LABOUR TROUBLES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10654, 8 June 1912, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES

THE DOCKERS STRIKE. A GOVERNMENT SUGGESTION. THREAT BY LABUOR LEAD]'!US. (Received Last Night, 10.5 o'clock.) LONDON,. June 7. The Government suggests that tJkirty-six employers (throe irom cadi dozen sectional organisation's) and a similar number of 5ne.11, discuss the .rates of wages. It also suggests that breaches of agreement be considered by a panel of three from each side, with an independent Chairman. It is understood that the employers insist that the federation of ail interests in the Port ol London is impracticable, und 'have -asked until Monday to give the matter further consideration. Messrs Gosling and Ben announce that the Transport Council told the Government that unless the masters and men made reasonable claims to-day, a national strike would bevdeclared." Mr Tillett adds: "I told Lord Haldane that if he permitted capitalists to arm civilian police with revolvers and truncheons; we would arm the strikers with similar weapons. In the House of Commons, Sir Reginald McKenna s'aid that- in the case of the Boulder Company, it was a mat--1 ter of protecting the men ordinarily /working for the fleet-, but if protecting the men brought in specially as strikebreakers. Hitherto the strikers have behaved- with great restraint, but if strike-breakers were brought to the ships a new element would be introduced, which would bo bound to provoke disorder. TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION. (Received June 7, 11 a.m. LONDON, Jup" C. The council of the Transport Workers' Federation has decided to iaffdiate with the International Transport Workers' Federation, and is also arranging, for a national strike unless it immediately receives guarantees protecting hours, wages, and working conditions. Employers and workers' delegates met Mr Lloyd-George, Chancellor of tfjie Exchequer, -,separately. Negotiation s foit a., settlanient of. the dispute are progressing. , : Two thousand additional men have been engaged ait ihe docksmaking the total employed eight thousand. POLICE AND STRIKERS. (Received June 7, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Juno 6. There were several encounters between. strikers and police at Tilbury Docks. The baton dharges of the' police were effective. GOODS DAMAGED. (Received June 7, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. Several rough scuffles occurred outside the docks, where goods were damaged. , , Thirteen hundred police escorted a convoy a mile long, from \ictot.a Docks to the city. PROTECTING STRIKE-BREAKERS (Received Last Night, 11.30 o'clock.) LONDON, June 7. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr Banbury, Sir Reginald McKenn,a istated that 'Messrs Houlder Bros, had asked for the protection of free labourers wlioni they'had shipped. He replied, instructing the policy to senq one hundred men, only if,tliey were I.•tended to. protect foodstuffs and assist in, suppressing diisoriler*. It was pot a political. wo,rk to assist empliiyr whese actiflflis. cWflre primarily, in? tended tv. protvoke, disorder.