LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2541, 12 August 1893, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, August 9

The Allen Steamship Company instistituteda libel action against J. H. Wilson, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, for statements made by the latter, reflecting on the company’s treatment of their servants, and recovered £2OO damages. The Daily Chronicle states that 40,000 Midland miners are discussing the offer of the masters to resume work on the old le ms.

Thirty-thousand English miners have resumed work at ‘ anhiadvauca of J per cent.

The Scotch miners intend to strike unless their wages are raised Is per day, Mr Scensa, the Sydney delegate to the World’s Socialist Congress at Zurich, declares that Colonial workers recognise that labor with its present weapons is unable to fight against capital, and that political action is required. Wellington, August 9.

The Trades Council Conference recommend Trades Councils throughout the colony to consider the report of the Labor Department so that an expression of opinion be obtained as to the average rate of wages paid to different trades. It was resolved that the next conference be held in Auckland in Easter week.

The Wellington Knights of Labour carried resolutions strongly protesting against the sale of any portion of the Cheviot Estate, and urging that a special Parliamentary Committee bo set up to inquire into the acquisition of the Tamatui and Umuataroa blocks by Messrs Cadrnau and Smith, and also into Mr Cadman’s having been said to have participate d in the profits from the said purchase while acting as Native Minister. Dunedin, August 10.

The platform of the Workers’ Political Committee has been issued. The draft platform, which has been already telegraphed, is only slightly modified, the principal changes being a State bank with a monopoly of paper money, a curtailment of the acquisition of individual wealth by a progressive wealth tax, a progressive probate duty, or by direct legislation, the exemption from taxation of all buildings in boroughs and the levying of taxation on land only, whether built on or not.