THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 289, 3 June 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

THE STRIKE CONFERENCE. Bv Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, May 31. The strike leaders attended the conference at the Hume Office, but the masters abstained. The Government proposed a joint Conciliation Board. The men were sympathetic, and will give their decision on Tuesday. The masters will consider the suggestion .and reply on Monday. The agreement which the shipowners •nd Dock Labor Committee terminated recognised unionists and non-unionists working together. It was signed by Gosling, Tillett, Havclock Wilson and Will Thorn. , The Shipping Federation, the Port of London Authority, the wharfingers, the master lightermen, the master carmen, and the short-sea trades definitely refused to participate in the conference. APPEALS FOR LABOR. PROPOSED CONSULTATIVE BOARD. THE SHIPPING LOSSES. Received 2, 5.5 p.m. London, June 1. There is increased activity at the docks. A batch of volunteers, loading foodstuffs at sixpence per hour, struck and obtained a shilling. I Two thousand men are unloading twenty-five ships. All the carmen at Woolwich have re-' gumed.

Three thousand of the Great Eastern railwaymen at Stafford resolved to support the transporters, pledging a year's work, if necessary, to bring the dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.

The London shipowners, including the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, announce that qualified men are required at the current Port rates, with a guaranteed minimum of 40s a week and one week's pay holiday annually, the engagement to be terminable at a month's notice on either side. Applicant must undertake not to ask other men to produce their union tickets.

The steamship service between London and St. Petersburg has ibeen suspended, and the sailings from Southampton to South Africa have been curtailed.

The Southampton men declined to touch a quantity of frozen meat from London for cold storage, alleging that it had been handled by black-legs.

The dockers are dissatisfied at not receiving strike pay. The officials declare that the delay is due to pressure of business, and it will probably be paid next week. Four hundred Port of London Authority men have resumed work.

The Cabinet has suggested that if a really strong representative body of both sides is created, the Government might grant certain compulsory powers over individuals who do not conform to the general agreement. The employers are unwilling to accept compulsory powers, but it is expected that they will affirm their willingness to accept a consultative board. The trades involved are of a very various character, and members of one know little about another's real difficulties. Hence the imperfect solidarity among the masters' representatives. On the other hand there are no varied interests on the mens! side. All they want is money. Hence their solidarity is complete.

Mr. O'Gradv. member for Tower Hill, complained of the Government's impotence in not enforcing the five points which Sir E. Clarke reported upon in the men's favor.

The Daily Telegraph states that many transporters are demanding a ballot, believing that a majority are in favor of a resumption. The shipowners' losses arc estimated at £300,000 "weekly. A MEDIATORY ATTITUDE. Received 3, 12.30 a.m. London, June 2. The executive of the Transport Federation, instead of calling a national strike, has decided to advise acceptance of the Government's joint iboard if the masters will.