LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2568, 14 October 1893, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, Oct. 11. The midland mine-owners are willing to resume work at a redaetiou of 15 per cent, in wages. Oct 12. The Lancashire and Cheshire miners, acting under pressure of the leaders, refuse to resume work at any reduction in wages. The Nottingham miners have resumed at the old rates.

M»ny of the coal miners are agreeing to the compromise proposed by the mediating committee of mayors. (Per San Francisco Mail) The twenty-sixth annual congress of the Trades Union of Great Britain and Ireland opened at Belfast on September 4th, when 400 delegates were present. The congress is estimated to represent 1,250{000 working men. Mr Samuel Mooney, the new president, said that trades unionism was destined to be an honored instrument in freezing Ireland from the terrible incubus of-religious bigotry and political intolerance. He denounced Btrikea as criminal folly in all cases where the resources of civilisation have not been exhausted in the effort to avoid the use of su<*h extreme measures. After serious consideration and consultation between the. coal-owners and experts Sir Geooge Elliot, originator of the scheme published in London on September 21st, has proposed that the coallessees of the United Kingdom shall form an immense co-operative union charged with the entire working of the coal deposits. He proposes after 5 per cent, is paid on debenture shares and 10 per cent, on ordinary stock, that the next 5 per cent, shall be divided among shareholders. All profits beyond this will be divided among the lessees and workmen. The Lord Chief Justice will be entrusted with the fixing of the price of coal. The scheme is based on an estimated output of 145,000,000 tons, and the capitalised interes, of the lessees at £100,000,000. Coal is becoming very scarce, and the Midland railway laid off 30 passenger trains on September 11th. The Great Eastern railway followed its example, and the Great Northern road laid off 50 more trains, to the great inconvenience of the travelling public. A dispatch from Nottingham on the same date announced that six of the principal lace and hoisery factories at that place had closed for lack of coal, and thousands of people were thrown out of work.

Brussels, Oct. 31. Three million Belgian miners have resumed work.

Melbourne, Oct. 11

The engineers' strike has ended by the men returning to the steamers Cloncurry and Eddystone within the time specified by the owners. If the men had not adopted this course there were sufficient engineers already engaged to take their place. It is not known whether any further action is contemplated. A Parliamentary Board has been appointed to enpuire into the effect of the fiscal system upon industry and production, upon employment, of the people's condition, and the extension of agricultural, mining, and other producing interests, and upon exports and imports.

Wellington, October 10

The Rev. Mr Coffey in & letter to the Post to-night refers to the adverse comments that had been made on his Sunday sermon. He said that his words were that Christianity is not philanthropy. It is a life agreed on a doctrine regulating that life. He pointed out that they fell into an error of supposing that the work of the Church was purely philanthropio, and questioned the wisdom of clergymen interfering in labor disputes. Then he referred to the necessity of demanding as a religious duty six days' work from the laboring man. Demonstration day, he considered, was unnecessary, and that too much is being made of the working man, who is being spoilt by flattery. DUNEMN, Oct 11.

The Workers Political Committee. i'°; ve decided to continue to support tb' g a fc ur day half-holiday, althoui* - rac ." tically broken dow J r