INDUSTRIAL STRIFE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 339, 15 March 1910, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL STRIFE

LABOUR'S LOSSES AT NEWCASTLE. EESULT OF THE STRIKE. MARKETS GONE. By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, March 14. A million .pounds in wages has been lost through the Newcastle strike. The Victorian Government's trade, which practically represents 300,000 tons' yearly, was lost through the opening, -of the Powlett River mine. Trade with the Philippines has received a set back, and the industry wit take some time to recover. The Borehole miners are fractious, and will not return to-day. They complain that the management, contrary to the undertaking given by Mr Charlton, is endeavouring to make alterations in the working conditions'. RIGHTS OF FREE LABORERS.

AN APPLICATION GRANTED. A CURIOUS ANOMALY. Received March 14, 11.15 p.m. 4Sydney, Last Night. The Industrial Court granted the claim of the Free Laborers' Association to be represented on the Wages Board. The Wharf Laborers' Union strongly opposed the application. Judge Heydon, in granting the application, said he thought it very singular that the dismissal of the laborers at the Central Wharf a fortnight ago was rendered possible by the fact that the Act contained no provisions for protecting non-unionists against such treatment. Had the unionists been dismissed because they were unionists, instead of non-unionists being dismissed because they were non-unionists, the employers would be liable to penalties aggregating £3OOO. If the right to work was not a right which the law should protect, it was hard to say what was to be. Non-unionism was not an offence against the law. He was afraid strong feeling might be aroused, but he came to the conclusion that the free laborers' claim must be conceded.

WORE RESUMED AT NEWCASTLE. MINOR TROUBLES. Received March 14, 11.15 p.m. Newcastle, Last Night. Work was resumed at the mines this morning. Hitches occurred at some of the collieries over the working conditions. In one or two cases thesle were adjusted, and they will commence work 'to-morrow. There appears to be nothing in the troubles to prevent a. general resumption within the next day or two. ENGLISH COAL MINES. A THREATENED STRIKE. THE 8-HOURS AGREEMENT. London, March 13. The Durham miners' delegates have decided to endeavour to obtain an alteration in the eight hours' agreement in .preference to its abolition. Sixteen Northumberland colliers tendered notices to strike against the working conditions under the Eight Hours Act. i ~. SHORTENING MINERS' HOURS. REQUEST REFUSED. Received March 14, 9.35 p.m. London, March 4. The Northumberland Miners' Association asked the owners to receive a deputation to consider an eight-nours agreement. The owners' declined, but were willing to discuss any other question. The Northwest Engineering Employers' Association rejected the Clyde Engineers' request for a 53 hours week, similar to the Northeast Coast.

NORTH AMERICAN MINES. MINERS DEMAND INCREASED WAGES. STRIKE THREATENED. New York, March 13. Mutual concessions have averted a Strike on the Baltimore-Ohio railroad. ■Mr Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of North America, threatens to call a strike affecting the hard and. soft coal industries, unless an increase in wages is granted. This' is interpreted that he desires to expedite the .present negotiations to hiree wages to the scale enjoyed by workers on the bituminous branch in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. AMERICAN RAILWAY FIREMEN. . DEMAND THE CONTROL OF PRO- j MOTIONS. ] Received March 14, 11.14" p.m. London, March 14. i • Reuter*s Chicago representative states that thirty thousand firemen have demanded from the forty-nine western railroads the control of promotions as a pre-requisite to arbitration concerning the matter of wages.