LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2535, 29 July 1893, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, July 25. Tho Durham miners demand an increase of 15 per cent., and the Northumberland IC£ per cent. Coal has advanced 3s per ton. At present there is no prospect of a settlement of the strike.

Mias Shaw in the Times says that the new Unionism has failed to dominate the Australian Parliaments, or induce them to adopt State Socialism, but co-operation is extending. The colonies do not trust local agitators j the true leaders of

Socialism are Henry George, Karl Marx, |pa Bellamy. She says that the new Unionists in the Australian colonies insist on the political idea of democracy. There are no ideal rallying points, and no public-crys. This she considers, a most dangerous feature in the future. She condemns the payment of members as judged results in Australia. There is a wide field in the colonies for experiments in land settlement without danger of encouraging pet theories. July 26. The libel action brought by Mr J. Wilson, Secretary to the Seamen’s and Firemen’s Union, against the proprietor of the Evening News, claiming £IOOO for accusing him of recklessly spending the funds of the Union, concluded to-day. The jury found that the comments of the paper were fair and reasonable, and returned a verdict for defendant, with costs. In a similar case brought against the Shippifff' Gazette a like verdict was given. July 27.. The coal-owners have issued a manifesto, declaring that the reduction in wages is necessary owing to hard times. The Chronicle states that the ordinary consumer will not benefit by the reduction, the real cause of which is that the owners have been under-selling one another. Pahiattja, July 27. The half-yearly meeting of the Wellington District Assembly of the Knights of Labour passed resolutions affirming the desirableness of electing local bodies by a householders’ franchise ; abolishing the wholesale granting of licenses by direct veto without prohibition ; local bodies letting work on the co operative principle; abolishing grand juries : inspection of sailing vessels; abolishing Education Boards; condemning the insurance scheme of the Railway Commissioners ; amending the Land Transfer Act to limit the acreage of land held by one person in fee simple to 640 acres first-class, and 2000 acres second-class; raising local rates on the unimproved value of laud only ; that the Government be asked to appoint a commission of enquiry into the condition of the. railways before resuming control, in the event of the Government refusing a commission they be asked for the return of the cost of F. and M. engines and the amount they have returned for outlay. The next meeting will be held at Otaki. Delegates from about fifteen towns were present.