LABOUR TROUBLES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3579, 15 September 1920, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

o THE ITALIAN TROUBLE.

MODERATES TAKING CHARGE

NEGOTIATIONS WITH HEADS

ROME, Sept 13

It is regarded as significant that the Confederation of Labour assumed responsibility in connection with the strike movements, meaning that the more level-headed leaders .recognise that the present postion is impracticable. ' The question, however, is whsthcr the men will follow the Confederation leaders, seeing that they no longer believe it is a question of wages but of complete expropriation and a new life for the workers. The Confederation, however, succeeded in opening negotiations with the manufacturers, whose representatives have undertaken to place their demands before the general council.

The demands include the appointment of workers' representatives on the boards of directors. The Confederation has ordered the evacuation of all factories except metallurgical, but the only response so far is the evacuation of the Campagna works, in Turin after some firing, in which two persons were killed.

In the Palermo district the peasants ocupied large estates without, resis-. tance. Every Soviet workshop is strongly fortified, and some are guarded by men with machine guns. The workers are divided into three shifts, one warks, another sleeps, and a third keeps guard wit *rifles. The leaders many of whom are young men, frequently harangue the workers, their slogan being "Death before surrender." WOEKEBS' ILLEGALITIES OPPOSED. SOME, Sept. 14. According to a Milan message, the .-••epresentatives of SOO industries resolved to subscribe the funds necessary to fight the workers' illegalities to the end. The representatives deplored the inactivity of the Government.

BRITISH MINING CRISIS. ILLOGICAL DEMANDS. LONDON, Sept. 13. Although the Miners r Executive refused to separate~lne two demands, miners generally, do not; attach much serious importance to the demands for the reduction of 14/2 on the price of domestic coal. Mr Spencer, trustee of the Derbyshire Miners' Association, declares that it is illogical ,t 5 ask for increased wages and reduction of the price of coal. He is convinced the miners would not strike on the 1/2 issue. THE IRON TRADE STRIKE. EMPLOYEES OFFER "TO RETURN. AN INQUIRY SUGGESTED. SYDNEY, Sept. 14. The iron trades employees are willing to return to work "if the employers agree to an inquiry tntn a shorter working week by fthe Commissioner, and that if the inquiry shows that hours may be reduced without injury to industry the Government will legislate introducing a forty-four hours week. After a conference between the iron trade employees and the employers, the Industrial Commissioner announced that the men will resume wdrk on, Wednesday and revert to normal" conditions and nb£ hold stop-work meetings pending an inquiry regarding a shorter working week.