LABOUR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16882, 9 July 1920, Page 7

LABOUR.

BRITISH MINERS* DEMANDS. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable association.) LONDON, July 6. There are 200 delegates at the Conference of tho Miners' Federation at Leamington. Mr Robert Smillie, tho president, announced that tho miners refused the now Mines Bill. There would probably be a serious crisis on tiic new wages demand. The executive recommended the conference to demand a reduction in the price' of domestic coal by i4s 2d a ton —;the amount of the recent increase, which, it considers, • is unjustified. Tne executive aiso recommended the conference to demand 2s per day iiat rate advance in wages for all workers over 10, and Is for workers under l(j. This would involve an additional £30,000,u0u. Mr ijmillie threatened a further wages demand, absorbing tho whole of the available surplus, unless the price of coal was The Ministry of Mines Bill, lie said, would be better described as the "Enslavement of Miners Bill." The conference postponed a decision. (Received July Bth, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. The Miners' Federation Conference accepted the executive's recommendations to demand increased wages, aad also a reduction in the prico of coal.

AUSTRALIAN SHEARERS. (Received July Bth, 7.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 8. Negotiations are in progress between the pastoralists and the Australian Workers' Union in regard to shearing rates and other matters affecting the pastoral industry. There are prospects of a satisfactory settlement for the whole of the Commonwealth. The shearers are asking that the rates be fixed on the basis of those ruling in Queensland.

THE MELBOURNE STRIKE. (Received July Bth, 9.45 0.m.) MELBOURNE, July 8. There is no alteration in the gas strike position. The men are awaiting tho reply of the Premier, the Hon. H. W. Lawson, to their request for a round-the-tablo conference. STRIKES IN GERMANY. (Received July Bth, 11.50 n.m.; BERLIN, July 7. The anthracite miners in Dessau havo struck, and the strike of smelters and metal workers at Saarbrucken has become general. Both strikes are for increased wages for the miners. The railwavmen have decided to support the strikers. The Government is therefore likely to intervene.