LABOUR TROUBLES

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 12

LABOUR TROUBLES

RIOTING IN FRANCE. (Author of "Tho Champagne Standard," "According to Maria," etc.) (Received July 13th. 12.15 a.m.) . LONDON, July 12. The dockers at Dunkirk assaulted the-police, and barricaded the streets. Dragoons dispersed the rioters. Shipping is paralysed.

AUCKLAND BOOT MANUFACTURERS.

(press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, July 12. A protest is to be lodged in the Arbitration Court by a number of Auckland boot manufacturers, against the agreement which is to come before the Court for ratification. Objection has been taken that the agreement is not in accord with the rules of the Federation. The manufacturers discussed the matter at a meeting, at which Mr Pryor was present, representing the executive, which is a party to the agreement. A motion was moved thanking the executive for its amicable settlement, and an amendment expressing no confidence jn the executive in its action in securing a settlement of the dispute was ruled out of order, as being a direct negative to the motion. The motion was lost. It is understood that those voting against it intend to lodge a protest in the Arbitration Court against the ratification of the agreement.

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

THE ENGINE-DRIVERS' POSITION

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

V AUCKLAND, July 12. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce received from the Waihi Chamber of Commerce a letter enquiring whether any proper organisation had been formed in Auckland to assist the engine-drivers at Waihi to maintain the position they had taken up, in connection with the strike. They urged that there the men were bearing the burden of the fight om the employers' behalf, and unless financial assistance from outside were forthcoming they might have to abandon their position.

A reply was sent that the Auckland Cliamber had no desire to favour either side in the dispute in any way, and no organisation had been formed to . deal .with the question of relief. The Chamber believed it was not desirable to interfere between the parties concerned.

THE REEFTON DEADLOCK

THE PRIME MINISTER'S PROPOSAL.

(SPECIAL TO " THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, July 12. With a view to settling the dispute at Reef ton and Waiata, the Hon. W. F. Massey, as Minister of Labour, has proposed that the questions in dispute should be referred to an independent arbitrator, whose decision would be accepted by both parties. Mr Massey has suggested that if the employers and the men are willing to submit the dispute to arbitration, work should be resumed 'afc once,, and after a decision has been arrived at, the adopted conditions should be brought into operation at once.

The proposal was communicated to the Reefton * "Citizens* Committee by Sir Arthur Guinness, member for the district, and the following reply was received .by the Minister this afternoon, from ■Mγ'Phillips,, acting-chairman of the . committee v—' 'Reefton. Citizens' Committee desire to thank you for your suggestion re mining deadlock, conveyed through Sir.i Arthur Guinness, which is much and,. we will immediately endeavour to carry it into effect."

THE SOUTHERN COAL MINERS

(BFSOIAL TO ■" THE PRESS.")

DUNEDIN, July 12

. A mass meeting of the Kaitangata miners will be held to-morrow evening for, the purpose of discussing the present unsettled situation and deciding upon future action. It is expected that Mr Soiriple and another member of the Executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour will be present at the meeting. The general opinion in the city is that the men will not go out on owing to the trouble at Waihi and Reef ton. Employers are inclined to accept as, a good omen the fact that the Union have not the observance of a special holiuay for the purpose of. bblding the proposed meeting. Those who know the minors, however, put little stress on that view.

The waterside workers at Timaru forwarded another £50 to tho Waihi Strike Relief Fund this week.