INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 36, 25 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

IN FAVOUR OF A STRIKE

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

London, January 24

The enginemon and stokers of the South Wales collieries balloted in favour of a strike for increased wages, and threaten a stoppage of the mines on March 7, apart from any action taken by the miners. ALTERNATIVES DECLINED. London, January 24. The Thames Shipbuilding Copipany’s employees at a ballot declined to accept an increase in their working hours or a reduction in wages. BALLERINE RESUME.

(Received 25, 9.30 a.ra.) - Paris, January 24. The ballet girls’ strike has fizzled out. SYDNEY WATERSIDERS. Sydney, January 24. The conference has settled the in-tor-Stato wharf labours’ troubles. The shipowners conceded the men’s demands for deep-sea rates, the men making certain small concessions in regard to working hours. A meeting of wharf labourers, which has just concluded, accepted the settlement, and will resume work in the morning under the terms of the new agreement. (Received 25, 9 a.m.) Sydney, January 25. The actual terms of the agreement were not divulged. It is understood to mean that all the late friction on the inter-State wharves will cease, and that work will proceed with the old swing. It has still to be formally signed and the currency of the agreement fixed. The men obtained one and sixpence per hour for day work and two and threepence . for wertime—practically deep-sea rates—and an eight hours’ day. Another point understood to bo gained is the total abolition of the employment of permanent hands in discharging cargo in the ship’s hold. The hours are also regulated. HAIRDRESSERS RESUME. Melbourne, January 24. The hairdressers’ strike has been ?ettled, the masters conceding the employees’ demands. I STEVEDORING CHARGES. Melbourne, January 24. In consequence of the wharf labourers’ increased wages, stevedores are charging 2d per ton extra for loading cargo. -> While the rise in wages works out at £2314, the public is charged an equivalent of £5400, or a profit to the Jevedoi'es of 130 per cent. THE LITHGOW DEADLOCK. (Received 25, 9.30 a.m.) Sydney, January 25. The Lithgow strikers’ defence committee, replying to the mediator’s comments, stated that they were not actuated by vengeance in asking for dismissals—they were merely maintaining the principles of unionism. BRISBANE TRAM STRIKE. (Received 25, 9.5 a.m.) Brisbane, January 25. Strike matters are quiet. The Tramway Company is engaging outside hands, who are carefully warned before they start. The manager states that he is securing as many as ho requires. A normal service will bo resumed as they qualify themselves. Four men were fined for disorderly conduct in the early stages of the trouble. Steps are being taken to test the legality of the company’s action in penalising employees belonging to a registered association.

The Victorian tramway employees voted £SOO to .the strike fund. NEW ZEALAND WATERSIDERS. Wellington, January 24. The agreement arrived at between the New Zealand Federation of Labour and the shipowners and employers will cost Wellington Harbour Board about £6OOO per annum. This the public will have to pay. The Board had proposed to make £7OOO in concession by reducing the • harbour improvement rate and the toll on shipping by 2d per ton (making it 4d instead of 6d), and inward wharfage charges on general goods by 2d per ton (2s 6d instead of 2s 8d), thus bringing those charges back to the old rates in force up to about two years ago. The Board, however, has to raise the extra £6OOO to meet extra demands, and will not now be in a position to give the promised rebates.

INSTIGATING A STRIKE

Wellington, January 21. The hearing of the case against the Merchants’ Service Guild, a claim for £2OO for instigating a 'strike, was concluded to-day. Captain Watson was further examined, and admitted that ho had sent telegrams to various officers, hut that most of them were in reply to wires ho had received. The union had given him no instructions to send such wires.

Mr Ostler, counsel for the prosecution, cross-examined him at length, with a view to showing that the action of the men in coming out was the result of a common understanding which brought the union within the scope of the penal clauses of the Act. Captain Hayward, vice-president of the union, said that no mooting of the

executive was hold at which the question of a strike was discussed.

The Magistrate announced that he would give his decision on January 31.