LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2148, 10 January 1891, Page 3

LABOR QUESTIONS.

Lokdok, Jan. 6, The Solicitor-G-aneral condemns the refusal of the Railway Directors to arbitrate. A riot occurred at Motherwell in which 20,000 miners, who are on strike, took part. Many persons were injured. The assistance of the police and military bad to be evoked. The police charged the rioters, while the military fired on them with blank cartridges. Shops have been sacked at Blantyre.

A disturbance occurred at Coatbridge, in Scotland, to-day, between a party of strikers and a number of the men who have filled their places. The former stormed the latter in a dormitory, and matters became so serious that the assistance of the police had to be obtained. Six of the strikers were arrested, while many others were severely batoned by the police. John Burns has been trying to induce the great English Unions to give monetary assistance to the men on strike in Scotland, but bis efforts for the most part have not proved successful. The Seamen’s and Firemen’s Unions were the only bodies that responded to the call, and between them they have subscribed £BOOO. Jan. 7.

Sleepers were placed across the North British line, but were discovered in time, and the attempt to wreck a train failed.

At the instigation ot Mr John Burns 3000 dockers haye gone on strike out of sympathy with the railway men. The traders and manufacturers suffer worse than the railway companies, as many of the works are stopped for want of coal. Ths rioters who were arrested this week have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment. The local trade at Coatbridge, near Glasgow, where there are extensive ironworks, is paralysed by tbe strike, and tbe factories have stopped work.

Mr Burns assert* that the men are winning.