LABOUR MATTERS

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16946, 22 September 1920, Page 7

LABOUR MATTERS

BRITISH MINERS* STRIKE THREAT.

AN ANXIOUS SITUATION. (By -Cable—Press Association—Copyright*) (Rpuior's Telegrams.) LONDON, September 20. The enal situation showed no change j during the week-end, but tho next few I days will be charged with most fateful consequences for the country, whoso economic life is threatened by a shattering blow, involving inevitable <|krstitution and misery lor millions. 7 In some quarters hopefulness is expressed, based on tho reported readiness of tho Government to provide a "rush" court of enquiry to investigate and report in a few days upon the claim for an advance in -wages. It is declared in these quarters that Sunday's meetings in the mining districts indicated that the men are not anxious to strike, and it is admitted that tho public generally is against the miners. On the other hand, the meetings showed that the men will supjiort tho leaders. Tho resumption to-day of tho conference between Sir Robert Homo, Minister of Labour, and tho minors' leaders is regarded as most critical, and as the key to the situation.- Tomorrow, there will meet in London a national conference of miners' leaders to decide on the question of a strike at the end of the week, while, on "Wednesday, the railwaymen and transport workers' representatives will meet to j determine their attitude in the event. of a strike.

A dangerous factor, as regards tho railwnymcn, is the widesproa-d belief thnt their union funds will l>e as hard hit by a miners's strike, owing to the unemployment doles, as if tho railwaymen struck themselves and the fund carried strike pay. Consequently, this is encouraging the leaders to say: "Let us strilio to get it over quickly and win

Meanwhile, it is authoritatively declared. the Government will not depart from its present policy, namely, that arbitration and an enquiry must precedo any grant of increased wages, although slight modifications in detail aro po'ssible. After Sir Robert Home had un availingly appealed to th«, miners' representatives at tlio conference to accept an impartial tribunal with reference to wages, the Minors' Executive met privately, and dispersed without ngain meeting the Minister, who was waiting. It is assumed that tho whole mntter will be placed before a National Conference of miners' delegates meeting in London to-morrow, when the executive will put upon the delegates the responsibility of deciding upon future action. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received September 21st, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Septembor 20. It is expected that tho conciliatory tone of the week-end meetings will strengthen the Lands of those working for poaco in tho coal crisis. It is known that a number of the men's leaders are in favour of the Government's final offer being submitted to a further ballot of the men. Sixty thousand Rhondda Valley miners protested against the . National Executive dropping tho demand for_ a reduction of 14s 2d per ton m tho price of coal, and instructed their delegates not to in any conferences pending a meeting of the South Wales miners to decide what course is to bo adopted. The railwaymen will rescind their resolution, pledging, their support to the miners, owing to the abandonment of tho demand for a reduction in the price of coal. Mr W. Brace, M.P. (Labour-Glamorgan), president of the South Wales_ Miners' Federation, has written that it is impossible to go forward with tho full dual demand in view of the great fall in the output of coal for the June quarter. Mr Brace asks the miners to give tho Executive fair play.

ITALIAN WORKERS' VICTORY.

JOINT CONTROL OP FACTORIES. ROME, September 19. Tho lied peril in Italy lias been averted, and an agreement, which, is a signal victory for tho workers, has been reached, owing to Signor Giolitti's insistence upon tho men's claims. The agreement provides for from GO to 80 per cent, increaso in wages for metallurgical workers, joint control of the factories between the workers and tho employers, and evacuation of tho factories. Signor Giolitti has issued a decree declaring that tho manufacturers have agreed to dual control on the ground that tho workers' affirmed object is t<> improve the disciplinary relations between the workers and the employers, and to increase tho output. Consequently ft joint committee is bang established, composed of sis manufacturers and six workers, who will draw up proposals tvihich. will bo submitted to Parliament as a Bill to reorganise tho industries on the basis of Labour's participation in the teclmical, financial, and administrative control of industry.

