LABOUR TROUBLES IN AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 16 March 1908, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES IN AUSTRALIA.

WHARF LABOURERS' STRIKE,

SYDNEY, March 14. The Premier has been unofficially approached with a view to mediation in regard to the strike, but is unable to give an answer until the matter has been brought formally before him. Mr Hughes, President of the Waterside Workers' Federation, informed an interviewer that certain influences were at work which may result in the ending of the trouble. He did not care to say more than that at present. He wa3 hopeful the thing would soon be all right. Mr Hughes further said that a cable had been sent to the International Transport Workers' Federation headquarters at Hamburg, with a view to that organisation giving assistance in dealing with vessels arriving at European ports, if necessary.

A meeting of the Wholosale Produce Merchants' Association resolved to appeal to the Premier to assist in securing the landing of perishable products, largo quantities of which will otherwise be ruined. One rumour afloat is that if the men do not quickly return to work the shipping companies intend to tie up their boats and pay off all hands. The Stevedores' Association have resolved to issue summonses against for breach of contract. In most cases the crews of vessels are assisting to handle cargo, but en some of the German-Australian line of steamers they declined to do so. The position at Newcast'e is unaltered. Very little is doing on the wharves. In Brisbane fruit and other cargo for Sydney is being refused.

PROSPECTS OF A SETTLEMENT BRIGHTENING.

Received March 14, 8.49 p.m. SYDNEY, March 15. ? Mr Wade, mediating, hrs .further conferred with both sides, and the prospects of a settlement are brightening. Received March 16, 12.45 a.m. SYDNEY, March 15. A mass meeting of three thousand wharf labourers decided to resume work at midnight on Sunday on the inter-State and oversea vessels, but to maintain a strike over the vessels of the Illawarra, Newcastle, and North Coast Companies. It was announced that the Seamen and Carters' Unions would support the strike against the three lines named, and that notice has been given of the intention to strike.

A STRIKE AT LITHGOW IRONWORKS.

OVER 300 MEN OUT.

SYDNEY, March 14. A strike of labourers at the Lithgow ironworks has thrown the mills idle. Over three hundred men are out.