INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL OWNERS’ OFFER TO WORKERS. A TRIAL SUGGESTED. London, February 21. The English coal owners’ scheme proposes a minimum of 7s 3id for abnormal places, and Cs 3RI for other places. It is understood the minors are averse to more than sixpence difference between the two rates. The “Daily Chronicle” states that one suggested settlement is that the minimum wage be given a' three months’ trial, the State bearing any extra cost to the coalowners. BRISBANE MEN HOLD OUT. Brisbane, February 21. Mr Coyne, addressing the strikers, said that unless the Employers’ Federation was more stupid than he thought, the end was not far distant. The employers, he said, were losing thousands of pounds, whilst the strikers were losing nothing. They Were not hungry yet, and not likely to bo for some time. In the Police Corirt the owners of the steamer Tinana proceeded against the boatswain for refusing duty. The. case is a test one, the whole of the crew having struck., .The, Magistrate said the crew appeared to have two captains, one on land and one at sea, and; took the law into their;own hand's, arid refused to obey the ska’ captain. Counsel for complainants said the men were the ill-advised victims of people ashore. The company did not desire the men to be imprisoned. A fine of £2 and costs, and as an alternative seven days’ imprisonment, was imposed. The hearing of the other oases was adjourned till Friday. THE SYDNEY WATERSIDERS. ;,i ; Sydney, February 21. The Arawatta is still held up. The wharf labourers refused to handle the steamer Mallina’s cargo, the permanent hands handling it. The trouble with the steamer Cornwall is settled, and coaling.is proceeding. WELLINGTON STRIKE SETTLED; ■, \ •••; Wellington, February 21. A satisfactory settlement of the meat workers’ strike has been arrived at, and the Gear Meat Company and the Wellington Meat Export Company’s • works at Petone and Ngahauranga should be in full swing again on Monday next. An agreement has been come to between the parties, and a committee representing both -odes will draft terms into a form of industrial agreement, which will be submitted to both 'sides for ratification to-morrow. All the main points in regard to the wages were settled on Tuesday, the conference to-day d;scussing general conditions and preference to unionists. Although the preference clause submitted by the men was not adopted as it 'stood, a j satisfactory compromise was arrived i at, preference being granted all i casual workers, the terms being that! the men must join the union within fourteen days of receiving employment. Another condition is that the union shall register under the Arbitration Act. As the terms will bo drawn up in the form of an industrial agreement, with a currency of three years, the full terms arrived at will not be disclosed until to-morrow, but they are said to be ahead of any other agreement at present in force in the Dominion. At the conclusion of the conference speeches were made by the representatives of both parties, Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, being heartily thanked for his efforts at mediation. THE FLAXMILL TROUBLE. Palmerston, February 22. Thirty-seven flaxmills closed down in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay provinces to-day for a mas’s meeting! of employees here to consider the dis-| pnte in reference to the minimum rate of pay for flax-cutting. Six hundred men are affected, and the union expects most of them in town for the meeting. Press representatives will not be admitted.