LABOR UNREST

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1919, Page 5

LABOR UNREST

SEEOATIOH IN BELFAST. STRIKERS IN CHARGE. Londoß, Feb. 3. The Btrikors' so-called labor parlhv ,ment is siwing at the Artisans' Hall in Belfast and is entirely controlling the •city by negative measures. It has stopped the tramcars, motors, and taxis, and cut off the gas and electricity. There was a marked diminution of disorder at the week-end, the parliament urging peaceful methods as far as possible. The parliament's |activities are dopartmentalised to a large extent. Six committees are constantly sitting, even an organised press committee, to which applicants for information arc referred. The parliament exercises strict watch over speakers and disavows unauthorised ones. It permits a certain amount of gas nightly for domestic purposes, but insufficient to supply cooking stovea in the low-lying working-class districts, and only adequately supplying the higher levels. I The strikes fit Glasgow, Belfast, and [London show no signs of improvement. There are indications that the Belfast strikers contemplate more dr&rtic action, similar to that which led to the Glasgow rioting. There is a danger that 30,000 women in the linen inuustry will be | thrown out of employment, involving commercial chaos and great suil'ering. I Soldierc wearing steel helmets are guarding vulnerable points in Glasgow, and barbed wire and wireless apparatus have been placed at the City HslL Many robberies are reported at Belfast. The Scottish Trade Unions Conference passed a resolution endorsing the claim for a 40-hours week and demanding the release of the leaders, SherwelL, Gallagher, and Kirkwood. The Sunday Express attributes the present unrest on the Clyde and in Belfast to the or<>aii Nation of Litvinoff. While he was iii England tons of seditious leaflets and pamphlets were distributed in' working-chtas areas. ~, ~..-. | SOTEL-WOfiKERS BWX& GLASGOW SHIP-WORKERS RESUM--1 ING. Received 5,11.15 a.m- ---• London, Feb. 3I Bight thousand London hotel-workers I have struck. The Standard's Glasgow correspondent | state* that Union loyal workmen are j gradually returning as the result of tho promise of the authorities for protection. The shipyards are expected to be in full operation by Wednesday^—Auo,NX Cable Assoc. I 40 HOURS' WEEK. ELECTRICAL UNION THREAT Received 5, 12,45 a.m. ' London, Feb. 4. The London Electrical Trade Union has decided to strike on Thursday, plunging London into darkness, unless the Government intervenes on the Clyde, Belfast and elsewhere with a view to j legislating for a national forty hours' week.—Aua.-NZ. Cable Assoc. ENGINEERS' STRIKE REPUDIATED Received Feb. 4, 7.50 p.m. London, Feb. 1. The engineers' executive repudiates the 1 London decision to strike on Fcbi nary 6. A Pariu communique states that the International Labor Legislation Commission has elected Mr. Gompera chairman. —Reuter. THE FORTY-FOUR HOURS WEEK PROJECT. Received Feb. 4, 7.30 p^. Berne, Feb. 2. The German delegates to the Socialist conference are advocating the international adoption of a forty-four hours week.—Times Servics. AN INDIAN STRIKE SETTLED. Received Feb. 4, 5.5 p.m. Bombay, Feb. X The strike, which idled eighty-aix cotton factories, and lasted for six weeks, has ended, the employers granting twenty per cent, increase in wages jjuX a bonus of twenty rupees.—Reuter.