LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2149, 13 January 1891, Page 4

LABOR QUESTIONS.

London, Jan. 8

The railway men assert they are overworked, but are receding from the positions taken up. The loss to the North British Railway Company, owing to the strike, is estimated at £30,000. The Scotch railways have lost £70,000 through the strike. The Miners’ Federation are holding a Conference in Birmingham, at which 150,000 are represented. The Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union is negotiating with Mr Fitsgerald, the Australian labor delegate, to secure Itfae federation of the Maritime Labor of Australia with Great Britain,

Mr Fitzgerald has ascertained that the following amounts were forwarded to the Australian strike fund: — Dockers, £1050; Sailors and Firemen, £1000; Parliamentary Committee of the London Trades Council, £1978, The details of other sums remitted are in the possession of John Burns, and Mr Fitzgerald awaits Mr Burns’s return from beotland to obtain a complete total.

The clerks of the Post Office and Savings Banks in London who went on strike have apologised, and will resume work. The Postmaster-General has promised to inflict only a light punishment for their behavior. Jan. 9.

The Miners Conference at Birmingham is strongly in favor of a statutory eight hours system. The Directors of the Scotch Railway Companies decline to accept the strikers’ demand for ten hours per day, and demand the unconditional surrender of the men. The strikers are appealing to the trades to support them in the struggle. The recorder at Plymouth has decided that strikes are illegal if they are conducted with a view to compelling employers not to give employment to non-unionists. Jan. 10, The North British Railway Company is more hampered by the strike than any other of the companies, bat the strikers are now less hopeful of gaining the day. The directors of the Caledonian and Glasgow and South Western railway companies assert that the strike is at an end so far as they are concerned. A number of those who went out on strike have been heavily fined for deserting their work. The directors of the railway companies affected by the strike refuse to accept mediation, Accidents are frequent.

The International Seamen’s and Firemen’s Unions resolved that Mr J. D. Fitzgerald, the Sydney labor delegate, should endeavour to arrange the federation of maritime labor of Australia with that of Great Britain Newcastle, N.S.W., Jan. 7.

The Secretary of the Miners’ Union has received a cable from Denniston (New Zealand) appealing for help, but as the message is not signed by the official secretary of the local Miners’ Union further information is required before any action can be taken in the matter. | Auckland, January 9.

In reply to the suggestions of Federation received by the Trades and Labor Council from Sydney and Brisbane, that body has decided; to reply that it is considered inadvisable to federate to Australian Unions, and that while sympathising with them, they intend in future to work on their own lines, with the control of local funds under District Committees, who will frame rules to suit the special circumstances of various districts.

Dunedin, Jan. 7

A strong effort has been made here to bring about the status quo before the strike. So far as work on the wharves are concerned, every attempt has been made to induce the NonUnion men to join the Union, and it is alleged that misrepresentations of the employers’ intentions and other means have been used with the view of causing dissatisfaction in the ranks of the Non-Unionists, the intention being to do away with free labor, and compel owners to work the steamers under Union rules. The Union Company have up to the present made no distinction between Unionists and Non-Unionists, though keeping and determining to keep the pledge with their Non-Unionists. The tactics lately employed have, however, proved iso irritating that, :f continued, there is a possibility of the Company discontinuing employing Unionists altogether. Although victorious in the recent struggle the Company made no change in the rates of pay or hours of labor. Before taking steps in the direction indicated, and to put a stop to the alleged misrepresentations, the Company are issuing a statement of facts, with printed regulations, for the guidance of those in their employ.