LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2382, 14 July 1892, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, July 12. The Welsh miners are proposing to abolish the sliding scale and join the federation. Washington, July 10. It is recorded that another attempt is to be made by Pinkerton’s force of private detectives and constables to tackle the strikers. A force of four hundred men is starting for Carnegie’s homestead in bullet-proof cars, with provisions for several days. The strikers are well armed, and have supplies of dynamite in addition to firearms, They patrol all approaches to Carnegie’s mills, which are the focus of the strike. The civilians of Pittsburg declined to respond to the Sheriff’s appeal for help. July 11, Eight thousand troops have been despatched to Pittsburg to assist in preserving order. July 12. In consequence of the employers in Idaho insisting on engaging non-union men, the mine was wrecked by dynamite and four men were killed. Sydney, July 12. The mine-owners in their statement say that in extending the principle of stoping by contract they have no desire to do any injustice to men, nor do they wish that any of the employes should receive less than a fair day’s wage. The immediate cause of the trouble, the owners assert is that all the miners should receive one rate of pay irrespective of the work they do, which allows an energetic workmen to earn no more than an incompetent one. They say that it is notorious that many men worked four out of eight hours. This result they attribute to a large extent to the domination of the Miners’ Association. Therefore they have decided that in future freedom of contract must be recognised. The members of the miners’ defence committee have issued a manifesto accusing the directors of thfe Broken Hill Proprietory Mine of acting in a dishonourable manner in breaking their agreement without referring the dispute to arbitration as was specially provided for. The directors are challenged to name any district in Australia where ore is extracted at less cost than at Broken Hill. The charges of miners shirking work are scouted. Melbourne, July 11. The secretary of the Miners’ Association says that the owner have definitely refused to hold a conference regarding the state of affairs at Broken Hill, and that the men will shortly issue an appeal to the working men of Australia to support their action. The owners also intend to issue a statement setting forth their reasons for adopting the contract system.