INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 69, 6 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

THE BADGE STRIKE. [PRESB ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. ] Sydney, March 5. The trouble over the loading of wheat ships is not settled. Acting under union instructions the wharf labourers stopped all loading of cargo for Brisbane. A meeting of the union is now being held to consider the situation. Further developments are expected. NEEDLESS FOR STRIKE TO CONTINUE. (Received 6, 8.40 a.m.) Brisbane, March 6. Addressing a meeting Mr. Coyne declared the strike committee only wanted an assurance that the men might return to work without victimisation and there was no need for the strike to continue a day longer. OFFICIALLY DECLARED OFF. (Received 6, 1.20 p.m.) Brisbane, March 6. The strike is officially declared off. FEAR OF VICTIMISATION. (Received 6, 10.20 a.m.) Sydney, March 6. In the Arbitration Court in the case of the Tramway Association against various companies, Mr. Warton, the general secretary of the As sociation, declared the men of Brisbane and Melbourne were afraid to identify themselves with the association for fear of victimisation. AUCKLAND LABOURERS. Auckland, March 5. The Geaeral Labourers’ Union went about its work as usual to-day, and its officials marked time again. As far as the deadlock with the City Council and its employers is concerned, the president of the Federation of Labour, after long vain efforts to meet the Mayor in an official conference, was received in his private capacity to-day, but the meeting left things much as they were. The members of the union seem quite of the opinion that a strike is certain before long. The union will meet to-morrow night, when some decision may be arrived at. A FOOD GRIEVANCE. Dunedin, March 5. The Tarawera was timed to leave Dunedin for Northern ports at 3 p.m. to-day, but she did not get away till 5 p.m. The delay was due to the firemen and seamen giving 24 hours’ notice to discontinue work on the steamer and the difficulty in getting men to fill their places. It appears that while the steamer was coming down the coast the crew found Jfault with the quality of th ? meat supplied to them, for which they blamed the ship’s cook and butcher. It is not denied that the men had cause for complaint regarding the qualit yof the meat. On one occasion Captain McLean had that meat replaced by perfectly fresh food and promised that the men should not have further 1 reason to complain. The firemen and sailors, however, demanded that the cook and butcher, or at any rate the latter, be taken off the steamer, and while the position stood thus, unemployed sailors and firemen in port would not sign on the vessel. A conference was held between the men and the representatives of the Union Company to-day, when the former reiterated their demand. The difficulty was solved by the butcher resigning and the other men signified their willingness to join the steamer. Only two firetoen and one trimmer out of the original crew were left on the vessel when she sailed.

UNREST AT WESTPORT. Westport. March 5. The town hall was packed to-night when a public meeting, the Mayor (Mr. Greenwood) presiding was held to decide what action should be taken in connection with the grievances of the men in the local workshops. Trouble has been simmering for some time, and the men allege that all efforts to get the grievances, remedied have failed. Several speakers detailed their grievances, which appeared to be levelled against one man, whom they alleg cd was subjecting them- to continual pinpricks. A motion was finally carried requesting the Minister of Railways to grant a public enquiry. A meeting of representatives of the coalmine owners and the deputies at Westport to-day proved abortive, the former stating that the demands of the deputies could not be entertained. The miners’ delegates meet the mineowners’ representatives to-morrow. GREY WATERSIFIE WORKERS. Greymouth, March 5. At a meeting of the Grey waterside workers held to-night a ballot was taken as to whether they should join the Federation of Labour. The result was: 99 for, 36 against; against Arbitration Court 93, for 12. LABOUR ORGANISER IN NAPIER. It Abbott’s Hall, Napier, last night Mr. D. McLaren, cx-M.P. and Labour organiser, delivered an address on ‘ The Labour Movement, its Purpose and Methods,” to an audience of about 60. Mr. C. McKenzie presided. Air. McLaren dealt with the development of trades unionism from its inception to the present day, and urged workers further to uplift the masses so as to obtain for them higher, brighter and fuller lives. He described the various measures adopted in the Dominion and in England for the betterment of the workers, and said that the Labour movement was not only the greatest movement on earth, but the only movement tending towards the ultimate happiness and properity of the great majority of all communities. At the close of his address Mr McLaren answerer! a number of questions, and was accorded a hearts' vote of thanks.