INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 82, 3 April 1912, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE. (By Electric Telegrapn.—Copyright.) (United x, ress Association.) London, April 2. The National Sailors’ and Firemen’s Unions are preparing demands for August to secure the employment of an additional twenty thousand men, eliminating three thousand Lascars and other Asiatics, and increasing the number of hands according to the size of ships. The latest totals show a small majority against resumption. The Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire and Yorkshire miners voted heavily against resumption, but ■ the Midlands and South Wales was an effective counter voice. The latter’s majority was 23,000 in favour of resumption. Four thousand pounds weekly is being spent in relieving distress in the potteries district. The relief fund is almost exhmausted, and another £SOOO is required to tide over Easter. The Scottish owners will reopen all their pits on Monday. Including Warwickshire and Scotland, twenty thousand miners have resumed work. There is a general resumption at Dubley, but at Saltiwells the colliery is flooded and has been abandoned. Mr Ashton has issued a Federation statement regarding the omission of a schedule of rates from the Act. He denies that the lAct is worthless, and says that it should be accepted as the only instrument providing for a national minimum wage for the miners. A GISBORNE FUND. Gisborne, April 2. A fund to relieve the distress in Britain has been opened here. AMERICAN MINERS’ STRIKE. New York, April 2. The miners will take a referendum on April 10. The president of the Miners’ Federation is hopeful of a resumption of work by April 20, due to the conciliatory attitude of the mine owners. LITHGOW STRIKE BALLOT. Sydney, April 2. The,Litligow strikers’ ballot decided by a two to one majority to accept the proposed agreement. TWO NEW AWARDS. Palmerston, April 2. At the sittings of the Arbitration Court to-day the Court announced that it would make an award in the Wellington bakers’ dispute, after hearing similar disputes in Christchurch and Auckland. An order was made adding local parties to the furniture trade dispute, and awards are to bo made in the fol lowing disputes Wellington tailoresses, Wellington boilermakers’, Napier painters’, and Wellington plumbers’. GISBORNE BUTCHERS’ STRIKE. Gisborne, April 2. The butchers’ strike continues. Both sides are firm. Meanwhile the shops are busy' with people going for their meat. The position with regard to the butchers’ strike is unaltered, so far as a possibility of settlement is concerned, but the men have made a new move and the union announces that’t has arranged to put two hawkers’

carts on to deliver meat with a vie, - , of studying the convenience of the townspeople. It is understood taut the union has arranged with two employers, who have promised to supply meat for the carts. STRIKE AT CORE. Core, April 2. A request for an increase of wager from Ss to 9s being refused by the Borough Council, nine men employed on the drainage works put down thentools this morning as a result of the refusal. BUILDING TRADE AWARD. Wellington, April 2. The Arbitration Court award in the Wellington building trades labourers dispute has been hied. It is based on the recommendations of the Conciliation Council as- regards work, rates of wages, overtime, suburban work, under-rate workers, etc. The only clause inserted by the court concerns exemption, and provides that the Wellington Harbour Board shall pay not less than the wages fixed by the award, and also overtime after eight and a quarter hours in any one day, and pay the rates prescribed by the award for Sunday and holiday work. The Board is exempt from the operation of all the other provision) of the award. These provisions also apply to the Wellington Gas Company, except with regard, to building operations now being carried on at Miramar, as to which ail other provision; shall apply. The provisions regarding hours of work, overtime and holidays, and preference shall not apply to the Neuchatel Asphalt Company, Hudson Fireproof Wall Company, and Mainland and Barr, for the purpose of preparing material prior to the ordinary starting hoar, but overtime must be paid for work done in excos:of eight and a quarter hours daily. The Wellington Hospital Board if exempt from the award.