WORK AND WAGES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9650, 16 February 1892, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

THE COAL INDUSTRY. [Special to Press Association.] LONDON, Fee. 14: There is further friction among the coal-miners, owing to the employers refusing to reinstate Unionists, and a resumption of the strike is threatened. Messrs Cameron and Company’s employees have not resumed work. The Press blames the merchants for the strike, as the interests involved are email. Volunteer coalers are employed in storing coke. A partial stoppage of coal supplies is expected to -be the result of the strike, but the Staffordshire owners are supplying the deficiency at present. The enginemen employed in the Welsh collieries are striking, in consequence of the reduction of wages. [Received Feb. 16, at 1.10 a.m.] Feb, 15. The coal-miners refuse to resume work, and accuse their leaders of deception regarding the concessions granted by the masters, LABOUR ELECTORAL LEAGUE, A conference of representatives of various branches of the Labour Electoral League of New South Wales has been held recently. Among the resolutions carried were one in favour of the abolition of the Legislative Council, and the adoption of the principle of referendum in its place, and one “That the Conference is of opinion that the only settlement of the fiscal question should bo by means of a plebiscite, and that, while it is the duty of the Labour Party to support Governments, it is also its duty to oppose all party measures until such time as a good proportion of the Labour platform is carried into law.” Motions of a socialistic nature were carried, but a proposal that it was desirable the Government should be the sole employer of labour was lost by a large majority. Rules were adopted for the government of the League. It was decided to permit the League to devote its funds to the purpose of endeavouring to secure seats on the Municipal Council aa well as seats in Parliament. The rules adopted regarding candidates for seats in Parliament provide that candidates shall give a written pledge that they will vote on all questions aa the majority of the Parliamentary Labour party in caucus may decide, or resign their seats; that all candidates shall give a written pledge to resign their seats if elected on being called upon to do so by two-thirds of the financial members of the League which supported them; and that all candidates elected shall form a distinct party, and shall not merge into any other party.

SYDNEY CO-OPERATIVE LAUNDRY. The manageress of the Co-operative Laundry, Sydney, which was established a short time since, says, under date Jan. 2:— “I avail myself of the opportunity to say that the direct result of the Pyrmont strike has been the putting into practical example of the pure co-operative principle with unqualified success. It will be remembered that, although we were defeated at the time, our defeat was in no way due to lack of determination, perseverance or solidarity on our part; for it must,injustice, be said that the women when on strike displayed all and each of these virtues to the fullest degree, although they were but neophytes in trade unionism. When the strike terminated, therefore—through the unjust and contemptible action of the employer, who refused to accept the award of the Board of Arbitration, given in our favour—l considered that the girls who had fought so bravely for their Union principles would bo fully capable of demonstrating to their employer and the workers of Australia that it is quite possible, in wealth producing, to do away with the employer and middleman altogether. Subsequent events have justified ray surmise, and, despite all obstacles and all capitalistic and slanderous reports to the contrary notwithstanding, the Co-operative Laundry has proved itself a complete success. Our motto is: f Each for all, and all for each and no one, not even the manageress, is entitled to receive one penny more than the other from the profits which, accrue.”