LABOUR TROUBLES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10533, 20 January 1912, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES

CABLE NEWS

(United Presi Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

SYDNEY WHARF LABOURERS A NON-UNIONIST CARGO. (Received Last Night, 9.30 o'clock.) SYDNEY, January 19. The wharf labourers refused to touch a caa-go of dairy produce oh one of the North Coast Company's boats, which was loaded by non-unionists while there was a strike of wharf labourers at Richmond River, which has since been settled. A conference has been held without result. It is f-.ired that the trouble will extend to ...'her boats. TRAMWAY STRIKE. THE BRISBANE TROUBLE. (Received Lnafc Night, 9.30 o'clock.) BRISBANE, January 19. The tramway authorities refused to allow men wearing badges to board the cars. The Union called out t(ho powerhouse firemen, and twenty-four out of twenty-eight responded. Only a few cars ere running. The non-unionists, who were driving, were hooted by the crowds.

THE MINIMUM WAGE. MIXERS' DEMANDS. (Received Last Night, 11.15 o'clock.) LONDON, January 19. The Birmingham conference of miners was representative of 600,000 workers. Mr Enoch Edwards, who presided, in a- pacific speech, sadd he hoped a settlement would be arranged without a miserable strike. The conference adjourned to enable the executive to complete their report. The general opinion is that the delegates seem to favour exempting the aged and infirm from the operation of t.lio niiininmim wage. They are willing to discuss whether a joint committee of masters and men could exclude habitual malingerers. Prior to the conference the Council • of .the-Miners' Federation consideredthe minimum, wages, demanded in the:; various-dii's^ri<rtSf : j|M«iti^^y^aii : :. Wales. "■- The -q«estaon -arovsed" a" bitter. controversy".

Mr Harvev, M.P., . states, t)j*t the demands of Wales and No'rthumber'-' lahd had exceeded reasonable limits, doubtless owing to the wild statements of local leaders, whose panacea for all ills was the doctrine of "down with your tools." Mr Harvey added that seventy-five per cent 'had already received the minimum wage, and another fifty per cent could get it without a strike through good management. The mines were affording fair faculties to -all miners. Mr Barnes, .M-.P.. .vaid that in view ;>f ;.lic ballot and the masters' attitude, n- strike seemed inevitable. If the meetings between masters and men of -South Wales indicated the employees spirit, he did not think there was mucih prospect of an early settlement. 1