INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 77, 27 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrigvt.) (United Press Association.) London, March 20. The Premier made a strong passionate appeal to both sides to come to an agreement. Sir Edward Grey’s diplomatic pleading was equally rcs nltless. The Government asked the miners to discuss the exceptions tot the rive shillings minimum, such as Northumberland and Durham, where coal cottages were often provided in addition to wages, but the miners refused. Coal in London has increased live shillings per ton. The Denaby Colliery has sold the Cunard Company 50,000 tons at 31s per ton. The colliery has a reserve of 200,000 tons, and is selling smaller quantities at J6s per ton to the public. The municipal funds are unable to cope with the growing distress. The masters are not asking the colliers any rent for cottages during the strike. Out of 150,000 in Middlesbro 50,000 are directly affected by the strike. The lack of fuel is a worse hardship than the lack of food. The corporation is retailing coal and coke in small quantities. The Daily Telegraph says that the leaders of the Miners’ Federation state that they gave too long a notice, and so enabled the nation to replenish its coal stores. They threaten that next time action will be swift and sure. Three miners claimed damages against the Lancashire Miners’ Federation because their masters dismissed them in order (to prevent the threatened strike in Lancashire. The court ordered that the Federation could not be sued. DEFENDING FREE SPEECH. ■ (Received 27, 9.10 a.m.) London, March 20. The newly-formed Free Speech Defence Committee in the House of Commons has protested to the Government against prosecuting Tom Mann and others. A fund for the prisoners’ defence has been started. JAPAN CANCELS COAL ORDERS. Tokio, March 20. ■ Many orders for coal in Britain have been cancelled and transferred to Germany and the United States. Japanese coal has risen forty sen a ton. AMERICAN RAILWAYS. j New York, March 20. Managers of fifty railroads in East Chicago met the locomotive engineers in conference in regard to questions of increases and standardisation of wages. A deadlock followed. A referendum vote will be taken on the men’s action, and if it is upheld a groat strike is threatened. COMPULSORY DEFENCE. Christchurch, March 20. At an open meeting of the General J Labourers’ Union held to-night, at which the compulsory military training system was discussed, the following motion was agreed to: “That in the opinion of this meeting of general labourers the organised' workers of this country are now called upon to take immediate action if the military powers decide to have any more of our children goaled under the compulsory military training scheme, and! in our opinion labour should take a j few weeks’ holiday together and •stop the wheels of industry until,the Act is repealed.” It was also decided that this meeting of general labourres forward a ca'ble message congratulating Tom Mann and comrades who have been sent to gaol for their principles, and that the message be sent through Mr Keir Hardie, M.P. CARTERS AN DMCURRIERS.

Christchurch, March 2G

The pward of the Arbitration Court in the dispute between tiie Drivers’ •Union and the Christchurch City Council provides that a week’s work should bo -19 hours in the case of a driver driving and attending to one horse, and 51 hours in the case of driving and attending to two horses. The wages,of one-horse drivers are net to be less than 49s per week, and two horses 51s per week, overtime to be paid not less than Is 6d per hour excepting in attending on horses, when the rate is Is l|d. Work done between 10 p.m. and 0 a.in', is to be paid at 2s per hour, with, a minimum of 4s. Preference of employment is to be given to members of the union. In the curriers’ dispute the hours were fixed at 48 per week and wages at Is 3d per hour. Employers may arrange with the worker to do work as piece work when the log has been I agreed upon by the union. There' is j also a qualified preference to union-j ists. SYNDICALISM. (Received 27, 8.5 a.m.) London, March 20. Mr Wedgwood moved the rejection of the Consolidated Fund Bill as a protest against the Government’s Syndicalist prosecution. He stated that the working clauses wore suspicious. The judiciary sentences on Bowman and Bucks confirm them in the belief that there was no chance of justice if one expressed Syndicalist opinions. Mr Lansbury seconded. Sir Rufus Isaacs said the only alternative was the use of military, which was anarchy. If a petition were presented showing that accused acted in ignorance, lie would be in-

dined to recommend a reduction in tho sentences. Mr Keir Hardie warned the Government not to pursue a policy of exas peration. There was no telling the result if the forces of revolt were loosed. The debate was adjourned. ARBITRATION BILL. (Received 27, 5.55 a.in.) Sydney, March 27. Both Houses accepted the report in regard to tho compromise on the Arbitration Bill, which passed in terms of tho agreement.