LABOR MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 194, 6 January 1913, Page 5

LABOR MATTERS.

SYDNEY WAGES BOARD. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney. January 4. At a meeting of the Wages Board to consider the trouble between the shipowners and the Merchant Service Guild, the employers' suggestion to attempt to settle the matter by conciliation was adopted, and a conference will probably be held on Monday. The Gas Employees' Union also decided to employ conciliatory methods in connection with their claim for increased pay. There is much restlessness among the miners on both the northern and southern coalfields. They are dissatisfied with present rates and other conditions, ud trouble is threatened.

THE TRADES UNION BILL. London, January 3. There were 500 delegates present at the conference of the Labour Party, representing two million members of trade unions. Mr. Henderson, M.P., the chairman, moved the adoption of the report, recommending the acceptance of *he Trades Union Bill, under protest, as an instalment.

'He urged that the power of the Bill should be used for strengthening the position of the Labor Party, and when the minorities were converted the trade unionists could go with a united front to Parliament, to obtain the reversal of the Osborne judgment. Mr. Stephen Walsh, M.P., in seconding the motion, declared that the Bill restored in a substantial degree the position held before the judgment. Mr. Start, of the Postmen's Federation, said that if the Bill was accepted the Government would not reverse the judgment. Labor was always getting instalments and never its full demands.

Mr. Smillie feared the acceptance of instalments would retard the reversal of the judgment for many years. The Bill proved that the Government distrusted the Labor Party. The motion was carried by 340 votes to 76.

STRIKE AT LIVERPOOL. London, January 4. The strike at Liverpool has been settled, the drivers agreeing to accept a cheaper lower grade petrol.

A MINING TROUBLE. Received January 5, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, January 5. The dismissal of an overman named Russell at the Mount Kembla colliery some time ago threatened to lead to a •trike in southern collieries, the miners claiming that he was victimised because lie -was secretary of the lodge. The proprietors declared that he was dismissed for a breach of the rules. A royal commission appointed exonerates Bnssell and finds that he was dismissed on the strength of a false report given concerning certain instructions to a miner.