LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2661, 19 May 1894, Page 4

LABOUR, ETC.

London, May 16. The cab proprietors assert that they are unable to increase the wages of the men as the profits do not exceed 5 per cent. The cabmen by a large majority have decided to go out on strike. Five thousand have joined the union, and offered 15s per day for the use of the cabs. The cab-drivers disagree with the strike owing to the absence of funds. May 17. The cab strike has begun. The men are stationing strong pickets to overawe new hands. A number of masters have accepted the cabmen’s terms. Two hundred of the men on strike overturned a hansom in Park Lane breaking the driver’s leg. It is reported that the Board of Trade will enforce the regulatioh that 10 hours per day be the work of the railway signalmen. Residents in West London and travellers by the railway are those most inconvenienced by the cabmen’s strike. Several masters who are not included in the dispute refuse to let their cabs, fearing that violence may be attempted on the part of the strikers. The press generally take the part of the men on strike, and concur in the opinion that the supply of cabs is excessive. Professor Morris, of Melbourne, in a letter to the Times, appeals for funds for the Melbourne unemployed. Berlin, May 16. The miners’ congress which has opened here represents one million operatives. Washington, May 15. Forty members of Ooxey’s band have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for seizing a train. New York, May 16. Some of Coxey’s industrial army seized and capsized a ferry boat at Yakima, resulting in nine persons being drowned. Sydney, May 16. At a meeting of boot operatives last night it was received not to resume work until the men receive the assurance that their wages will not be reduced. It was also decided to reserve the right of working or refusing to work alongside nonunionists. May 17. The bootmakers’ difficulty has been settled, the masters having given the requisite assurance that they will not reduce the rate of wages. Another batch of unemployed selected by ballot was sent to the co-operative works at Auckland on Thursday. The Labor Bureau at Wellington, has registered since the first meeting of unemployed 313 names; 141 married men, and 172 single men, with 536 dependent on them. Fifty-three married men, and 19 single men, with 229 dependent on them have been sent to Government works, and 24 married men, and 73 single men with 61 dependent on them to private work. A meeting of the ladies committee v\ hich was appointed for the purpose of providing assistance for the unemployed at Christchurch was held on Thursday last. The collectors reported that about £SO had been collected since last meeting. Mr Ensan said that it was not fair to the subscribers that the class of men now being employed should be kept at work. Their ranks contained many young men, and men who had left their employment to go on relief works, because the “ corporation stroke ” was so much easier. He had watched the men at the river works that afternoon and had been ashamed to be connected with the relief movement, for the men simply did no work at all; they pottered round and pretended sometimes to move the surface ground. The public were quite aware of tjiis now, and unless something was done the work of the collectors would be very difficult. A motion was carried expressing the opinion that the work should be discontinued till a better system of supervision was devised, Mrs Garmson suggested that the men obtaining shelter at Lane’s mill should be made to work half a day for their bad and board. It was a disgrace to Christchurch that men should be kept there in idleness. It was pauperising the whole working community, and should be stopped. Other ladies present supported Mrs Garmson’s views. Mr Mackay, of the Labor Bureau, arrived at Txmarn on Thursday. On his arrival Mr Hall-Jones, his Worship the Mayor, and Constable Crawford, local agent of the Bureau, and about 49 unemployed persons, waited on him vn urging ont Government finding employment for those iu Tj»aru »ow out of work. The deputation adjourned till 7.15 p.m. at the Club Hotel, when Mr Mackay received a deputation of seven, Mr Hall-Jones and Mr Crawford being also present, Mr Mackay explained that the Government have some bush land ip the Want?a" u i district which they are settling on terms verv favourable to working men ... . ?' .. 1 . The plan is to make without any capita*. * v “ i. «i. 'n men: select a up a party of ten or a doz*.. block of land giving about 100 acre*, eao ’ divide it into 50-acre and 100-acre lots or thereabouts; and distribute tnese by ballot amongst the members of the party; set the men to fell the bush, burn, and sow grass ; paying the current rate for this work and supplying seed; giving them also a first chance at any road work in the locality ; and adding the cost so paid of clearing and grassing to the original value of the land; let it to the settlers on lease in perpetuity at 4 per cent, on the improved value. The value of the land varies from 20s to 30a an acre, more or less, and the payments for improvements vary with the nature of the bush to be cleared, from &2 to £3 an acre, and the resulting rental varies accordingly, say from £l2 to £2O per annum for 100 acres. If necessary the Government will transport the settlers and their families right on to the ground, and provide tents and tools ; cost of these and passages to be repaid by instalments, stopped from pay for clearing. Mr Mackay advised that the men should go up first and get a hut erected before sending for their families, who would be carried by the Government on the terms above stated. There would be a good deal of road making to be done, and the improvement conditions would permit of the men getting away in the shearing season if they wished to do so. No men snould accept this offer unless they were determined to go through with it, and make homes for themselves, but anyone who had a stout heart and a wife not afraid to put up with inconveniences for a while, in five or six years would be independent. The felling and burning would occupy about a couple of years, for which they would bo paid, aud theu there was the chance of road work and of employment by wealthier neighbours. The best way was for the party to work eo-operatcly till they got their laud el ami aud made productive. The deputation could talk it over with tbeir friends and give him next day the names of those who were willing to accept this offer. Mr Mackay gave many details, the foregoing being only an outline of the offer. After some discussion it was arranged that those willing to go should give in their names on Friday morning.