Second Edition INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 75, 25 March 1912, Page 6

Second Edition INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

HIE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE. (By Electric Telegrapn,—Copyright.) (United ”ross Association.) London, March 23. The Premier said that if the minima wore inserted in the Bill there would bo enormous difficulty in persuading the Board to entertain any -other basis. The rejection of the minima was unreasonable. Mr Bonar Law states that the miners’ schedule in some districts fixed tho rate at 4s lid, realising that the owners could not afford ss. Fixing ing tho standard would increase the price of coal and close many mines. Mr MacDonald said that it would he difficult to induce the men to resume without stating the amount. The men must have something definite, although he would he willing to waive his own full schedule. Sir Edward Grey thought that the Labour Party would act wisely to accept the measure on the understanding that they might have a conferenco with the owners and men to settle the question of tho minima. Mr'Enoch Edwards’ amendment to insert tho federation’s schedule Was negatived by 307 to 55.

An amendment was inserted safeguarding tho existing agreements for the payment of wages at a higher minimum than might have been fixed under the Act.

The Premier then announced that he would adopt Sir Edward Grey’s suggestion for a further conference on the minima before the report stage.

The meeting of the Miners’ Federation reaffirmed its demands for the inclusion 1 of five shillings and two shillings as the minima.

The Premier states that the oavhers and tho men will confer on Monday. Mr MacDonald, interviewed, said that he hoped on Monday to find that the Bill Avas unnecessary. The OAvners hint that if the Bill is passed us it ’stands they Avill not reopen the mines until the Boards fix the minimum. Possibly several aa-111 not're-open at all to work at loss. The Surfacemen’s Federation, notified tho Labour Party that .unless they are included in the minimum; thpy Avijl block the resumption. f There is greii/t destitution at Leeds, Avhcre Avomen and children are crying for food. cThe aiithorities are doing their' utmost to alleviate it. Many more ’ Yorkshire and Lancashire mills are closing, and an additional 5003 men are throAvn out pf .work. 1.1 •In Yancashfre some raihvays are reducing the number of trains, Avhile others are stopping all Sunday trains. . Mon, women, and,,children in Manqhpster are fighting for .food;. There, are lamentable stories of hunger and tireless homes in the northern toAA'iis, Six hundred - raihvay Avorkers in Bangor, Wales, have received notice. The Westminster Gazette states, that tho Labour Party is deeply chagrined, and is expecting tho Government to yield to the insertion of the minima. TOM MANX’S ARREST. (Received 25, 8.40 a.m.) London, March 21. The Transport Workers’ Federation and the Sailors’ and Firemens’ Unions are 1 being urged to join in a general (strike in retaliation for Tom Mann’s arrest. MINIMUM FOR ALL. (Received 25, 8.40 a.m.) London, March 24. A mass meeting of miners at, Benton condemned the Minimum Bill. Meetings of colliers at Shirelbrcok ■and Warsop demanded that the surfacemen's .grievances should be remedied, and passed a resolution refusing to accept the Bill. The Independent Labour Party lias framed an official resolution, to he moved at the conference at Easter, at Merthyr, in favour of a minimum Avage for all Avorkers.

CAN HAST ANOTHER MONTH. \ (Received 25, B.‘lo a.m.) London, March 24. Mr Keir Hardie, interviewed, said the miners were not at the point of being starved into submission, and were good for another month. The alliance of the front benches against inserting two shillings and five shillings dispelled the hopes of an early settlement, and had convinced the men that they must roly on their own strength'. The Scotch steel-makers passed a resolution protesting against the establishment of a minimum coal minors’ wage and demanding that it should not come into operation until 1913, thus allowing existing contracts to be executed before the price of coal rises. Six thousand at Birmingham waited five hours to buy two-pennyworths of Corporation coke. It is estimated that two and a half million workmen are on strike, without work or on reduced wages. The South-Western Railway Company announces that it has sufficient coal to continue its present service for six weeks, having bought a large quantity at forty shillings per ton. NO COAL AT RJO. (Received 25, 9.15 a.m.) Rio de Janeiro, March 24. Merchants have notified the shipping companies that stocks of coal are exhausted. t .

