AUSTRALIA'S TROUBLES.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 592, 24 March 1908, Page 4

AUSTRALIA'S TROUBLES.

WHARF LABOUR. POSITION CRITICAL, BUT NOT I HOPELESS. DEMANDS OF EMPLOYERS. STRIKE OF^PAINTERS. (BY ELECTRIC TEIjEGUAPH — COPYRIGHT ] [PER PREBB ASSOCIATION.] Sydney, March 23. The conference between the coastal steamship com2>anies and the Wharf Labourers' Union was resumed this afternoon. The representatives of the shipping companies presented the final terms under which they are prepared to settle the strike. These were subsequently considered and refused by the representatives of the men. The conference was then adjourned until to-morrow. Mr Hughes (Labour Leader) states that the position is critical, but not hopeless. The Employers' Federation discussed the course of action merchants and traders should take in connection with the strike and resolved— r'<eThat the time has arrived to assert the right of the employer to utilise nonUnion labour, especially at a time when Unionists refuse to work at Arbitration Award wages." It was further decided to give full support to the coastal companies in maintaining this principle, and it also expressed admiration at the courage, patience and consideration of public interest exhibited by the representatives > of the coastal companies in connection with the present dispute. - The painters employed in many large city firms in Sydney struck for an increase of a penny an hour, and 300 men are thrown idle. A number of Government contracts are involved. ««__