The question of representation of the parties by counsel was discussed. Fuller desired counsel, but the union representatives intimated they had decided to object to counsel appearing for either s de. Considerable discussion ended in an adjournment of the enquiry until next Tuesday evening to give the union an opportunity of reconsidering its attitude on the question.