INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 143, 3 June 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS.

TAILORS’ STRIKE CONTINUES

[PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.]

‘(Received 3, 10.11 a.m.)

London, June 2.

The tailors’ strike in the West End continues. The losses of the master tailors in Savill Row amount to £50,000. The men’s losses in wages in the West End are stated at £25,000. "Eight thousand tailors are still idle.

FREE FIGHT IN BERMONDSEY.

POLICE INSPECTOR STABBED.

(Received 3, 11 a.m.) London, June 2.

Officials at the doek heads at Bermondsey during the night remonstrated with disorderly strikers, who knocked a policeman insensible. A free fight ensued between the police and 500 strikers.

Inspector Mann was stabbed in the arm.

A dozen arrests were made

“RED FED.” CONFERENCE.

FEDERATION CANDIDATES.

Wellington, June 2.

Mr. P. C. Webb presided at yesterday's sitting of the Federation of Labour Conference.

The following proposal, moved by Mr. P. H. Hickey the previous day, was discussed: —“That, for the purpose of contesting elections, the branches- of the Federation in the area involved may set up an election committee prepared to conform with the objective of the Federation and proceed to elect a candidate and run the same; the Federation to be in no way responsible for the financial expenses incurred.” This was carried by 76 votes .to 68. Mr. P. Fraser then moved a further amendment : “That the candidate be a socialist,” but this was defeated by 85 votes to 30. Mr. R. Semple moved to have the following words added to the motionA candidate must be a financial member of the Federation and a wage earner.” Mr. P. H. Hickey seconded the motion, which was carried by 100 votes to 13. The motion in its entirety was then adopted.

DRIVERS’ AWARD.

Wellington, June 2.

In connection with the drivers’ trouble Mr. H. Hunter, secretary of the Drivers’ Federation, has despatched the following telegram to the Clerk of Awards at Auckland, where Mr. Justice Sim, President of the Arbitration Oourt, is at present: —“Drivers’ Federation conference with employers as to Dominion award proved abortive. Position very acute. Sitting of court to decide drivers’ dispute urgently necessary. Can you arrange same within week from date ?”

Wellington, June 3.

A mass meeting in the Opera House last night, under the auspices of the Federation of Labour, unanimously carried a resolution protesting against the injustice inflicted on drivers by the Arbitration Court awards in various centres, which compel their workers to work a large number of hours per week in attendance upon horses without payment, and expressing the opinion that if drivers fail to get their grievances removed in a constitutional manner, the Drivers’ Federation will be warranted in taking such further action as may be deemed necessary.

THE POSITION GRAVE

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF THE UNION.

Wellington, June 3.

In connection with the drivers’ dispute, the executive is still waiting for a reply from Auckland. ' The Court will take the dispute in any case. A ballot will be taken this week as to whether the Drivers’ Federation shall join the Federation of Labour, the United Labour Party, or still remain an independent body. Mr. Hunter, secretary, said the drivers recognise the importance of the industry as an integral part of the transport machinery, and are reluctant to cause inconvenience to other workers. At the same time, if the Court did not give a hearing of the dispute, the men would certainly not wait for nine months, when the dispute could next be heard. . He intimated that the position at the moment was grave, bnt all constitutional methods would be resorted to before taking any drastic action.

TROUBLE IN OAMARU.

Oamaru, June 1

The local wharf labourers took exception to the action of the Union S.S. Company in bringing a gang of men from Dunedin to cope with the busy shipping season and refused to work. The men are still idle and assert that they will' not return to work until the men are taken away. It is. understood that the Dunedin men will return home to-night.