LABOUR MATTERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17807, 5 July 1923, Page 9

LABOUR MATTERS.

CONDUCT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. MR RAMSAY MACDONALD'S WARNING. (Received July 4th, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. At the meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party a two hours' discussion took place on last "Wednesday's suspensions of members in the Houso of Commons.

Mr J. Ramsay Macdonald, leader of the Party, It> an emphatic speech, urged that sucli scenes did not affect the prestige of Parliament, which could look after itself, but they prejudiced the Labour Party in Parliament and in the country. Tho members of tho Party mu3t keep before themselves the ideal of Labour becoming responsible for tho Government of tho country. Mr Macdonald carefully avoided condemning the four suspended members, but he suggested that his authority as leader must bo uphold. The result of the meeting was that the constitutionalists were victorious over the "wild men" of tho Labour Party.

[During a debate in the Houso of Commons last week, four Labour members, Messrs J. Maxton, J. "Wheatloy and G. Buchanan, and the Rev. Campbell Stephen, were suspended for using objectionable language.]

TRANSPORT WORKERS' STRIKE.

LONDON DOCKS AFFECTED. (B* CABLE—PHE33 AS3OCUTIOJT—COPrarttHT.) (MJSTKALIAtf AKD KZ. CABLE ABSOCIATIOW.) LONDON, July 3. Tho wages strike of dock-workers has spread to the London docks, where men engaged in unloading New ' Zealand meat cargoes at the Victoria, and Albert Decks suddenly ceased work. [A previous message said: A sudden strike of transport workers began in several of. the leading ports to-day, as a protest against the reduction of one shilling a day in wages. The places at present concerned are: Hull (where 7000 men are idle), Cardiff, Bristol, and Grimsby. Serious losses are feared because of the numerous cargoes of fruit and other perishable produce, which are held up. The strike was not authorised by union leaders, but, at mass meetings, the men decided to continue it.]

NEW ZEALAND SHIPS HELD UP. SERIOUS SPREAD OF THE TROUBLE. (Received July 4th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 4th. It is expected that many more London dockers will refuse to Work today. The workers in London and provincial ports total over 20,000. Tho London trouble began with the stevedores refusing to continue unloading the Marina. The strike extended to the Kaikoura, tho Raranga,, the Port Nicliolson, the Hurunui and the Mabia, all from New Zealand ports, produce laden. The regular flow of imported meat and other foodstuffs to London and the provincial markets will be quickly interrupted if tho strike continues.

The cause of tho strike is that under tho national agreement wages were reduced by one shilling a day from last Monday owing to the full in the cost of living. The men, however, dispute the Board of Trade' figures and have struck in defiance of the union leaders, who strongly urge tlie men to honour the agreement made in their name.

The strike is seriously interfering with the discharge of foodstuffs at Hull, where merchants- and their clerks are assisting the crews of ship to discharge perishable cargoes. f Two thuusnnd men at Avonmnuth and Port's Head to-day joined the strikers. An aj.ipo-i'.l by tho secretory of tlu* union •to honour the agreement was rejected. The strike quickly spread at the London docks. There are now about'6ooo idic in London. So far Liverpool and Southampton are not affected.

FORTY-EIGHT-HOUR WEEK.

A LABOUR MEMBER'S BILL,

(Recsived July 4th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 3,

11l the House of Commons, Mr diaries Buxton (Labour, Aecrington) introduced n Bill to fix the maximum working week at forty-- ight hours. He said the measure would not affect any industry in which .1 shorter working week was already sceu-ed by agreement, but it would deal with the unorganised trades where scandalously long hours prevailed. DUBLIN SHIPPING DISPUTE. LOXPOX, July 3. In consequence of the refusal of the Irish Transport Workers' Union to, work with members of the National Union of Sailors and Firemen in its vessels, tho British arid Irish Steam Packet Company is removing its ships from Dublin to Liverpool. N.S.W. COAL DISPUTE. SERIOUS STRIKE THREATENED. (Received July 4t!i, 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 4. The Coal Conference resumed its sittings to-day, but no details arc available. It is stated that the general opinion in union circles is that tho conference is foredoomed to fai'.uro, and that a serious strike is imminent, the Victorian miners having promised to strike in gympathy if such an extreme step is necessary.