LABOR MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 241, 1 March 1913, Page 5

LABOR MATTERS.

j AX ARTISTS' UNION. By Cable—Press Associate n—Copyright. Berlin, i •. bruary 27. Artists at Munich are organising a trades union among all German painters and designers. MIDLAND RATIAVAY TROUBLE. ;' London. February 27. The union oflicials announce that the railwaymen are determined tn strike collectively unless Richardson is reinstated. HAS COMPANY'S STRIKE. Received 28. S p.m. Sydney, February 28. The employees of the North Sydney Gas Company have struck, demanding a shilling a day increase in wages. The ■ strike is the outcome of a refusal of the Arbitration Court to sit as a board to i deal with an application by the em- | ployces for Is a. day increase on the lflll settlement, under which any increase by the award enables the companies, under the Gas Bill, to pass the cost on to the consumers, but. where obtained otherwise, they are unable to pass it on. Mr. Justice Ileydon, in refusing the application, expressed doubts as to whether the Arbitration Court had jurisdiction to act as a wages board. Received 28, 8.45 p.m. Sydney, February 28. The gas strike surprised both the company and the Gas Employees' Union. A meeting of the departing and the new shifts yesterday night decided to stop, and immediately took action. The office staff and experts kept the supply up today, but unless a settlement is arrived at North Sydney will be gasless tomorrow night. A Labor Council deputation interviewed the company's manager, and admitted that the strike was precipitated against the union's discipline. It urged that steps be taken to obtain a wages award, so that the men could obtain an advance to be passed on to the consumers. The manager declared that there would be no opposition to an increase if it could be passed on. It represented a total of £OOOO, and the reduction of the price of gas under the new Act represented another -CfiOOO. The ' men must return to work before anything could be done. Subsequently, at a conference between the company and the men's representatives, the company insisted that resumption was imperative before any further negotiations. % Received 28, 11.1.1 p.m. Sydney. February ?8. The Australian Gaslight Company's employees at Mortlake works, which serve large suburban areas, to the number of GOO, have joined the strike. The employees of the company's city works are still in. Further developments are probable. With a view to eventualities, the city gas supply has been reduced to-night. The suddenness of the move left the companies unprepared and unable to keep up the supply beyond a day or two. The outlook is serious. Already about a thousand men are out. Received 1, 12.45 a.m. The city gasmen are out, adding 270 to the strikers. Lamps and candles are in great demand. Manly is the only other company so far unaffected, and it is expected to join the strike.