LABOR TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1917, Page 4

LABOR TROUBLES.

DEALING WITH STRIKES. STRINGENT WAR REGULATIONS. CONTROL OF COAL MINES, By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. War regulations lmve been gazetted, empowering the Governor to declare any industry essential for the public welfare. The caol-mining industry is so declared, being the first to come under the regulations, which provide sever© penalties on any person who is a party to a seditious strike, or seditious lockout, or who shall incite any strike or lockout or procure continuance thereof. A strike or lockout is defined as any action by workers or employers tending ,to interfere with tlio effective conduct of military or naval preparations during the war, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, or interfere with the manufacture, supply, delivery, or carriage of goods required by the King, or with the working of any ship in connection therewith, or with any other measure designed for public safety, TROUBLE AT OTIRA. Greymouth, Last Night. Word received at Greymouth to-day states that work had ceased at the Otira tunnel. It appears that a dispute lias arisen between ono of the tunnel foremen and one of the fitters, the latter claiming that he had been wrongly dismissed. The trouble at the latest report was still unsettled. "GO SLOW" POLICY. DEALT WITH BY REGULATIONS. Wellington, Last Night. Important war regulations to meet the problem caused t nrough the "go slow" policy are being gazetted by the Government, and will make limitation of output an offence against law. Sir James Allen stated tb-dag. that it would he ruinous for New Zealand if any body of men were allowed to limit the output—not only ruinous to the country, but to the men themselves. The only way to win,the war was to maintain a high state of efficiency. If this was not done, we must go down beforq a more vigorous nation. WATERSIDERS REFUSE TO WORK Wellington, Feb. IG. The watersiders refused to coal the Maori this morning, on the ground that the use of the Burton block eiP dangered lives and limbs. It is undeistood that, there is sufficient coal in the bunkers to take the vessel to Lyttoltouj and back.