INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 59, 5 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE London, March 4. Tho leaders of tho miners, in making speeches in different parts of tho country, firmly adhere to tho proposed schedule of minimum rates. The London train .service have been seriously reduced. A merchant trading to Australia lias been compelled to place an order with Gerriiany instead of Wolverhampton. Bailing hoops for wool, and other orders usually executed at Stafford- ; shire, have gone to Germany, Belgium the United States jot .Canada. Many manufacturers in Manchester ,a'ro availing themselves of electricity instead of coal.

• OutVard cjiayterinw vessels, js at .a standstill' 'ft 'Liverpool, ' Cardiff; Glasgow and Newcastle. Little credence is attached to the statement of Davis, one of the miners’ delegates to the London conference, in a speech at Ebbwvalo, that the Premier, in a speech to the miners on the 29th, declared that tho day was not far distant when the Government would make themselves responsible for fi minimum wage to' all workers in tho country.

■ ythoiisaaid steel,, and ;uother workers are idle in the West of Scotland.

THE EFFECT IN AUSTRALIA

Sydney, March 4

The English strike is causing' nervousness in commercial circles. Values are extremely firm, in anticipation of advances.

SERIOUS CONGESTION

(Received 5, 9.55 a.m.)

London, March 4

Tho miners spent the week-end at football matches, pictures, music halls and coursing matches.

Many Derbyshire minors are visiting the seaside.

Twenty-five hundred daily trains have been- withdrawn.

There is a vast accumulation of provisions in London warehouses and people are ordering heavy supplies of tinned meats, fruit and flour. Fifteen London stations on the South-Eastern line will close to-mor-row.

Six hundred ponies in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire mines have been brought to the surface, some for the first time in twenty years.

YEAR-OLD STRIKE SETTLED

(Received 5, 9.15 a.m.)

Newcastle, March 5

The Colliery Conciliation Board has effected a settlement of the Shortland Colliery strike, which has been in existence for a year by fixing the rates for (shooting and filling. The men and the proprietors had several conferences but were unable to agree. The men now resume-

PREMIER SPEAKS TO-DAY

(Received, 5 8.30 a.m.) London, March 4

Seven thousand engine-builders and others at Swindon, five thousand founders at Leeds, two thousand shipyard hands at Yarrow and arthousand potters in the Midlands have been thrown Idle. The Premier’s statement to-day regarding the complete deadlock is awaited with the keenest interest.

Mr G. Roberts, Labour Whip, declares that the miners are justified in demanding the incorporation of the minimum wage in tlio Bill, the rates representing the basis of what they believe to bo right. Ho appealed to workers to avoid violence. BELGIAN MINERS DISSATISFIED.

(Received, 5 8.30 a.m.) Brussels, March 4. The Minors’ Federation demands an all round advance

THE BRISBANE TROUBLE

Sydney, March !. The wharf laborers engaged in hading wheat on ships at Darling i5...-ml sprang a surprise to-day. The German steamer Schloskn arliv'ed from Brisbane at tlie end el ...e

week to load wheat. The wharf laborers, however, declined, to work her Irecause a portion of the cargo had been loaded by Queensland free labor. To-day the crew started to put the wheat aboard, and immediately all th'e laborers engaged in loading the other ships at the Island knocked off, idling a large number of other hands. Altogether there are about a thousand men out, affecting five vessels, and 500 trucks of wheat are waiting to be unloaded.

At a meeting later in the day the wharf laborers decided to resume in the morning, excepting on the Schlesien and Prince Waldemar. The latter is blocked.because it utilised the crew in coaling.

LABOR PRESIDENT’S DOINGS,

Sydney, March 5

Tli President of the Brisbane Waterside Workers’ Union arrived on Saturday. It is. understood his mission was connected with mutual action on the part of the Brisbane and Sydney waterside men, but bo was recalled on Sunday. The reason for his recall are not stated. FBAIR OF VICTIMISATION. Brisbane, March 5. The Strikers’ Committee have again written to the Employers’ Federation asking for a further assurance that there would be no victimisation in the event of the committee ordering all workers back. The Federation .replied that it had nothing to add to its previous assurance' and disclaimed any intentions to victimise or permit victimisation to any now employed. FIVE-DAY WEEK DROPPED. Sydney, March 5. On the application of the Boot Trade Employers’ Association the Industrial Court varied the award from five days of 9} hours to six days. Saturday’s hours are fixed at 4J. The Association was of opinion that a five days’ week was against the best interests of the members on health grounds.

