INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 25, 12 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

THREATENED COAL STRIKE

FIXED WAGES IMPOSSIBLE

[press association—copyright.]

London, Jan. 11

The Northumberland coal miners, in a manifesto, declared that a fixed minimum wage, irrespective of the work performed. is impracticable, and they are unable to concede it, believing that payment proportionately to the work done is reasonable.

Dlr. Enock Edwards is hopeful of a solution of the agreement. He denies the existence of an agreement for a simultaneous strike in Germany. BALLOT RESULTS. OVERWHELMING MAJORITY FOR NATIONAL STRIKE. (Received 12, 9.40 a.m.) London, Jan. 11. All the ballots of the Miners’ Federation gave an overwhelming majority for a national strike. A DENIAL FROM WESTPHALIA.

Berlin, Jan. 11. Westphalia denies the statement that German miners are arranging for a sympathetic strike. AN UNSUCCESSFUL PROTEST. ' Paris, Jan. 11. The Syndicates’ Union declared an unsuccessful four hours’ strike as a protest against the trial of three members for inciting soldiers to desert. Those participating .in the demonstrations dispersed after a conflict with the police. There were several arrests. Six police were seriously injured. HOUNDED OUT. London, Jan. 11. Miss Bury, a non-unionist weaver, was hounded out of Great Harrow, and her effigy burned. The strike at Great Harrow was due to her employment. BRADFORD WOOL COMBERS. London. Jan. il. The wool combers have decided to resume work on the masters’ terms. FUNDS FOR COTTON STRIKERS (Received 12. 11.20 a.m.) London. Jan. 11. The General Federation of Trades Unions has doubled the levies of affiliated unions m order to support the cotton operatives. The accumulated funds amount to £66.730, as compared with £162,000 in 1909. A payment of half-a-crown to weavers is absorbing £17,500 weekly. STEAMSHIP OWNERS “PASS IT ON.” Sydney, Jan. 11. The coastal steamship owners announce that owing to the excessive demands made by the labour unions they have decided on increases of fares and freights. In the event of the men’s further demand being granted additional increases will be necessary.

WHARF LABOURERS’ STRIKE

(Received 12, 9.40 a.m.) Sydney, Jan. 12. The wharf labourers on two of the Adelaide Company’s boats have struck because a constant hand was sent below to work cargo. COOKS’ AND STEWARDS’ DISPUTE. [PER press association.] Wellington, Jan. 12. An agreement on practically all points has been reached in the cooks’ and stewards’ dispute, before the Conciliation Council. The minimum wages shall be chief stewards £lO per month, chief cooks £ 10, cookstewaid with assistant £lO, cooksteward without assistant £ll/10/-.

assistants £4/10 -. Overtime rates typer hour.

RUMOURS OF MEAT STRIKE PENDING. Persistent rumours are being circulated in Wellington to the effect that a strike is imminent at the meat works both at Petone and Ngaliauranga. Whether these rumours are or are not founded on fact it is difficult to discover, but a “Post” reporter was assured on Friday that there was some discontent at the works, and that the contract system in force was responsible for this . The week before last the offal hands struck as a pretest against the system, and at Petone at least the company conceded the demands and abolished the contractor.'’. The success which has attended the efforts of the men employed has, it is stated, encouraged others similarly employed under contractors to make similar demands. Among the departments working under this system is the freezing department, where slight trouble occurred at Ngaliauranga last season. It is further stated that for a considerable time now the men have shown a dislike to the contract system.