INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 72, 21 March 1912, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, March 20. The Premier stated that long before the acute stage arrived the Government had carefully considered legislative action. He realised the difficulties whereto the best legislation was exposed. They thus persevered in the negotiations, hoping to secure an escape along a better path; but the suffering, and impossibility of mutual settlement, made legislation inevitable. He believed that with good sense and fairness there would be no difficulty in settling the minima. Mr Bonar Law said the, remedy was perhaps worse than the disease. It was evident that as the miners’ union was powerful enough to / obtain this boon every trade strike ■would strive similarly. The guarantees wore insufficient. There was no- * thing to prevent the occurrence. In response to Labour heckling as to what he would do, Mr Bonar Law said there were three courses open. The Government could have taken steps before the strike to make either a strike or lockout illegal before having recourse to arbitration. Secondly, they could allow the strike to run its course, effectively protecting willing workers. Thirdly, they might have declared that the strike must end, and use all the pressure possible to force the owners to open mines and compel the men to resume. The means the Government adopted wore certainly not those the Opposition would have employed. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said that the Labour Party would prefer to have the minimum expressed in cash, hut would insist that the boards do not have power to reduce existing wages. The only compulsion was that the owners .would have to pay the minimum.. The Government had wisely left unimpaired the right to lockout and the right to strike. Compulsorily arbitration had not given ' security in Canada, New Zealand or Australia.

Robert Cecil coupled the industrial troubles with the rise in the cost of living and Mr Lloyci-Georgcs speeches. He believed the Bill would inflame and embitter the industrial controversy, and urged the encouragement of co-partnership. Mr. Lloyd-Gcorge did not _ regard syndicalism as a real danger. The minimum wage was not a syndicalist demand. The Bill was a temporary expedient, necessary to avert disaster. A drastic measure now must precipitate a perilous situation. The debate had revealed much criticism, but little constructive suggestion. It was a limited measure unless there were other drastic measures within the resources of civilisation. The Bill was read for the first time. ...Sir F. G. Banbury, Unionist,: gave notice to move its rejection. ■Mr Claude Lowther (Unionist) gave notice to move an amendment insisting on the inclusion of compulsory arbitration. Mr Thomas interviewed said the Bill did not; deal with the underlying cause of the trouble. It did not secure finality, and he regretted the absence of pecuniary penalties. Tom Mann’s arrest was in connection with the speech be made at Salford, in which he associated himself with the responsibility of the syndicalists’ article inciting the soldiers to mutiny. The North Wales minors’ funds aiv? exhausted. .The smallness of someof the strike pays in South Wr.l s has occasioned dissatisfaction The week’s strike pay to four thousand miners in West Lothian has exhausted the funds. Minor riots have occurred at Bellshill (Lanarkshire), South Derbyshire, and St. Helens. . Railway losses through the strike already exceed half a million. THE AFTERNOON SHIFT. Sydney, March 20. The Conciliation Committee informally discussed the afternoon shift question, and then adjourned till Tuesday. THE BRISBANE STRIKE. Brisbane, March 20. Mr Coyne, speaking at Morven, declared that the ex-tramwaymen occupied better positions than they hold in the tramway service. He did not know one discontented -striker. The Commissioner of Railways denied this. He stated that three hundred strikers were seeking ro-employ-ment on the, railways. Some made pathetic appeals and expressed regret at striking. Tram strikers were also seeking positions on the railways.

GISBORNE WATERSIDERS

Gisborne, March 20

A conference in connection with the Gisborne waterside workers’ demands resulted in an amicable settlement at the following rates of pay:—General cargo and coal Is 6d per hour, ordinary time, and 2s 6d overtime. The rates for handling frozen meat have also been increased. The agreemen is to be put into operation on April 1 and has a duration of three years. "It was one of the pleasantest conferences I have ever been at,” remarked orfe of the employers’ representatives ; “if all such meetings were conducted with the same good spirit there would he loss talk about strikes and the. federation of labour.” RAILWAYMEN AND “UNITY.” Dunedin, March 20. At a meeting of the Otago branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to-night, addresses in support of Professor Mills’ unity

scheme were given by the Hon. J. T. Paul and Mr Barnett (conference delegate). A resolution was carried unanimously approving of the action of the conference in giving qualified support to Professor Mills’ scheme, and expressing the opinion tnat there was no danger of the society being involved in a strike. GERMAN STRIKE OFF. (Received 21, 8.5 a.m.) Berlin, March 20. A district conference of Miners at Bochum declared the strike off. THE LITHGOW STRIKE. (Received 21, 9.30 a.m.) Sydney, March 21. Over five hundred moulders are out of work owing to their refusal to handle Lithgow iron. The Labour Council to-night considered the advisability of lifting the embargo, the Lithgow men having declined to return, although advised so to do by the Council’s executive. INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION BILL (Received 21, 9.30 a.m.) Sydney, March 21. The Assembly declined to ratify the Council’s amendments to the Arbitration Bill, which was returned with a message disagreeing. The Council is to discuss the message to-day. Several members hinted at a probable crisis. Preference to unionists is the chief clause of disagreement.