LOYAL WORKERS REWARDED

(Received 5,9; 15 a.m.) Brisbane, March 5

A further attempt lias been made to induce the carters to leave work. The imen• ,deplinesL.. t . •. ~.. The whole. of the tramway service is now restored. The loyal workers have i>oon granted double pay ' from the beginning of the strike to last Saturday.

CARGO FROM SYDNEY,

(Received 5, 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, March 5.

The Howard Smith Company intends despatching the .steamer Leura for Brisbane with cargo. Other companies are accepting cargo. No difficulty is anticipated.

DEBARRED FROM DOCKING

(Received 5, r .5 a.m.) SyLaey, March 5

The Prinz Waldemar, one of the German vessels (Designated “black” by unionists, discharged her cargo at Brisbane with her own crew. It was intended to dock her in Sydney but the painters and dockers notified that they would not touch her.

N.S.W. BRICKWORKS

(Received 5, 9.15 a.m.) Sydney, March 5

In the Assembly Mr Henley, referring to Mr. Griffiths’ statement that there had been foul play in connection with the Government brickworks, demanded a public inquiry in the interests of himself and the men who were sacked from the works. FATALITIES IN MINES. (Received 5, 9.55 a.m.) Hobart, March 5. A number of Mt. Lyell employees declined to work on Thursday owing to the fatal accident on Wednesday. When they reported on Monday they were told that they would have to sign on as new employees and to await notification as to when they would be required. Several stated their intention to leave the district.

AUCKLAND LABOURERS. Auckland, March 4. THe City Council met to-night and decided upon a general increase in ■wages to its laborers amounting to £4OOO a year. • A conference of 33 representatives of local bodies and contractors met; in conference to-night and in view of the action taken by the City Council, decided that it was unnecessary to hear the deputation from the Federation of Labour. The schedule of wages prepared by the Council was considered, and it was decided to again consider it at a meeting of local bodies on Wednesday. The Mayor of Auckland denies the statement that an organiser had recently been sent through the King Country and secured promise of assistance from fanners in the event of trouble. CANTERBURY STONE MASONS. Christchurch, March 4. The industrial dispute between the Canterbury Stonemasons’ Union and the Christchurch builders came before the Conciliation Council to-day, Commissioner J. R. Triggs presiding. The majority of the union’s demands were ' agreed to by the employers. In the

clause relating to the conveyance of men to suburban work there was considerable discusssion, the Hon. J. liar: - , for the union, urging that the men should not he compelled to use the com oyauce provided it was easier for -hem to cycle. The employers desired .. provision in the clause for “a suit-

able conveyance.” The employers’ request was acceded to by the Union in order to secure consent to the retention of the preference clauses that had been in the previous award. It was decided that the awards should bo of two years’ duration. The new award will differ only slightly from the one previously in force. The wages and hours of work clauses were unaltered.

(ARBITRATION VERSUS STRIKES. ■ Christchurch, March 4. At the conclusion of the stonemasons’ dispute before the Conciliation Council this morning the Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., one of the union’s assessors after thanking the Commissioner (Mr. J. R. Triggs) for his assistance in bringing about a satisfactory settlement, said that a system such as the one in force was far better than tine principle of strikes. At a Conciliation conference they could discuss matters freely and fully in perfect good spirit and without bad feeling. He reiterated his statment that the conciliation and arbitration principle was far better than that of strikes. Mr. H. Pearce, who appeared on behalf of the Builders’ Association, said he felt sure it would be a very bad thing for the Dominion when the Arbitration went out of existence. By it unscrupulous employers were brought to hoel every time. The Commission said that the fact of 80 per cent, of the disputes coming before the conciliation councils in the Dominion reaching an amicable agreement spoke for itself. That was the strongest argument he could use.

WATERSIDE WORKERS’ DEMANDS.

Invercargill, March 4

The Bluff waterside workers are evidently not satisfied with the present award, which came into force last year and should not expire for another two years. It is understood that the .new demands are on similar lines to those recently granted to the northern wharf laborers, and the men have asked the shipping companies’ representatives to meet them in conference on March 14. THE BAKERS’ DISPUTE •’ '■, \ - . Greymoiith, March 4. The dispute between . the West Coast piaster bakers and their, ces was brought before ‘ MrV F. 'Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) to-day. The following agreement was come to: Wages of ordinary workers to be 60s per week; foreman’s wages to be arranged between the parties; 48 hours per week preference clauses agreed to, making it compulsory for non-union-ists to beepme members of the union within seven days after notice has been served.' '

WEST COAST MINERS’ DEMANDS

Westport, March 4.

Conferences commence to-morrow between representatives of the coal companies and the Miners’ Union regarding the men’s demands for a new industrial agreement, covering increased demands. An amicable settlement is anticipated.