WORK AND WAGES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 18, 22 September 1913, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

A LABOR M.P.'s WARNING.

THE NEW POLICY HARMFUL.

[Lv EIEOTIUO TELEGRAPH Coi'YltlGliTj iLiSITEiJ J'ItESS AhbUCiAHUN..i

London, September 20

.Mr Philip Snowden, Labor M.P. for Blackburn, in a letter to the Morning Post, says it is unfortunate that tiie Labor trades unions of the world are following tlie wild revolutionary appeals of such man as Larkin and Ben Tillett, though there were signs that practical experience was sobering tiie Homo workmen. Labor had secured but a small substantial gain from the disputes of the last two years. When the men win any particular demand every workman knew that the employers indirectly take it out of the workmen. An irrespon-

sible section of the trades unions exercise, an influence altogether beyond their numbers. Leaders of unions have been led, continued Mv Snowden, more often than have led. The new policy ol militancy would certainly ruin trades unionism if it were not subdued. The old policy built up strong reserves and refrained from exasperating the public and the employers. It secured public sympathy. The new policy is to enter on strikes without any effort to secure settlements, to exasperate employers by every means within their power, and to indulge in wild and sanguinary language. The letter concludes by advocating State arbitration and trades boards. State arbitration would make trades unionism strong and universal, as it has done in the colonies.

THE RAILWAY DISPUTE

London, September 20

There are more hopeful prospects of a settlement of the railway dispute. All the companies concerned have offered to reinstate strikers willing to handle traffic which the railways are bound by law to accept. Birmingham's repudiation of the decision of the Committee of National Unions has caused chaos there. The local leaders encourage continuation of the strike.

Seven hundred railwaymen at Sheffield are striking. The Steam Car ami British Automobile Companies, employing many motor-'buses, have agreed to recognise the- unions' representatives. The men declare that they will not agree to anything that Mr Asquith suggests unless the unions are recognised. This view finds general support. If it fails, the strike will begin on Monday night, with the support of the tubemen. Five thousand non-unionists have joined the union since the beginning of the dispute.

The Liverpool railwaymen have unanimously resolved to resume work to-morrow. The Union of Railwaymen recommends all its members to

resume

TEN HOURS' DAY FOR WOMEN

Berne, September 20

The International Labor Conference has agreed to a ten hours' working day for women, without distinction of

TROUBLE AT BROKEN HILL

(Received 8.10 a.m.) Sydney, September 22

There was a further hostile demonstration against resumees at Broken Hill. A big crowd of unionists were hooting and hustling, and the police were compelled to interfere and draw their revolvers.

STRIKE RESPONSIBILITY

Times—Sydney Sun Special Cables

(Received 8.0 a.m) London, September 21

The railwaymen are unable to get free from the financial responsibility of a national strike. Their accumulated fund of half a million is for the greater, part earmarked for benevolent purposes. Only £160,000 is available for a fighting fund. For one week's strike pay, quarter of a million members of the union absorbed nearly £150,000.

THE WARKWORTH STRIKE

Auckland, September 21

There are no new features to report in connection with the strike of cement workers at Warkworth, so far as the men responsible for direct action are concerned. The effect, however, of the refusal of the waterside workers of Auckland to handle Australasian cement lias already been felt in one or two instances. The embargo apparenty applies to lime as well as to cement, and Mr J. J. Craig has stated that his firm had been unable to fulfil orders of lime for Dunedin and for Napier, owing to the refusal of the waterside workers in Auckland to handle it. A phase of the question which, be thought, had been overlooked was that the action of the waterside workers, if persisted in. would cause lack of employment in the building trade wherever there was concrete work that was liable to be held up through shortage of cement.

RFFECT ON MANCHESTER CAN'AI

(Received 11 a.m.) London, September ?1. Fifty ships are held up in the Manchester canal owing to the strikes.