LABOR DISPUTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2043, 8 May 1890, Page 1

LABOR DISPUTES.

London. May 4. Thousands mustered for the labor demonstrations in Hyde Park, The dockers were prominent among those taking part in the celebration, The weather was showery. Sjxteen platforms were erected, of which the socialists occupied two, and the supportera and opponents of legislation on the eight hours' question serea each. Hyndman, Davitt, and Burns were among the speakers, The meeting w»b an immense success, and those in fsvor of legalising eight hours were apparently greatly ill tbe ascendent. Burns had an eoornaous audii-nce, but the audiences »t the socialist platforms were scanty. The

bands avoided playing revolutionary airs. The police did not parade, and the constables who were present did not make their presence conspicuous. The procession occupied an hour in entering the park. Tha chairman in opening the proceedings declared that a million were in favor of making eight hours labor the law of the land. Mr Bartlett moved, and Mr Graham, M.P., seconded a resolution in that

direction. They denounced the charge brought against (ha promoters of the demonstration that the project was to instigate a social revolution. The workmen of the world for the first time met on a common platform. They denounced the reptile press for its efforts to obscure the question. Mr Davitt said the meeting was import»nt more for what it meant than for what was demanded. It showed that the time had arrived when statesmen i ( must attend to the labor question, which |

tbeir daty exacted, Barns, Stepniak the Nihilist, and Mre Benunt, urged that the legalising of the eight hours should bo voluntary. The motion was carried enthusiastically. The proceedings were orderly throughout. The tailors have announced their intention of striking on Monday. Burns in the course of an interview on the labor question, said that the only paoperly organised system of trades unionism exists in Australia. la his opinion it would be easier for the English workmen to secure the eight hours' system by legislation than through the trades union. He affirmed that India , rrould goon become a formidable com-

petitpr to England unless the Factory Acts were brought into operation imposing shorter,hoars and higher wages, May 5. Large parades of workmen took place yesterday at Plymouth, Birmingham, Northampton, and Dublin, A resolution was carried at the Hyde Park meeting to the effect that the Government and municipalities should, adopt the eight hours' principle promptly, - It was proposed by Mann and Tilleti, Mann asserted from the platform that he would remain neutral rather th#ij oppose legalising the eight hours'.limit, Burns read a congratulatory telegram from Melbourne, and said he was confident AußtrahV would assist in the struggle as she did in the dock strike if it were needed. Ho praised the attitude of the Melbourne Age, and proposed a vote of thanks to tbe people and press of Australia, which was carried with enthusiasm. Burleigh said thi-t Australia bad become the home of the aristocracy of labor through the adoption of) the eight hour principle. It is estimated that a quarter of a million men were present at the eight hours' demonstration yesterday.

The Committee of the House of Lards on Bweating report that the wages paid by sweaters are inadequate, and governed by the necessity of the workers, The hours are also excessive. The report concludes by urging Parliament to iuterfere.

The middlemen, who are generally regarded., as the chief cause of the sweating, resoat ihe aspersions against them. They assert that they are not the cause of the evils complained of, and advise stricter inspection by the officials Speaking at Hyde Park yesterday Mr Burns stated that the Australian workmen were agitating for 7 hours' labor. Mr Burns considers that Sunday's demonstration was the outcome of the assistance so liberally extended by Australia to the dock laborers when on strike last autumn, Mr Bradlaagh has accepted Mr Burns' cha'lenge to publicly debate the eight hours' question. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company have given way to the demand of the sailors that 48 hours shall be a week's labor while ships are in port. The tailors' strike is regarded as a trivial affair. The machinists take no part in it. Paris, May 5. An Anarchist dynamite factory has been discovered at Lyons. Berlin, May 6.

The Government will introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Labor Conference bo far as Germany is concerned. The Bilesian miners have been conceded eight hoars a day, Vienna, May 5. The strikes are spreading in Austria and Hungary. Washington, May 4. Congress will discuss the eight hours question. San Francisco, May 5. A strike is imminent on the eight hours question. Brisbane, May 5. ' A great waterside strike is imminent, owing to certain 6quatters employing non-unionists as shearers. The Maritime organisation has been called upon to prevent their wool being loaded and are inclined to lend a favorable ear to the suggestion. Should the boycotted would by any accident get shipped, the London dockers will be called upon to refuse to discharge it. May 6. The fighting fund at the disposal of the Laboar Federation amounts to £25,000. Dunedin, May 5. The Drapers' Union are appealing to friendly societies to strengthen their hands by refraining from shopping after 6 p.m.