LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2648, 19 April 1894, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

Washington, April 17. A quarter of a million miners in the United States will strike on Saturday for an increase of 20 per cent, in wages. Sydnbv, April 16. Mr Rae, a member of the Shearers’ Council denies the statement of the pastoralists that they have made no reduction in the shearing rates and he claims that substantial reduction has been effected. He says that the shearers • will strongly resist a reduction and will also fight against the clause which it is alleged makes the employer sole arbiter of all disputes. Mr Rae declares that this point is of more vital importance than the question of a reduction in rates, and that if the clause is assented to would result in the death of the Shearers’ Union. In his opinion there will be trouble over the matter, and fully 20,000 shearers will be affected by the struggle. Taking the average reduction all round at 2s per 100 sheep, Mr Rae contends that this would mean a gain to the squatters or loss to the shearers of £60,000 per annum.

At a meeting of the unemployed at Christchurch it was resolved that in the opinion of the meeting it was Ihe duty of the Government to subsidise local bodies for the purpose of finding employment during the present distress, in accordance with innumerable precedents, and in the manner suggested by the meeting last week, namely, £ for £ subsidy to local bodies.