INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

A GENERAL COAL STRIKE THREATENED. SYMPATHY WITH BRITISH MINERS. Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, March 9. The president of the Newcastle Conciliation Committee called a special meeting to-day. The delegates of the Board of the Miners' Federation met and discussed the situation, which was considered satisfactory. A feature was that they could not decide on any drastic action, for the consensus of opinion favors a ballot before anything is matured. A general strike was decided upon. A special meeting of the Aberdare Lodge decided that, seeing there was a great upheaval in Britain, clearly pointing to the existence of a class struggle, "we believe that if miners in Britain are beaten, it will have a tendency to lower the standard of living in Australia." Therefore it was resolved that the Delegate Board discuss the resolutions. There will be no coal produced by member of the Federation for any port outside Australia. They will ask miners in other districts to take similar action, also lumpers and trimmers. They further demand the abolition of afternoon shifts before March 14, also a minimum wage of eleven shillings a day, and pledge themselves to assist their fellow-workers in Great Britain. The proprietors are determined not to choi"" attitude regarding the afternoon shift.

AGITATION IN GERMANY. Berlin, March 8. The gendarmerie has been strengthened in the coal districts to protect non-strikers in the event of a strike. Troops have been sent to several centres* The Government has conferred with the miners, and it is understood that the leaders urged the Government to cause mine-owners to make a binding promise to increase wages; otherwise a strike will be declared on Monday. The movement is spreading to upper Silesia, where the unions are demanding a 15 per cent, increase. GERMAN TAILORS LOCK OUT. Received 11,12.40 a.m. Berlin, Mareh 9. The lock out has begun, and 45,000 tailors in 158 towns, including 4000 workers in Berlin alone, are affected. EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN. Washington, March 8. The House Committee on the Rules recommended an investigation into American woollen companies as a result of the strike at Lawrence, involving thousands of workmen and culminating in fatal riots. Opponents of the company declared that children were obliged to work in factories under disgraceful conditions.