INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1914, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

RESOLUTIONS BY EMPLOYERS[By Eleotrio Telegraph—Copyright] [United Presb Association. 1 London, February 19. Sir Richard Temple acted as president of a meeting of employers representing all the great industries. Resolutions were passed requesting the Government to view the growing menace to personal freedom and industrial peace, and to hold an inquiry into the effects of the Trade Disputes Act. The chairman said that events in Dublin and in South Africa had demonstrated the great evils due to treating Labour Unions as bodies especially privileged to do wrong. CONCILIATORY BUILDERS. . London, February 19. The Building Trades Federation has waived its demand that negotiations must be conducted through the Federation, and has accepted the masters' offer to confer with the representatives of industrial unions. : t ,-„ SYDNEY IRONWORKERS. i ; |Sydney, February 19. A mass meeting of ironworkers carried, 8j motion to stand firm, and await the Board's decision. The men are prepared to accept any reasonable offer, but will not resume until the matter of wages is definitely settled. OVERTIME ON THE WATERFRONT (Received 1-5 P-m- ---, ■ . • 'Bydhey, February 20. A mass meeting of wharf men discussed the suggestion Justice Higgin's made ai : the conference held in Melbourne between the steamship owners and the waterside workers—that the men resume on the old conditions pending submission of the trouble to the Wages Board. The meeting was big and the majority negatived the proposal and decided in favour of continuing the" overtime strike meetings. Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart favoured Judge Higgins' proposals, and therefore resume overtime work from to-day on the old conditions. TRAMWAYMEN RESTIVE. (Received 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, February 20. The ironworkers' strike is spreading. The employers at the Clyde, Meadowbank and Auburn establishments are out, making a total of 1200. This number will be largely increased todaj;. Unless there is an early settlement, it is feared that ten thousand in the iron trades will be directly or indirectly affected. The Labour Council has called a mass meeting for today to consider the situation. It is unlikely that the Government Railways and other public works will be involved. | Trouble is threatened by the tramI way men. The service generally is restive, and a movement is afoot in the direction of securing improved conditions and increased wages. THE ITALIAN STRIKE. Rome, February 19. Prominent lawyers have joined the strike. The strikers are energetically picketing. Two blacklegs were thrashed at Pisa with sticks and fists. WELLINGTON WATERSIDERS. Wellington, February 19. There have been several meetings of shipowners held recently in Wellington with a view to arranging for I some uniform method by which priority of employment can be ensured to those waterside workers who joined the union before December 9. Many schemes were suggested, but it was finally arranged that a committee J should bo set up consisting of three persons; one representing the Wellington Harbour Board, one representing other employers of waterside labour, land an independent chairman, this | committee to tabulate day by day the 'amount out of employment and the wages given to each class of labour; and to act as a court of reference to deal with all disputes between the i foremen and the waterside workers referred to above. Arrangements are being made to bring the scheme ;nto operation at an earjy date. Tho committee in question consists of Mr R. Fletcher (representing the Harbour Board), Captain Evans (other employers), and Mr W. G. Foster (chairman).