LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 19 October 1907, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

« < RAILWAY WORKING CONDITIONS AND .....ACCIDENTS. SERIOUS CHARGES BY MR. BELL. SHIPPING STRIKES. DT TELEGIUriI—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTMGHT. (Rco. Oct. 18, 10.18 p.m.) London, October 18. Mr. Richard 8011, M.P., and Secretary of tlio Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, accuses the directors of the railway, companies of intimidating, and even removing, inspectors and drivers who are members of the Society'.. London, October 17. Mr. Richard Bell, .speaking at Harrow Road, said,the railway directors had written a letter warning one driver that he must make up time like the others or be dismissed. ' Evidence given at the , inquiry regarding the Shrewsbury accident shows that it was possibly due to the failure of the brakepower. ' LAYING-UP DEEMED BETTER THAN STRIKE-BREAKING. ".,■ " London, October 17, Tho majority of tlio hirjping Federation delegates, who are meeting in conference to consider moans of'resisting : tho. demands of labour, favour the formation of an international striko fund for laying up all vessels in a port instead of importing •strike breakers, as was done in tho case of tho Hamburg and Antwerp strikes, .1 - Sydney, October 18. An increase in the hewing rate has been conceded the Western manors, and a striko has boon averted. With regard to Mr. Bell's statement, it may bo.pointed out that, according to cablegrams, evidence. was given. at the in-' quest that' tho train' was, running at sixty miles. an hour against danger signals, and ma'do up three minutes between Crowe and Shrewsbury, a distance of 30 miles. The hours and working conditions on railways, and whether they conduce to tho •' safety of the;travelling public, have several times been subject of debate in the House of Commons. The President of tho Board of Trade, the Hon. D. Lloyd-George, has stated that tho Board is determined 'to find out why'"experienced drivers rush madly,to ruin at high speed." With regard to the.Continental dock strikes, tho importation iof, English "strike-breakers"' led to severe' rioting and bloodshed both in Hamburg and in Antwerp, and in' the latter placo a disastrous fire followed on, tho disorders. ,