WORK AND WAGES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 131, 12 September 1910, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

COLLIERS' THREATENED STRIKE. POSTPONEMENT AGREED TO. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright j London, September 9. Mr. Mahon, member for Rhondda Valley, has persuaded twelve thousand of the Cambrian colliers to defer the strike , for a week, on condition that a conference of the whole coalfield is convened. Supporting Mr. Mahon, Mr. Harts- , horn (defeated candidate for MidGlamorgan) said there was a danger of precipitation nippingi in the bud a move- , ment full of hope, and the fight would , jeopardise the position of twelve thou- • sand men. If they struck before reorganisation was completed they would be unable to put up a fight which would' teach the employers a lesson. At Cardiff thousands of men hooted the announcement of the postponement of the strike, and rusted to the institute where the officials were meeting, broke the furniture, and endeavored to assault the labor leaders. The iboilermakers' executive is anxiously awaiting the result of the ballot, in the hope that a large majority will endorse the principle of keeping faith with the employers as the only means of safeguarding collective bargaining. It has nevertheless been arranged that in the event of inadequate support they will call a representative meeting. BOILERMAKERS' BALLOT. London, September 9. The result of the boilermakers' ballot ■was 10,321 votes against arid 5431 votes for the agreement. There is adverse to the executive's position. The majority empowers 'the executive to call a representative meeting. WEALTHIEST WORKERS MOST MUTINOUS. ' Received September 11, 5.5 p.m. London, September 10. Newspapers recall the fact that the Edinburgh agreement was accepted after a pooled vote of the Shipyard Trade Unions but the majority of the boiicrmakers then opposed the agreement. The discontents earned the highest wages paid to any class of manual labor, riveters earning from £6 to £7 a ■week. Boilermakers, to the number of 36,000 did not vote. It is stated that the employers are prepared to lock-out for six months if necessary, and are fixed firmly to the principle of working agreements and the necessity of abiding by agreements. The newspapers universally deplore the result of the ballot as involving a grave outlook for unionism and as encouraging a mutinous spirit. A POOR BALLOT. NO LOCK-OUT FUNDS PAID. Received September 11, 5.15 p.m. London, September 10. The majority ballot came from the Clyde and North-east Coast workers. The minority ballot came principally from the Government yards in inland towns. The Executive does not regard the vote as a want of confidence, but interprets it as a desire that the men be consulted. The Chronicle declares' the smallness of the ballot denotes a sullen, dangerous mood. Several lodges declined to j Tote in the absence of information regarding the nature of the assurances it was proposed to give the employers. There are serious protests on the Clyde, owing to the official announcement that no lock-out money will be paid this i week. The Executive possessed the' Tight to retain a sufficient reserve when j the funds-are below £2 per members as j at present. , Mr. Henderson, member for Durham, interviewed, failed to see what the men hope to gain by their unfortunate attitude. The Edinburgh agreement was sullenly .acquiesced in at the conclusion of a long strike. Good trade now incited many to seize the opportunity of getting quits with the employers. COTTON SPINNERS THREATEN TO STRIKE. Received September 11', 5.15 pjn. London, September 10. Despite the truce, cabled on August*, the cardroom workers' dispute has culminated in the Federation of Cotton Spinners tnreatening a general strike in October. AUSTRALIAN TROUBLES. Perth, September 9. The terms of the tram strike settlement are that ninety strikers shall return to their old positions and work in unison with the non-unionists who haye been operating the cars for the past four weeks. They will work under the arbitration award, which they previously refused to do. The award provides that 96 hours shall be worked fortnightly at the rate of a shilling per hour. Adelaide, September 10. The railway strike has been settled. An independent enquiry will be held into the case of Ganger Thompson. Melbourne, September 10. In the dispute between the slaughtermen and the Victorian meat exporters the conference proved abortive. The men asked for 27s 6d per hundred all round for sheep and lambs for the approaching export season. The exporters offer 26s 3d for sheep and 25s for lambs.