LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 135, 2 March 1908, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

ENGINEER'S STRIKE. A BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. BY TELEGRAPH—PEE6S ASSOCIATION—COPTMGHT. London, February 28. The engineers on the north-east coast have begun a'ballot on these'proposals: — (1) Whether they will resumo work, on tho basis of 'no change ;!(2) if thbre is to'.beany change before Easter, and in that.caso for or against' a reduction of a shilling a week; (3) tHat tho matter bo submitted to a referee. EMPLOYMENT OF CHINESE. A VIGOROUS PROTEST. . Loncion, February 28: The r , eng'agemont of thirty-eight Chineso firemen and seamen. for., a steamship, in ,tho ; West India Dock lod to. a 1 moeting under' the,-auspices of.tho National .Seamen's, and' Eire.men's; Union., vigorously ; protosting, .and urging tho Government to provent the.wholes sale importation .of Chinese for, British ships at reduced wages.. . . ■ > '' , STRIKE OF COAL MINERS. L, . . Sydney, February. 29. There is a strike of Cardiff. coal miners, owing, to'the ..refusal of the, owners to pay an. increase, in, wagos' in; accordance with, tho' agreement, of. last /year; , One hundred and' twenty men aro idlo. EVIDENCE -IN [CAMERA.''- , , ! , ,(Rec. .March..].,: 5.17- p.m.) ' Sydney, February 29. ■ 'TLo NtjWcuawu .ilinors' Commit. Leo of Man-, agement, after two' days'' consideration of the question of the submission 'of evidence in camera ait the special Coal Court,' resolved that the Federation .could not accept evidence given .in' camera.. All ; must be'given in open Court. Resolutions will .bo submitted, at. special meetings of: Miners! : Lodges on Monday, along with .a' suggestion' that' if either .party refused, to. give . oVidence- because, if. published,it would /bo prejudicial to their financial'• position, .tho Court should oxamine such evidence and decide whether the \groiinds of -objection' are sustainable. The situation is now strained, as the President of the Court has definitely ruled that he will.,accept camera, evidence in reference to the financial position of the' colliery companies. /