INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 86, 10 April 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.* London, April !). One hundred and eighty thousand miners are working. The majority of the others will resume to-day, though - there is much ill-feoling in the North J of England. Resumption at Durham and South Wales is delayed by the :tt--1 titude of the enginemen. The Durham ehginemen, who are earning 5s 2 4d per shift, demand an increase of i cightponce and an eight hours' day. The masters are offering fourpenc.e. Mr Hartshorn, speaking at Maesteg, , said.that preparations arc being made for a labour movement of unprecedented magnitude. 'The threatened pressure upon the Government to introduce legislation preventing the work,,,era.holding up the country necessitated a union between the transport workers, railwaymcn and miners. ' It is believed that two millions will be striking within a few months for a national eight hours' day and a ila- ' tional minimum wage. \ A DOMINION AWARD; Wellington, April 9. \\ The question of obtaining a Domin- ; ion award caused a lengthy discussion [ at the timber workers' conference today. Mr F. J. Lyons, who com--1 rnenced the discussion, said that some [ of the unions were to blame in this iyniatter hi not letting the other unions i 'know whpt they were doing. It was '.time the, conference concentrated it;; r attention on this question. The Wel- ' lmgtoii Union was going for new eoni ditions, and definitions. of yardmen. ' etc., worb imperatively needed. All the holidays allowed were not wanted, . especially in the bush mills. The • Wellington employers would give no ■■. thing, as they knew/the other union; • 'wej-e at sixes and sevens. He moved ■that the conference adopt the principle > of a Dominion award. Mr T. lO'Byrnb agreed that the \ unions should work more in concert. , but there were placer, where , the men were quite unorganis- ' ed. The trouble was thai there were so many men outside the union. When these men were en- | rolled it would be easier to secure a Dominion award. The chairman (Mr E. Phelan) said a • legal and advisory committee, wit J) representatives from each centre, • should be set up to simplify matters before approaching tne Court. It [, was the duty of each union to finance i that committee. The stronger unions should come to the assistance of the weaker ones by appointing a Dominion organiser. It was decided to set up an advisory committee of three to advise the unions to take cases before the Arbitration Court if necessary, and to act as assessors on the Conciliation Coun- ' oil. 'Messrs F? J. Lyons,' E. Phelan and J. O'Byrno were elected morn hers of the Advisory Committee. ; .LABOUR'S POLITICAL IDEAL. Wellington, April 9; Speaking at the conference of the N.Z. Political Labour Party to-day, the chairman (Mr Hampton mentioned the unity proposals which were before another conference, and emphasised the fact that labour should not lose sight of its political interests while dealing with industrial problems. Though they might as an organisation he swallowed up in a larger body, they 'had'to see that the work they set out to do would be properly pushed forward. They had also to see that there were no loopholes whereby a Labour candidate could lose his separate identity. It was to be hoped that the unity proposals would be finally dealt with and that tho workers would fall into one common organisation of useful people of New Zealand, which at the next election would sweep the Reform Party and the Liberal Party into the backwash. There are men in both parties, he added, who ought to bo in our party, and they will not come in till the parties to which they belong are! thoroughly beaten. Other spsakpn • emphasised the, statement that the Labour Party's politics are definite Labour, not Liberal-Labour or ReformLabour politics. "As one who occu- : pied a seat in the House," said Mr McLaren, "Ij am more than ever conviriced that our line must be one of independence." Tho conference then adjourned to enable the unity proposals to be further discussed. INCITING A STRIKE. Auckland, April 10. Judgment was given by Mr Kettle, S.M., tin's morning in the case brought against tho Waterside Workers' Union by the Labour Department claiming £2OO for a breach of the Arbitration Act for inciting a strike of wharf November 21st, when a ' number of 'men refused to handle sup erphosphates at less than Is 6d per hour. The question was raised as affecting the care and the care against the Labourers' Union to follow, whether the actions of the officials bound the Union in the case of a strike, it being contended that the meeting of the Union at which the strike was | resolved upon was not a legal mect- | ing, not having been convened in accordance with the rules. The Magistrate said he had no ivri i tation in deciding there was' a strike I Tic agreed as to the difficulty of settMing the other point raised and.d.-- '< i cided to remove the question to I'm Arbitration Court direct, together ; | with the question of costs. ' I Don't fool with colds. Cure them "I Tonking'n Linseed Emulsion. Safe I and speedy. x