LABOUR MATTERS

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16610, 25 August 1919, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS

THE SEAMEN'S DISPUTE

(By Cab'©—Press Association—Copyright.) (Auatrali«n and N.Z. Cable Auocittion.) SYDNEY, August 23. Although it is impossible to confirm the fact until after to-day's meeting, reports from Melbourne state tliat the strike is definitely over, and tliat tho ships will be manned on Monday. The round-the-table conference with the seamen commences at Melbourne 'on Monday. SETTLEMENT DEFERRED. (Received August 24th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 23. A meeting of the Seamen's Union today decided not to man tho ships on Monday pending further advices from Melbourne. Senator Millen has extended the time for tho seamen's acceptance of the Government's terms in connexion with the strike till noon on Monday. A brighter" OUTLOOK. (Received August 25th, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY. August 24. Early developments are anticipated in the shipping striko, but up to late tonight definito information was lacking. STATEMENT RESENTED. (npaCIAL TO "TBI Fit ESS.") DUNEDIN, August 23.

The cable message from Sydney last Wednesduy, stating that the Australian seamen resented tho actio.a of the Seamen's Union officials in New Zealand in providing a crew to enable tho oversea steamer Prinzessin to compete in the Australian inter-State trade, has caused much dissatisfaction! amongst the officials of the various branches of the union in the Dominion.

Mr W. Clarke, secretary of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Federated Seamen's TJnion, officially denies the statement made, and asserts further that the New Zealand Union has no Control whatever over the manning of the Prinzessin. It was well-known that this vessel had made several trips in the inter-Colonial trade with passengers who had been left stranded at Sydney and New Zealand ports, as a result of the disorganisation of the regular services through the Australian seamen's strike. The reason why the New Zea/land Seamen's Union had 110 control over the Prinzessin was the fact that the articles or agreement under which the crew are working were taken out in the United Kingdom. So far as the New Zealand Union, is aware, tlie only vessels controlled by the New Zealand Union are those whose articles are taken out in the Dominion.

BRITISH COMMENT. LONDON, August 22. Shipping circles in London comment that tho Australian strike is seriously affecting the Commonwealth line of steamships. It is pointed out that in consequence of employing seamen with a home port in Australia, twenty-two ships are held no in Australian porta, while oversea liners are moving freely round the coast. RAI LWAY MEN'S DECISION . (Received August 24th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. The railwaymen have accepted the settlement. EXTREMISTS' POLICY. (Received August 24th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The police raided the premises of the Industrial Workers of the World in Whitechapel, and discovered a great quantity of literature advocating sabotage.

UNREST IN JAPAN. (Australian and N. 2. Oabl« TOKIO, August 22. Tli© rising prices, and the scarcity of houses is causing widespread discontent, especially among the middle classes, and serious outbreaks are feared. • The police dispersed mass meetings of teachers in Several towns, which were protesting against inadequate salaries'. Tho newly-formed Salaried Men's Union in Tokio demands that profits, exclusive of bonk interest on capital, shall be equally divided between employers and workers. The newspapers warn the Government of preparations for tho advent of Socialism, due to the enormous increases in the cost of rice and cotton-cloth. LABOUR CHARTER ATTACKED. WASHINGTON, August 22. Senator Thomas, attacking the Labour covenants drafted at Versailles, said that the uniformity of labour conditions thus attained would only be at the cost of levelling down tho wapes of American labourers. Labour in. the United States was at present employing methods that threatened the nation's political and social existence. Congress oughb to concern itself with these and not with international conditions.

THE STATE IN INDUSTRY. (Received August 24th, 11.5 p.m.) NEW iORK, August 23. The New York "Times" says editorially:—Testimony before the British Coal Commission showed that the nationalisation of New Zealand and Australian industries was inefficient, due to political control. _ The workmen had no reason to be industrious, and tho Government did not dare make a decision, even, when absolutely necessary. The United States and Great Britain should heed the lesson of tho Antipodes.

APPEAL TO WORKERS. (Received Aufrusfc 25th, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 24. Mr W. Appleton, secretary of the General Federation of Trades' Unions, states that nationalisation is unsound economically, and would be disastrous from even* standpoint. A State monopoly would be the most oppressive of ali monopolies. He urges the workers to pause before it is too late and refuse to listen to the extremists. THE GOAL OUTPUT. (Received August 2oth, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 24. Mr R. Smillie denies that the miners are responsible for the decreased output of coal, which is due to the mineowners not developing the mines during the war. Mr Smillie believes that the output "will materially increase soon owin" to the present development work. The miners realisa that the nation 9 pressing need is a large output.