INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 25, 27 May 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

A SOCIALIST THREAT. y,cw i'ork, May 20. Mr Laurence, of Massachusetts, in a letter to the Loader, says as a result of the recent strikes, when sere- 1 ral persons were killed in police charges, some are standing trial for inciting to riot. The Socialist organisations declare that ii they are found guilty, a complete change will accur in the methods of Socialists throughout the Unite;! Stater. Henceforward bombs and bullets will be need against society until justice is achieved. THE STRIKE OF DOCKERS. London, May 20. Mr McKenna visited the dockers, and afterwards had an audience with the King. Mr Asquith, also saw the King. Deputations of millers and meat importers have appealed to Mr McKenna for protection of their goods. The Chronicle declares that there is no adequate justification for the strike. No question of wages or hours is involved. Thomas, it says, was not a non-unionist, but a member of a society ftvhfeJjeOf bfcJ]*J3s a founder. The strike was imprudent and unnecessary 1 . •" i ' l "' ' '' : THE SOUTH WALES MINERS. London, 28. The South Wales miners resolved, through; their representative on the District Board, to continue working at the miniiirltat wage under protest. THE TAILORS' STRIKE. London, May 20. The strike of'Booo lady tailors has boon settled, their wages Jmyiug been increased by 10 per cent., and their hours shortened. Fifteen thousand men tailors continue on strike . MASTERS AND MEN. London, May 20. Sir E. /Clarke's enquiry has closed, at Gosling's request, owing to Ckirke's refusal to sanction the appearance of counsel. Gosling alleged that Thomas was a tool of the masters, denied this, and. declared it was desired to break up the union, Thomas being used for that purpose. The masters wore not bound by any agreement, but were solely employers of unionists. He felt that he must strenuously resist the constant attempts to upset trade. The men were constantly ■breaking agreements on . some pretext or other. Sir E. Clarke said that no suspicion of strikes would ever compel nonunionist masters to obey the unions. He was hopeful, however, that legislation would help greatly to solve industrial difficulties. One hundred and twenty thousand transporters are now out. An army of the Service Corps is in. readiness at Aldershot to undertake transport duties.

The militant section of the railwaymen arc agitating for ;i genera] strike Sectional meetings have declared that they will not handle blackleg goods. SOLDIERS WANT MEAT. (Received 27, 9,45 a.m.) London, May 28. Tho shipowners of London have issued a statement declaring that at the negotiations in 1911 the men's representatives distinctly disci aimed the demand that only unionists be employed. Mr Burns begged the owners not to insist on tho insertion of a clause specifically mentioning tiic fact, as the previous agreement covered it.

The joint striko is causing concern at Aldershot, as there is insufficient meat for the Iron])!-' for the Territorial Whitsuntide training. The military authorities are preparing to send troops to handle foodstuffs if necessary.

DTSSATISF nu I) AVF AT( >RS. (Received 27, 0.1/5 a.m.) Berlin, May 26. The League of German Aviators demand a minimum wage of £ls prr month, otherwise they will strike during the flying week at Potsdam. A PROVIDENT I<TXI>. (Received 27, 9.15 a.m.) Madrid, May 26. The Andalusian railway men ha v. struck against the provident fund for which deductions were made from their wages. They demand the distribution of the fund.

CARMEN'S DEMANDS. (Received 27, 9.10 a.m.) London, May 26. The carmen are demanding GO hours per week and an increase in wages. FIRING! ON STRIKERS. (Received 27, 9.15 a.m.) London, -May 26. Mr Henry Hyndman, addressing the British Socialist Conference, said he was confident that the conference would approve of soldiers not firing on sweated and swindled workers. T'.n> present Government excelled their predecessors in gulling the workers to remain wage-slaves. The Labour members had proved worse than incompetent. A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. (Received 27, 9.15 a.m.) London, May 26. At a sitting of the Northumberland Miners' Wages Board the owners agreed to advance wages 33ij per cent. cent. MINERS IDLE. (Received 27, 9.15 a.m.) London, May 26. The Fogg colliery at Redcliffc, Northumberland, has been closed owing to the wage, five hundred workers beimj; thrown out of employment. A MANIFESTO. "Wellington, May 27. The executive of the Federation of Labour issued a manifesto to-day in reference to the Waihi strike. It says the position is that an attempt is being made to strike a blow at the integrity and solidarity of Labour. It quotes Reefton, where the men were locked out because they would not drive a rock drill eingle handed. It appeals for funds and announces a levy of 10 per cent on net wages of members to assist those out of work. LABOUR AND SOCIALISM. Wellington, May 26. At the Federation of Labour conference yesterday afternoon Messrs Ross, Howard and Freeman, representing the New Zealand Socialist Party, waited upon the conference. Mr

freeman stated that at the lasi conference of tli© Socialist Party many remits had been dealt with concerning the Federation of Labour. It had been derided to ask the Federation to refrain from taking politic;;] action, leaving that function to the Socialist Party. Mr S. Roes said that it was necessary that every candidate speaking on behalf of the working class must he a. Socialist. The Federation of Labour and the [Socialist Party stood for the same thing. The Socialist Party 'hitherto had : -ficcif liehind the Federation righi Up to the hilt. The Federation of Labour nnd the Socialist Party were at one on the questions of arbitration, the right to strike, anti-militarists, and many other points. The New Zealand Federation had been known as the "Red Federation." Let the del-gates recognise that they were absolutely wrapped upin the Socialist movement. They should boldly and frankly declare their allegiance to that movement. Mr Joseph Taylor, of Nelson, addressed the conference on the question of the nationalisation of tli" mining industry. He contended that all coal areas should be nationalised, and that steps should be taken to prevent any further leases being granted to private exploiters.

WOII KERS' FEDERATION. Wellington, May 27. Fifty delegates, comprising the Federation of Labour Conference, met in special session yesterday. Mr P. C. Webb presided. Mr R. Semplc moved that the conference 1 take into immediate consideration tho advisability, of introducing certain machinery clauses that will have the effect of transforming the Federation into a national industrial union of workers on the linos of the Industrial Workers of the World. After nearly all the delegates had spoken in favour of the motion, it was carried by acclamation. A committee was set up for the purpose of re-modelling the constitution and rules in harmonv with the motion.