INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 56, 1 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

. i.sdv j.T-i—-4-:: - ENGLISH MINERS GO OUT'By Electric Telegraph'.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, February 29. It is officially announced that the Government has informed the coal owner's:— (1) It is satisfied, after careful consideration, that there are cases '.wliprs the miners cannot earn a reasonable living wage, from causes over which they have no control.

\ (2) That they are satisfied power to secure such a wage should, he socuTed hy arrangements suitable in the 'special circumstances in each district, adequate safeguards being provided to protect employers against abuse. ” ' '” ■ ‘ , ; ■

(3) That the Government is '.prepared to confer with the parties concerning £he best method of giving practical effect to this conclusion by means of district conferences between parties, whereat the Government will be represented. (4) That in the event of any such conferences failing to arrive at a complete settlement within a reasonable time, Representatives of both parties and the Government will decide jointly the outstanding points, with a view to giving effect to the agreement in principle. The official communication adds that employers in the English federated area in Durham and Cumberland have accepted the Government’s propositions, whilst the Northumberland, Scotland, Somerset and Bristol employers have refused.

The miners concurred in the first two propositions, but disagreed with Nos. 3 and 4. They were not prepared to regard the minimum wage scale adopted on February 2nd as a basis for negotiations.

Further conferences were bold today. One hundred and fifteen thousand miners are idle, including 32,000 in Nottinghamshire. The export of coal from the Tyne, which sends away 20,000,000 tons annually, is at a standstill. The Scotch owners explained to the Government that they would abide hy the agreement made on July 30th, 1909, whereto the Board of Trade were parties, though they were willing to lie represented on a joint committee of masters and men to regulate remuneration for abnormal places and prevent injustice in exceptional cases.

T'lioro is general dissatisfaction over the Government securing tlie adhesion of the employers and 60 per cent of the miners to the principle of the minimum wage, and leaving the door open for further negotiations with the minority.

A grave feature of the situation is the minors’ insistence upon a definite scale of pay in place of the system of conferences suggested by the Government.

“The Times” save there is no doubt the solution of the problem lies in Conceding the minimum wage, with safeguards. The “Daily Mail” declares that the miners having scored a moral victory, they ought to be willing to submit the case to the negotiation of the various districts. The .Scottish mineral burning oils have further advanced a halfpenny per gallon. The price has risen 7. 1 ) per cent in a few months.

DIVISION OP OWNERS. (Reciiml 1. 3.5 r.,m.) London, February 29. Tne owners accepting represent CO p~r rent, of the output, employing 370,000, and the nou-acceptors employ 293,000. THE EMPLOYERS’ VIEW. • (Received 1, 8.5 a-m.) London, .February 29. One million, sixty-seven thousand, two hundred and thirteen were employed in coal mining in the United Kingdom in .1911, of whom 883,512 Worked underground. The output was 271,878,924 tons. Ten thousand South Wales enginemen have announced their intention 'of sticking immediately for a minimum wage. Mr D. Thomas, interviewed, said the South Wales owners would rather submit to compulsion than accept the Government’s proposals voluntarily. It would mean tearing up the agreement. The Government’s proposals do not contain provisions giving the owners a guarantee that the new agreement would be observed.

The “Morning Leader” says the men’s claim that the minimum wage shall be that fixed by the Miners’ Federation Cannot be maintained. The public has a right to expect from them moderation and an appreciation of the gravity of the issue.

SYDNEY WATERSIDERS. Sydney, February 29. The wharf labourers decided to work the steamer Wollowra on the strength ' of the assurance that the Queensland cargo was handled by unionists. ADELAIDE STRIKE SETTLED. Adelaide, February 29. The fire brigade strike has befen settled. The conference of both parties resulted' in the signing of a tentative agreement, whereby . the men" waived the question of affiliation to the Trades and Labour Council and agreed that all future disputes bo referred to arbitration. AH the strikers have resumed work. NEW ZEALAND MINERS. Wellington, February 29. Coal mine owners will meet in Wellington. to-morrow to consider the fresh demands made by the employees, particularly on the .West Coast, far. increased wages and better conditions than those under which they are now working. The employers will, tef! wittyately, .a, .conference. -may- : be held at which both sides will be represented and the demands gone into.

THE CONCILIATION COUNCIL. Dunedin, February 29. At the sitting of the Furniture Trades’ Conference this afternoon, a i’cmi't carried in the morning in regard to no agent appearing before 1 .e Council was rescinded, and . the . following was carried in its place': ‘“That no agent be permitted to appear ‘.before the Conciliation Court without the consent of all parties.” ' •'" ' It was decided Htha.t in the opinion of the congress party in an award not ppearing before the Conciliation Council should not he heard before the AH)itration Court.P, The congress disctissod the grievances of time books and the sheet system now generally in vogue, with a view to the same being adjusted.

Mr Sullivan moved that the various unions he recommended to appoint committees consisting of all branches of the trade to go into the matter and try and decide a reasonable and just time for a j'ob to be done in.—The motion was carried.

A motion in favour of shortening the working day from eight hours to seven was defeated, as also was a motion to compel employers to imstal machinery for cleaning carpets. N.S.W. ARBITRATION BILL. Sydney, February 29. The Arbitration Bill had a narrow shave in the Legislative Council, the second reading being carried bn the casting vote of the Speaker.