INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 45, 17 February 1912, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE OONTINTJATION OF BRITISH

MONOPQLIES

DISCUSSION- IN THE COMMONS

' (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrigi t.) / (Uliited Press Association.) London, February 16. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald said that BO per cent of the wage-earners earned less- than 30s a week, and he criticised the Government for supinely allowing the continuance of monopolies and exploitation of the public. The workers were asked to trust conciliation hoards and arbitration, but confidence in these methods were impaired.- Tlie workers now said: “AVc have been cheated so often, and are not ,going to be cheated again.” The minimum wage ought to be the first charge upon industry, and monopolies ought to be nationalised. Messrs Clyncs and Lansbury made similar speeches. Mr B. Peto moved an amendment favouring equitable division of profits and industry by co-partnership. Lord Hugh Cecil, in an impressive speech, declared the competitive system was a groat source of suffering. The system rested on the side of human nature which was unchristian. Nationalisation would only change the arena of battle. The only way to get rid of the competivive system was to change human nature. Until then his hope of palliation lay in co-part-nership. Mr J. Robertson declared Ministers were full of sympathy in profitsharing, but there was no hope that ■it would be generally adopted, despite nationalisation. The unrest- was very acute on the New Zealand and Australian railways. Fixing a minimum wage over the whole field of industry, ivas impracticable. Mr MacDonald’s amendment was rejected by 226 to 45. Mr Peto’s amendment was carried by 195 to 97. TRADE CONGRESS RESOLUTIONS. (Received 17, 8.5 a.m.) London, February 16. Messrs Asquith, McKenna, and Peace sympathetically received deputations presenting resolutions passed at the Trade 'Union Congress.! THINGS ■•QUTETIhN ‘BRISBANE/ __ Brisbane, February 16. Tlie r steahier 'Berbera*’has arrived from London with a large general cargo. 4T|W [foVmathyapplied ;to the waterside worllbrs to 'discharge 1 tile cargo under the oversees agreement. The union replied that no labour was available. The Employers’ Federation discussed the Strike Committee’s application for a conference. It is understood the request was refused, on the ground that the_ had npj, stated to’ discuss.

A meeting of master printersydccided mot to take the men back unconditionally, and that each application would be treated on its merits. They declare that the strikers :-Vnl!' only be ; employed if theysigrLJn as no'h-uiiion-ists and forfeit their wages due at the time the strike occurred. The hotels opened till the iisual hour to-night. The .reply of the Employers l Federation, declining a conference, gave various reason’s why it could hot bb grr.nted at the present time, and' concludes: 'we are anxious that ihcrahtrs of unions'who have been induced to participate in the strike without .hav-

ing any grievance against their employers, should return to v/crh, in many instances their places have been filled by men who have: a claim upon the employers, and cannot be displaced because the Strike Committee now desire a resumption of work.”

A STRIKE IN SYMPATHY

(Received 17, 9 a.m.) Sydney, February 17... Coal lumpers refused to work the steamer Cornwall, from Brisbane. While at Brisbane the captain ordered the firemen and seamen to unload hunker coal. They declined, and the captain logged them. The Sydney lumpers are striking in sympathy.

WATERSIDERS BREAK CON-

TRACT.

(Reccived 17, 9.5 a.m.)

Brisbane, February 17. In consequence of the wharf'labourers ignoring the agreement recently made with the shipowners, the latter have notified the Waterside Workers’ lederation that the agreement has been terminated.

A SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

!(Received 17, 10.10 a.m.) Adelaide, February 17

The Inspector of Factories has stated the shortage of labour as follows: Men 977, youths 136, women 726, girls 279. <

DISSATISFIED HOTEL WORKERS

(Received 17, 9.40 a.m.) Adelaide, February ,17

The brewers’ employees have struck on a question of pay. Barmen and cellarmen demanded £3 5s and the right to board' out instead of £2 5s /and keep. A conference failed to come to a settlement. The liquor trade employees’, officials called out the brewery workers to cut off the supply. Unless the dispute is settled the barmen will cease work to-day. ENGLISH CoIF TROUBLE. .(Received 17, 9.30 a.m.) London, February 16. The English Coal Conciliation Board

meets on Monday and it is hoped will effect a temporary settlement. A strike would involve a million miners. The 'iron musters at Cleveland and South Durham have given their workmen a fortnight’s .notice in view of the expected shortage of coal. SOUTH WALES MINERS. (Received 17, 10.35' a.m.) London, February 16. Lord St. Aldwyn, the independent chairman of the Conciliation Board, '■awarded the South Wales miners an increase of 11, per cent, which the owners recently refused. The owners have agreed to meet the men to discuss the crisis, while intimating that they would not grant the minimum uniform 'wage demanded. FEDERAL ARBITRATION COURT. Melbourne, February 16. The Federal Arbitration Court commenced hearing a case arising out of the Brisbane tramway strike and wearing the union badge. The parties represented were the Australian Tramway Employees’ Association and the Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide tramway companies. Mr Badger, manageriiof the Brisbane trams, contended that the Court had no jurisdiction, as tlie dispute existed only in one state. Justice Higgins said evidence vfould be forthcoming to show that the disput existed in Adelaide months before the f Brisbane trouble. There would also be evidence of a strain in Melbourne. Lengthy evidence was given on behalf of the tram men to show the reasons for adopting the badge. They claimed it was absolutely essential for the management. Tlie Association had not intended the label of unionists to be distinct from that of nonunionists, but to show that the wearers were members of the Association It was stated that no exception was taken to New South Wales tram-men wearing badges. The allegation was made that some men were dismissed in Brisbane, the only reason being that they wore-members of the union. EMPLOYERS STAND'FIRM. Auckland, February 16. Speaking to a Star representative concerning last night’s conference, the Mayor (Mr Parr) said, as one of the, big employers had put it, the question was, “Are conditions of labour to be regulated by the weapon of the striketor the weapon of mediation anil arbitration under the Act?” Behind the whole tiling, there was always a threat of a general strike. Employers wore resolved to face the worst,, and' it ffqwl/i ! i |- p Asked wh’ali was likely to be the next step taken, Mr that, that depended upon th‘6 laliofu’ 'loaders. The City Council was willing to meet its own men in conference and discuss any condition of employment in respect of which there might lie dissatisfaction. Up to the present, . e y§)i> olktThoLad• -never •. been- a whisper 'about the conditions of the Council workmen’ being unsatisfactory. reported that, so far as they were aware, the host of feeling existed among the men. •;

AUCKLAND! GENERAL LAB- ;’’ OURERSJ *- f ■■

r Auckland, February 17

A meeting of general labourers approved the action of the delegates at the City Council meeting. It was resolved to refer the whole dispute to the Federation of Labour.

THE BOOT TRADE

Wellington, February 16

The .representatives of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers and the Boot Operatives’ Federation met again to-day in order to consider wages- and working conditions. It is understood that the conference has terminated without any agreement having been come to. The matter will mow engage the attention of the Conciliation Commissioner.-

WELLINGTON MEAT WPRKERS

Wellington, February 16

At .a conference held by representatives of the Wellington Wharf Labourers’ Union to-day with representative's of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in connection with the strike at Ngahauranga and Petono Freezing Works, it was decided not to handle any further shipments of meat from the Gear Meat Company, pending the settlement of the trouble. Tin's decision will not affect moat sent for shipment from the Lonburn and Waingawa works.

This afternoon six trucks of meat from Petono and Kgahauranga, together with shipments from other works, were awaiting unloading at wharves for, transhipment. fu view of the fact that the men had already been engaged to unload this meat before notification came of the decision not to handle it, the shipment was allowed to go through, but it was made clear that no further shipments from Petono or Ngahauranga would be handled at the waterside. The wharf labourers aay that although the strikers’ union is not affiliated with the Federation of Labour they will not ship meat that has passed through the hands of “scab” labour. There is to be a meeting of waterside workers to-morrow to further consider the matter.