LABOUR UNREST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 7

LABOUR UNREST.

CRISIS REACHED AT THE COTTON MILLS.

OPERATIVES LOCKED-OUT. By Toleeraph—Press Aaeooiatlon— Copyright London, October 10. The Miners' Conference decision to co-operate with othor unions is interpreted in Bomo quarters as a reply to the employers' proposed fifty million) pound funcl. Littlo is now being heard of the latter. (Rec. October 12, 5.5 p.m.) Now York, October 11. Labour circles regard tho Miners' .Federation resolution as of great significance. Williams, secretary of the 'National Transport Federation,_ states that tho action was necessary in view of the "Fifty million threat." For years tho employers had been combining on an avowed class basis. There was no binding influence among organised workers beyond tho Trado Union Congross. Labour opinions in it dbzon provincial towns wero conflicting. Some centres wero of opinion that the link between the trades is so indefinite that it is yet too early to attempt a change.

It was announced last week that a United Kingdom Employers' Defence Union had been formed to sccuro tho inviolability of oontracte against the aggressive tactics of trade unions, and that the combination intended to raise an employers' guarantee fund of .£50,000,000. Nono of the heads of tho great industrial undertakings—railways, collieries, and shipbuilders—wero reported to be among the promoters of tho scheme. FIVE-DAY WEEK NEGATIVED. London, October 10. The Miners' Conference, by 335,000 votes to 291,000. has negatived a motion for a five days' week in all coalfields. Tho mover declared that statistics showed that thoro was only four and a half day's employment for all. Tho conference recommended that stops should bo taken to create a now standard of wages in connection with various' Cenciliationi Boards; also a minimum wago of 7s. a day for miners employed at tho face or in, ripping. LOCKED-OUT. COTTON-SPINNERS 'AT BOLTON. 1 London, October 10. The Master Cotton-spinners' Federation has confirmed the lock-out. The decision of tho Cotton-spinners' Federation affects two thousand firms, with a capital of fifty million pounds, employing one hundred thousand operatives. Sir Charles Macara, the president of tho Federation, lias stated that the crisis is tho gravest for twenty years. As the operatives' leaders aro unable to control the men, a drastic step is, ho (holds, necessary to enforce discipline.