LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2143, 30 December 1890, Page 4

LABOR QUESTIONS.

London, Dec. 25. The Railway Companies whose employes have gone out on strike offered to refer the dispute as to the hours of labor to arbitration, but the men would not listen to the suggestion. Owing to the stoppage of the traffic, many large manufacturers have had to cease work, and the collieries in the basin of the Clyde have been closed on account of the scarcity of railway waggons. The strike is seriously affecting the Glasgow meat market, butchers being unable to secure their usual consignments of bullocks and other live stock for slaughtering, partly owing to the want of coal and partly because of the paralysis of the railway traffic. Sugar refiners have been compelled to temporarily stop work. The Docks Committee have made arrangements for continuing the discharge of vessels until February. Dec. 26. The railway men demand ten hours work as a maximum for all grades, with eight hours in shunting yards. Many clain that overtime should be paid as time and a quarter, and Sunday as time and a halt. The secretaries of two English railways societies, numbering eightythousand men, urge neutrality at present, Railway men at Hull have struck for higher wages and shorter hours. Owing to the strike of railway hands, a number of the Paisley faotories are ceaßing work. Dec, 27. The strike of railway hands at Aberdeen has collapsed. A conciliation committee has been formed in Edinburgh and London, The dock owners have discharged all the hands who have been employed by them for less than a decade. The pointsmen engaged by the Scotch railway companies are not among the men that have gone out. The position of the men who are on strike remains unchanged. Pi.Kis, Dec. 25. The question of the relations between capital and labor have been under consideration in the benate, and a Bill has been passed enforcing the drawing up and signing of definite contracts between masters and men in all trades and industries, rendering either party to the contract liable to a claim for damages in the event of their terminating the engagement at any moment without due notice being given. Sydney, Dec. 26, A difficulty has arisen with the wharf laborers over the payment for working on holidays. The men engaged by the Union Steamship Company and Taßmanian Steam Navigation Company struck against Is 6d per hour instead of the 2s, which the owners had promised. Dec. 20. The strike among the miners enI gaged in the southern collieries is { practically ended, and the men return Ito work on the old terms, pending a J conference with owners.