INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 60, 6 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) tUuited Press Association.) London, March Three hundred and fifty tousand men in various industries are idle, 'these include 108,ODD in the North of England,' 02,001 Tin the Midlands, 70;OUU'ih Wales, 0000 in the. Eastern Counties, 20,00 in the South of Eng- ■ land, -and 7,000,,in Scotland,. ... The industrial Council, discussed the ■ miners’ crisis for two hours, and^tjien mldjoiirnedr ' | .Seven'hundred, trains are suspended in hianchesfer. , The, rail ivayfiieu at Doncaster resolved to strike if the Government threatens to coerce the minors. Similar resolutions will be moved at other .railway centres. The railwayman at Neasden have appealed for a national rail way men’s strike in order to support tfie miners. , . Some .Derbyshire miners are wearyf mg cf tub strike. Miners in North Wales are ciis-i 1 Satisfied' with; the minimum l of fixed. •' by- the Federation, instead of 7w/ and tnreaten to resiune. : mi : ' " Contrary to the Federation's recom- ' niehdatioilj-tile miners refused to allow several cbllieries- in Northembuip land to'be'‘kept in order. '■ Miners at Whitburn and Durham refused to permit ventilation ’ or pumping of water from the pits or the feeding of 40U ponies. | - THE GOVERNMENTS POSITION.

(Received, G 8.5. a.m.) ; London, March 5. The Premier in the House of Commons, paid a tribute to both sides for the skill and calmness with '■ which they presented their cases. He affirmed that the Government’s acceptance of the principle of the minimum wage was subject to two conditions—firsuy tlie wages must vary accordingto tiio district and secondly it must lie accompanied by safeguards protecting the masters against diminution of output. The miners had lixed a schedule outside the range of negotiations. Still lie hoped that a reasonable minimum would be arranged. Mr. Bonar Law said he would not dream of criticising the Government. He did not desire to discuss the question. The Opposition would not make the Government’s task more difficult. STOPPING FOREIGN SUPPLIES. (Received G 8.5. a.m.) Brussels March 6. The International Union of Transport Workers has decided to impede the exportation of German, Belgian and French coal to England. THE TROUBLE IN BRISBANE.

Brisbane, March 5. Mr Coyne, addressing the strikers, said that the important statement lie expected to make will be postponed till to-morrow. The conference between the employers and the waterside workers at Maryborough proved abortive. BRISBANE CARGO IGNORED. Sydney, March o. The trouble re the loading of the wheat ships is unsettled. Acting under union instructions, the wharf labourers stopped all loading of cargo for Brisbane. A meeting of the union is now being held to consider the situation, and further developments are expected. AUCKLAND LABORRFRS. Auckland, March 5. The General Labourers’ Union went about its work as usual to-day, and its officials marked time again as far as the deadlock with the City Council and the employers is concerned. 1 he president oi the Federation of Labour, after long and vain efforts to moot the Mayor in an official conference, was received in his private eapaetiy to-day, but the meeting left things much as they were. Members of the union seem quite of opinion that a strike is certain before long. The union will meet to-morrow night, when some decision may bo arrived at. At the conference of the delegates of suburban bodies with the City Council, the Mayor of Auckland stat-

cd that he had racv'.ved an unofficial request; teat the commence should ;:c;,r a d-a.ion from lao federation or "l.k.J. jac etiiiicivucc decided, <:v G.i co to I, tnat it was quite P-c. ;r. .to roicivo uie deoataiiou'r i ,v- ad op ucl i:.e ac'cdule cf wagVt;’ patcod by i«e o-.t\ council. RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. Westport, Alarch 5. The Town Hall was packed to-night when a public meeting, Mayor Greenwood irresiding, was held to decide •a uat action snotild be taken in connection with the grievances of the men in the local mil way workshops. Trouble has hern simmering for some time, and the men allege that all efforts to got the grievance remedied have tailed. Several speakers at tonight’s meeting detailed their grievances, which appeared to ho against one man, whom, they alleged, was subjecting them to continual pin-pricks. A motion was finally carried requesting the Minister of Railways to grant a public inquiry. WESTPORT COAL-MINERS. Westport, Alarch, 5. A meeting of representatives of the coal mine owners and the deputies at Westport to-day proved abortive, the former stating that the demands of the men could not be entertained. The miners’ delegates meet the mine owners’ representatives to-morrow. GREYMOUTH WATERSIDERS. Greyinouth, Alarch 5. At a meeting of the Grey waterside held to-night, a ballot was taken re joining the Federation of Labor. The result was 99 for, 36 against; for the Arbitration Court, 98 for, 42 against. COMPLAINTS ABOUT COOKING.

Dunedin, Alarch 5

The Tarawera was timed to leave Dunedin for northern ports at 3 p.m. to-day but shedid not get away till o p.m. The delay was due to the firemen and seamen giving 24 hours notice from Monday morning to discontinue work on the steamer, and the difficulty in getting men to fill their places. It appears that while the steamer was coming down the coast the crew found fault with the quality cf the meat supplied to them, and for which they blamed the ships’ cook and . butcher. It is not denied that the men had cause for complaint regarding the quality of the meat one one occasion and Captain McLean had that meat replaced by perfectly fresh food, and promised that the men should not have further reason to complain. The firemen and sailors, however, demanded That the cook and butcher, or at any rate, the latter should be taken off the steamer, and-while the position stood thus, unemployed sailors and firemen in port would not sign on-the vessel. A conference was held between the men and representatives of the Union Company to-day when the former reiterated their demand. The difficulty was solved by the butcher resigning, and the other men thereupon signfied Ithteir willingness to':join tfie steamer. Only .two firemen .and one trimmer out cf the. original cr'qw. were left oil the vessel wlufiv she sailed .

■•I R A,«.R.SiiCONFERENCE; Wellington, March G. The/ ‘A.'S'.R.S. cOhffironce’was continued yesterday. It' was decided to make the gathering triennial, and to abandon the biennial principle. Mr W. Wilson, Palmerston North, was elected president for the ensuing Imree years, with the following executive; North Islonil, Traffic Department, I). Dwyer; Maintenance, L. Geraghty; workships, J. H. Whitburn; locomotive, Ai Whisker; South Island'’: Tf:*ffic,f,i\y.i! Gaines; workshops;' G. Bar,nctt; .maintenance, .E. Dust; .locomotive, F. Hutchins. . I