WORK AND WAGES.

Evening Star, Issue 15065, 23 December 1912, Page 6

WORK AND WAGES.

THE THAMES IRONWORKS

Press- Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, December 22. (Received December 23, at 8.5 a~m.) At the instance of the creditors, the Thames ironworks have been closed, with a view to selling them at the'earliest opportunity. One thousand employees have been thrown out of work. OVERTIME AT THE MINT. LONDON, December 22. (Received December 23, at 10.5 a.m.) Owing to a shortage of gold the Mint is working overtime, and many extra hands are employed. STRIKE AGAINST REGULATIONS. BERLIN, December 22. (Received December 23, at 8.5 a..m.) Three thousand men have struck in the Germania yard against the stringent regulations dealing with disorderly workmen. BRISBANE TRAMWAYS. MR JUSTICE HIGGINS AND MR BADGER. MELBOURNE, December 23. (Received December 23, at 8.5 a.m.) In _ the Arbitration Court Mr Justice Higgins, in the course of a lengthy statement dealing with the Tramway Employees' Association against the Brisbane and Adelaide Tramway Companies, said that the Brisbane company had refused even to consider an agreement. They objected to everything. The manager adhered to the time-honored policy of absolute control over their own employees. The existing agreement left the amount of wages payable absolutely in the manager's discretion. He regretted that he would have to make an order in regard to the Brisbane company's men, which he had always previously refused to make, and that was preference to unionists. The history of the case was painful, even ghastly, in the eyes of those who fancied there was liberty of association in Australia, No doubt nearly all the men who attempted to resign from the Brisbane association did so under the intimidation of a man who could give or withhold their means of living. Mr Badger knew that if the employees resented the conditions of labor they feared unemployment. In his capacity of benevolent despot li« made ruthless use of his knowledge in playing off the natural desire of men to support their wives and children against their efforts to unite for an improvement of their condition. He had no desire to restrict Mr Badger in the choice of his employees, but the law left him no other means of protecting members from Mr Badger's intimidation. (Received December 25, at 9.10 a.m.)

Mr Justice Higgins varied the Adelaide Tramway Company's agreement slightly in favor of the men. The Brisbane and Adelaide awards operate as from Januarv 1 next. AN OLD DISPUTE SETTLED. SYDNEY, December 23. (Received December 23, at 9.10 a.m.) _The long-standing dispute between the Newcastle Shipping Companv and the Wharf Laborers' Union is-settled. The company have reverted to the custom of the engagement of casual hands.