LABOUR MATTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 216, 30 August 1911, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS

I’J ’ i 1-n CONCILIATION BOARDS. W! i 11 THEY FAIL. ■ S V-SO( • "lON— COPYRIGHT.] London, Aug. 29. Mr AVilliams complained of the lack of uniformity in the prcce luri of the conciliation boards. Ihe delay in establishing machinery for the arbitrations had cost the Railwaymen’s Society £39,000. The hitch in the scheme lay in the companies claiming the sole right to interpret awards, declaring that the men had nothing to do with it. That was one of the causes of the strike. Another was the limitation of the present machinery to hours and wages, which was only a small portion of the grievances which had brought about the strike. There had been great delay in reaching awards, in some instances 15 to IS months elapsing between the initiation an > e settlement. He suggested a be. vd for each company instead of sc • tional boards, which were costly, to prepare evidence. The failure 'of the settlement of dispute was largely due to the want of freedom in urging the men’s claims where the secretary was in the employment of the company. A national board was required, equally representing the companies and the men, with an independent chairman, to settle disputes when individual boards fail. Recognition of the unions was the kernel of the situation. WAGES AND HOURS. London, Aug. 29. The report of the Labour Department for 1910 shows that wages have increased £14,500 weekly as compared with decreases for the two preceding years, while there has been a general decrease in the working hours. In general the wages level is the highest since 1893. Seventy per cent of the wage charges were effected by the conciliation boards and private arbitration. MILITARY WITHDRAWN FROM LIVERPOOL. London, Aug. 29. The military have been withdrawn from. Liverpool. AVork is now normal. A MINERS’ MANIFESTO. London, Aug. 29. A section of the South Wales’ miners lias issued a manifesto urging that the present- is an opportune time to make a bold stroke for a minimum wage. G.E.R. DRIVERS DISRATED. (Received 30, 11.15 a.m.) The Great Eastern Company’s drivers threaten to strike unless reinstated in their old positions. The express drivers since the strike have been transferred to the goods trains. DISTURBANCE AT LITHGOAV. Sydney, Aug. 29. A procession 1000 strong accompanied by a band, marched through Lithgow as a demonstration against non-unionists.

There is great excitement at Lithgow. Soon after dark a horde of unionists raided a blast furnace. All the available police were called out to attempt to guard non-unionists. A fight ensued, and a police-sergeant was wounded on the head with a brick.

The crowd appears to be in possession.

The outbreak is the most serious that has ever occurred in the district. THE RIOT UNPREMEDITATED. DRUNKEN MEN INCITE THE CROWD. (Received 30, 9.5 a.m.) Sydney, Aug. 30. A special train with police reinforcements was sent to Lithgow last night and other police were drafted from the, adjoining towns. The disturbance was apparently unpremeditated. A crowd of strikers and sympathisers accompanied by a band, gathered to see the. usual change of shifts. Non-unionists came to watch the crowd and hear the band and a number of youths started stoning them.

The crowd made a rush and swept awaj’ a small force of the police, who, with the non-unionists retreated to the engine-house and barred the doors.

All the windows were broken. Policemen attempting to quieten the rioters were struck with missiles and three rather seriously injured ; others received minor wounds. Aleanwhile the crowd went through the free labourers quarters and destroyed a quantity of food and furniture, and set fire to the bunks. which were afterwards thrown into the dam.

Mr. Hoskins approached with two motor cars. One was damaged but the chaffeur managed to get away and the other was set fire to and destroyed. The blast-furnace was also shut off. Whether it can be restarted depends upon whether the police reinforcements will arrive in time to release the imprisoned non-unionists who till a late hour, along with Mr. Honkins, his sons and some of the staff arc still locked in the engineroom.

Air. Hoskins attributes the outbreak to drunken men exciting the crowds. Later.

Police reinforcements have arrived and released Air. Hoskins and the non-unionists. There were no hostile demonstration.

Arrangements have been made to restart the blast furnace.