LABOUR CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 7

LABOUR CRISIS.

WILL THERE BE A RAILWAYS STBIKE?

: MR. FOX SAYS "NO." MB.'-BELL APPEALS TO THE MEN. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COriBIGHT. London, October 14. "The ioply oftho railway compauics associations has been' received by Mr. Richard 8011, secretary of tho Amalgamated Society 'of Railway Engineers. It confirms ttie refusal to confor with delegates of tho men's' associations to discuss tho demand of tho Socioty for recognition. ' Advices from Glasgow stato that tho Scotch railways have resolved, in tho event of a strikb, to forthwith accept all employees' notices, and to intimato that- all tho places of the 12,000 members of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants can bo easily filled. .'■ ■■-■■■■ '■ THE ivORKERS , OTHEft VOICE. . (Rec. Oct. 15, 9.20 p.m.) - . ' - r London, October, 15. Mr. \"ox', gonoral Secretary of the Associated Sooioty of Locomotivo Enginoors and Firomen, addressing a largo mooting of railway men at Cambridge, denounced tho tactics of Mr. Bell in indulging in unnecessary menace "sad mud-slinging. ', Mr. Fox' predicted that .Mr. Bell's agitation would bo a hopeless failure. Tho ongineraen did not want an ox-railway guard to represent thorn. "•' When negotiating about ongmemori they wanted an ongineman. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, Labour M.P. for Leicester, says that if tho Conciliation Act and tho othor- powers' possessed by tho Board of Trade are insufficient to prevent a strike, then the" Government ought to summon Parliament in order to strengthen the hands, of the Board of Trade, and to enable the' Board to act effectively.

Mr. Bell, in an interview, dcclarod that tho olive branch had been' hold out often enough. "We are now,", ho said, "asking the men to strike. Th'o matter is in their hands." .-..■■ .....

:. ■ NEW SOUTH. WALES MINERS. ■'■. A STRIKE THREATENED. '.''■ " . Sydney, October. 16. Miners of the western district have notified that they will ceaso work on Saturday next unless thoir demand for increased rates is conceded.:. . " ' ~ . .- THE MAN OF THE HOOR. ■V ■■/ -JffE HOLDS HIS HANDi\ DUCAL ANATHEMA; -;, (Ree. Oct. 16, 0.7 a.m.) ; ', '. London, October 115. AThe "Daily Chronicle" says that, in the ovent of a .strike,'the to Mr. Lloyd-George (President or tfie Bdarcl of Trade), even if it is necessary to ask Parliament /or fresh' legislation. ■ Mr. Lloyd-Georgo states that it would bo madness for him to say anything at the present juncture. " Tho situation," he adds, "is exceedingly delicato." The Duke .of Rutland, replying to a remonstrance by the secrotary of the Southport Fabian; Society relative to his recently reported Rirkdalo speech, in which he described Socialism as. , 'the vilest of political creeds," reiterated hisj- absolute detestation of Socialism as ; " the, most poisonous doctrine ever put forward.", ,'',-': . .Mr,-' Fox declared last month that the. Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen would not join in any railway strike. The socioty has-a membership'of 18,000, of whom the majority ' are engine-drivers, and these, Ulr. Fox-says, will not co-operate with the Amalgamated. Society of Eailway Servants in carrying out their threat to strike.