In tho event of subsequent friction in any establishment, the agreement provides for the appointment of a committee of two masters and two men to decido what steps aro necessary. (Received September 21st, 7.45 p.m.) "ROME, September 20. The Premier, Signor Giolitti, presided at a conference between the jttasters and the men in tho metal industry, and urged a conciliatory discussion of Uho problems affecting the industry. The masters and tho men conferred separately. The masters later informed Signor Giolitti that they were unable to accept a system of joint control, but were willing to submit if it were imposed. Signor Giolitti said lie was prepared to accept the responsibility. He then issued a decree appointing a joint committee of tho masters and men to draft a Bill to reorganise tho metal industry on the basis of the men's participation in tho technical, financial, and admin-' istrative control of tho industry. The dectee points out that the workmen declare that such participation will result in an increased output and improved relations between masters and men.

POST-WAR PEOBLEMS. (neuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, September 19. The trade slump in Britain is causing economists, publicists, and leading employers to anxiously searcJh. for an industrial solution of post-war problems. On tho ono hand, there are thousands of unemployed throughout the country, with tho winter prospect of their number being trebled. .Simultaneously a number of industries, most notably coal-mining and house-building, whose persistent cry and imperative need i 9 lor increased" output, are threatened! witih stoppage. It i 3 pointed out that the manufacturer is handicapped by the ever-persistent menace of strikes, oxcess profits tax, labour unrest and tho trade union rules, and tho enormons cost of production has reached a position causing despair. One wartime Icgacy has been slow-timing, owing to the kindly treatment of munition workers, who "now demand hijjh wages for easy and slack work, while a typical case against trade unionism is furnished by Lord Weir, who announced that he could employ another two thousand men immediately, but' was prevented by the workmen's rules. These not only hamper the employer, but are embittering exservice men, -who returned from the

battlefield to sco tjic works crowdcd ; r with tihosc exempted from service. The ex-service men, 111 many cases, aro actu- ; allv prevented by trade unions trom! ]earning a trade. This is at the root of the trouble of housing shortages. Ono solution advocated is to makes wages depend upon pmvers of produc- fj i tion, and not upon power of striking. Jj. Tho Government- must organise a gene- j ? ral reconstruction and stabilisation ot j,| < wages on an output basis, which will '| j ultimately mean more money for all, j| ; giving manufacturers a firm basis upon ' ■which to develop.' Tho danger of tho : i i country becoming overpaid, and eon so-' j| •, qiiently underproducing, must bo avoid- [j \ ed at all costs.

THE COTJNCIE OF ACTION.

(Received September 21st, 5.5 p.m.) ;; LONDON, September 20. The "Morning Post" publishes secret p documents showing the plans of the '-i Council of Action for a general strike i] io prevent war ■with Russia. The doeu- h ments reveal tho establishment. of loe.nl Councils of Action throughout, the conn- %; try, which -vrero instructed to prepare plans for commandeering various means of transport to ensure the distribution -" of food to tho strikers through the local , i co-oporativo societies; also t'ho fonnation of a cyclo corps to keep the various pentros in touch with one another. !- and the creation of a measure of dis- ,; semination of information among tho strikers if tho newspapers were compolled to coaso publication owing to the i strike. •' Tho "Morning Post" fears that the .J Council of Action will use this elaborate machinery on somo future occasion for | revolutionary objccts without consult- >! ing the workers. ;j SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE. || (Received September 21st, 5.5 p.m.) LCfNDON, September 20. ft The Sailors' and Firemen's Union at i*i Liverpool nro holdinc up the Rider <jj Dempster steamer Monarch, which is >' reported to lw> going to Bremen to bo R repaired, owing to the Liverpool ship- fi "Tights' strike. Tlio Germans offered to do the work cheaper than it could Ik 1 y dono in England. Many vessels have been sent to Germany for repairs since , tho strike commenced a month ago. ' I BEOKEN HILL LOSS. ! 1 — I' MELBOURNE, .September 21. . Tho chairman of tho Broken Hill ; South Company, speaking at tho an- \ liual meeting, said that seventeen ,■ months of idleness duo to tho strike f lhad meant £12,000,000 lost to' tho in- 11,I 1 , dustry. The outlook for an early re- i sumption of work was hopeful, as soon as Mr Justice Edmunds's finding was !;} announced. V