LABOR QUESTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2177, 17 March 1891, Page 4

LABOR QUESTIONS.

London, March, 12 . Mr J, Baras thinks that the workmen in the colonies ought to be represented on (he Labor Oommifsion, as it would be useful to know which coloniep-.would ask their Legislature to confirms'the weight hours system which the Unions has secured but could not maintain. The strike of dockers, stevedores, coal heavers, etc,, at Plymouth has collapsed, owing to the revolt of some of the officers of the unions against Wilson (secretary of. the'Seamen’s Union). A number'cl men who were coerced into joining the anions have withdrawn and entered the ranks ,of the. free labourers. Sir John Gorst wid not be a member of the Labor Commission, a section ol the Cabinet objecting to him on the ground that bis views are too advanced The Lord High Chancellor is opposed to any great changes being made in lb’ law as to the relations of employer and employed, Brisbane, March 14. News has been received from Be real* dine that a strong body of unionists made «*n unsnccesful attempt to remove » number of free shearers from Manor qo station. One unionist was drowned while crossing a river. A large woolshed on one of the stations in the disturbed districts has been burned down It is clearly, a case of incendiarism, Dunedin, March 15.

A number of mechanics anti others oqt of employment here have called, a meeting for to-morrow night, with a view o|f obtaining an exact statement of tbi* number of unemployed, so that the membersifpr tfie city and suburbs will be ablf to bring the facts before Ministers,

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION. s Stdnbt, March 13. ' Much amusement was created at the Convention yesterday by the receipt of a telegram from the people of Warnambopl,; urging the claims of that town to be selected as the capital qiytbq federation. There was nothing striking in yesterday’s debate, ,beyond ..the .figures,quoted by . Mr McMillan! The result of the debate! shpps; that all ; delegates except. Mi; Miinro and Mr Deakin are, virtually unariimous on the question of| State rights,Ji I

( The Sydney Morning Herald, com-l menting on the,, attitude, qf New! Zealand, says it is useless for that* colony to dream of avoiding Federa-j tion and securing free commercial intercourse with Australia. , Federation and reciprocity must go together, j The Herald urges New Zealand t); join, and points out that it will be a vain hope to suppose that the Federal trriff. will contain , any “ favored '’nation ” clause. , ~ , Sir Samuel Griffiths, the Yice-Presi-dent, occupied the chair at the Federation Convention this morning while Sir Henry Parkes replied. At the conclusion of his address, which was very able, he was greeted with applause. Mr J. P. Abott, Speaker of the Lower House of New South Wales, was appointed Chairman of Committee, and on the motion of Sir H. Parkes the convention went into committee. The Committee took into consideration clause 1 providing that the powers, pn‘ v ' ;i eges, and territorial rights of the several colonies shall remain intact except in of such surrenders as may be agredd upon as necesrary and incidental to the power and authority of the Federal'Government, ■ :

The question of providing a constitution for the various colonies gave irise to a discussion concerning nominee Houses.

Sir George Grey strongly opposed nominee chambers. There would not be true freedom while such institutions existed,' He wished to see such p constitution as would leave New Zealand a loophole to coma in when she thoroughly understood the subject. , After some debate clause 1 was carried, and ifc was decided that resolution 8 should be taken before No 2. This provides that the power and authority to impose Customs; duties should be exclusively lodged with the. Federal Government and Parliament subject to such disposal of revenue hence derived as shall be agreed upon. Mr Deakin moved to amend this by the insertion of the words “ and excise ’’ after the word “ Customs ”

Progress was then reported and leave giveh to sit again on Monday. London, March 12,

Lord Carrington was entertained at i a banquet by the City Liberals last night.' Replying to one of the tdaslfcs he made reference to the Federal Convention at present sitting in Sydney, and said the Federation of the Australian colonies would greatly help to consolidate the union between Australia and Great Britain. Nationalism he thought had made Australia confident of its own strength, but ifc had not impaired in the slightest the friendship existing between Australia and England. Lord Carrington denied that the Eepubiiaan Party wore stronger than : the Loyalists, because the Loyalists showed no trace whatever ®f a bitter aud undying hatred towards the Irish people (sic).

It is currently rumored that (he Tasmanian Hteom Navigation Company ia about to sell out or amalgamate with the Uuton Company. The Chairman of Directors and Manager have proceeded to New Zealand by the JRotcnaahaQß,