EVEN CHURCHES AFFECTED. (Received 25, 9.15 a.m.) London, March 24. Churches and chapels in many country districts arc holding their evening ■services in' the afternoon in order to save gas. UNREST IN MEXICO. FEDERAL AND REBEL FORCES CONVERGING. BRISK .OUTPOST ENCOUNTER. Mexico City, March 24. Tho Federal and rebel forces are converging at Iscalon. An advance guard consisting of a considerable force of Federals encountered the rebels in tho neighbourhood, and a brisk skirmish resulted. , PROPOSED STRIKE LOAN. (Received 25, 9.15 /a.m.) Paris, March 24. The taxi-cab 'strikers arc attempting to float a loan and arc asking trade unions to subscribe. General Orozco, the ' rebel leader, declares that there are 3000 defender's ready to give battle. AMERICAN COAL MINERS. ’ ■ New York, March 23. The negotiations of the coal operators in Cleveland are postponed until Tuesday. ■- It is understood that tho OAvners are anxious to place terms of settlement before tho Avorkers. SOFT GOODS ASSISTANTS. Wellington, March 23. Drapers’ assistants, avlio were included as a branch in the Amalgamated Society of the Merchants’ Assistants’ Union, have noAv been registered under the title of Soft Goods Assistants’ Industrial Union of Workers. The now union includes employees in drapery and mercery trades. AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. Wellington, March 23.

/A judgment of extreme importance to employers and employees throughOA’.t the Dominion Avas lodged with the Clerk of Awards at Wellington to-day by the Arbitration Court. Mr Le Cfen, Inspector of AAvards, proceeded against tho Wairarapa Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., for a breach of tho Wellington' grocers’ award in AA'iorking a driver- in excess of the time prescribed by the award, hut not 'in excess of the time laid down in’ section 6 of the Shops and Offices Act. Tho award expired on April 7, 1911, and tho ellegcd offences began on that date. - The I Magistrate’(Dr.‘McArthur) held that up to the time of the expiration of the aAvard its provisions Avere in force; but after that it became modified - hy. the Shbpffi'ii'nd Offices Act. ! -The- action Arifs' dismissed,' and an appeal was made oii‘ the grounds that the magistrate was wrong. , The-appeal Avas heard by tho Arbitration Court,- which decided that the Magistrate Avas wrong in holding that the award and the Act Avere inconsistent.

The appeal Avas allowed, and the case remitted fo the' Magistrate’s Court to bo dealt Avith there. Respondent AA’as ordered (to pay appellant’s costs, ’£s ss. While he agreed with the decision ■as ■ Correct in hiAV, Mr Scott, the employer’s representative, commented strongly on the probable effect of the Court’s judgment. In his opinion it Avould lead to no .end of litigation and strife, due solely to hasty and illadvised legislation, which shoAved clearly the danger of Parliament passing legislation oAmr-riding aAvards of the Arbitration Court and overlapping the provisions of the Shops and Offices Act. and tho Industrial Conciliation \nnd (Arbitration Act. It would thus he seen that in connection Avith tho hours of Avork employers and .Avorkers are compelled in some cases to observe hours prescribed by the aAvard and in others by the proA'.isions of the Act, and that neither employer nor Avorkcr is safe from prosecution. TO AVERT A STRIKE. Auckland, March 25. Mr Hall Skelton, solicitor, has announced that he will ho a candidate for the Mayoralty, opposing Mr C. J. Barr, with the avoAvcd object of endeavouring to heal the breach between employers and employees in connection Avith the general labourers’ dispute, and (averting a strike. The Labour leaders propose to ask Mr Skelton to contest the seat as their accredited representative.