LABOUR, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2709, 8 September 1894, Page 1

LABOUR, ETC.

London, Sept. 5. Mr, Pelues has been chosen President of .the Labour Congress. In idealing generally with a remedy for industrial ills he contended that the age of child labor must be raised, women be given equal pay with the men, and the hours of labor be reduced in order to absorb the unemployed

Sept: 6. The Scotch masters refuse to accept the miners' offered compromise of 6d reduction per day. The Labor Congress strongly urges the unionists to support co-operative movements.

Sydotsy, Sept. 5. The Minister of Works has written, a minute stating that when a contract for Government works exceeds £IOOO, it may provide that the contractor shall pay tradesmen and labourers' a rate of wages not less than those current at the time of tendering, also that the hours of, labour and rate of overtime shall.be set forth in the schedule. No sub-letting is to be allowed without the sanction of the Minister.

A body of armed Unionists besieged the free labourers, who were under .police protection, in the vicinity of Goodooga. The. police drew their revolvers; the Unionists also threatened to fire, and in order to avoid bloodshed the police surrendered fifty-three men, who are now prisoners in the Unionist camp. The roads are lined with Unionist pickets, and all travellers are stopped and questioned. Sept 6. The Premier, replying to a deputation from the National Association urging the Government to take strong measures to preserve the law in the shearing districts, said that as a private individual he regretted that the pastoralists had refused the demand of the shearers for a conference. Such a refusal, he thought, was taking an extreme step.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the burning of the steamer Rodney.

Melbourne, Sept. 5. Several boot shops are yielding to the men and paying statement rates. Other firms are wavering, and probably a conference will be held to settle the dispute. Brisbane, Sept. 6. The Premier has issued a Peace Preservation Bill. The provisions are of a drastic character and prohibit the sale or carrying of firearms in proclaimed districts.'

The labour members declare that the Preservation of Peace Bill is worse than the Irish Grimes Act, and it is intended to stonewall the second reading.