INDUSTRIAL UNREST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 67, 9 September 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST

A REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT. evidence re fore royal commission. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 9, 1 a.m. Loudon, September 8. Mr. Hudson, M.P., testified before the Royal Commission regarding the dilatoriousness of conciliation boards, and remarked that the policy of the recent strike was a mistake only as regarded t*he North-Eastern Railway, inasmuch as the men struck though they had no quarrel with the company. They struck in pursuance of orders from four unions. In reply to a question, he admitted it was a sort of revolutionary movement, - while drivers, signalmen and goods work- : ers testified strongly in favor of sectional boards as best qualified to deal with their peculiar diflieukies and their grades. Mr. Hudson, as a member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, urged the suppression of sectional' boards and the substitution of composite boards, representing all grades. THE SITUATION AT LITHGOW. Received !), 11 p.m. Sydney, September 8. Mr. McGowen conferred with Mr. Hoskins and subsequently, accompanied bv Mr. Carmichael, with representatives of the Lithgow strikers. Mr. Carmichael afterwards stated the conditions laid down by Mr. Iloskins did not appeal to the men. However, no definite steps would be taken towards settlement until certain promised information was forthcoming. Mr. Hoskins said no information oould bo given. NEW SOL'TII WALES MINING TROUBLE. STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS PROMISED. Sydney, September S. The secretary of the Iletton Miners' Lodge intimated (hat. a startling development was imminent in connection with the wheelers' strike. The delegate board of employees held a. conference, but declined to state the nature of the deliberations. Air. Edden, Secretary for Mines, accompanied bv the two members for the district, has left for Newcastle, and will endeavor to effect a settlement. Tho united steamship owners decline to carry pig-iron produced by non-union labor at Lithgow. It is supposed thev are afraid of a conflict with "the wharf laborers. MILITARISM AND LABOR. A LABOR MEMBER'S VIEWS. London, September 7. Mr. Ward, M.l'., commenting on the proposal embodied in the resolution for officering the citizen army by selection from the rank and file, remarked that the officers would have to be formed up before the squad every morning, and unless they satisfied the men, new ones would have to be appointed.' He contended that, although the movers declared a citizen a,rmy would not endanger the country's institutions, anv army would do so. Mr. Ward added that it was a proposition tn impose on the country burden of militarism. Let themMsfor peace. lle supported the fleet to the army, because it to employ the fleet so disputes. ' The army, or anything augmenting the number of drilled and di-ciplined men, was a step towards militarism, injuring the State, and endangered civil institutions. (Cheers). Mr. Scd.lon, representative of the Shop A<sis;;iul>' Union, declared that the workers had a much mure powerful weapon than a citizen army, naniclv, the power to stop production.'thus preventing the governing classes from setting nation against nation or using military forces against the working classes. THE INSURANCE BTLL. London. September 7. The Trades Union Congress, by o!)4,- , OTIS votes to :a->.IH)O rejected a resolution that the national insurance scheme is unsatisfactory because it is contributory. Miss McAiihur's proposal ili.it tiie burden of insuring workers en ruing less than fifteen shillings should be borne by i he State and employers was carriad by oW.OWI against 480.00!). rhere was an exciting scene when a delegate accused Hen Tillct of striking a trade unionist in the face. The chair man declined to forbid Hen Tillet to speak, as he ((lie chairman) was not of happenings outside the hall.