OMINOUS SIGNS.

Mataura Ensign, 31 October 1911, Page 5

OMINOUS SIGNS.

BRITISH RAILWAY TROUBLE. MAY BE ANOTHER STRIKE. BY ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH.—COPTEIGHT. PEE UNITEP PRESS ASSOCIATION Received October 31, 8.35 a.m. LONDON, October 30. Mr J. Ramsay Macdonald (Labor leader), speaking at Chester said that unless the men's grievances were properly discussed the public must be propared to take consequences, namely, a paralysed railway service. PREVENT DISASTROUS STRIKE. Received October 31, 8.3-5 a.m. LONDON, October 30. Mr Thomas (organising secretary of the Western District) speaking at a meeting at Crewe (Cheshire, an important junction on the Loudon and! North-Western Railway) denied the statement that the men's representatives were pledged to accept the findings of the Railway Commission. His advice to the managers would be to discuss the report with the men's representatives, eliminate the bad and adopt tho good, thus presenting a disastrous strike. FINDING REPUDIATED. Received October 31, 8.35 a.m. LONDON, October 30. The Railwaymen at Leeds, Chester, Northampton, Burton-on-Trent, Cardiff, and Swansea are repudiating the Railway Commission's finding. A railwaymen's meeting at Swansea demanded tho resignation of Mr Williams (general secretary) as a member of the Industrial Council. "NO 24-HOURS JOB." Received October 31, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, October 30. Mr Bellamy, speaking at Glasgow, declared that the railwaymen's agitation was just beginning. It would be no 24hours job next time. He was going to fight for direct collective bargaining. AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING STRIKE. Received October 31, 10.10 a.m. SYDNEY, October 31. Business people express great dissatisfaction at the apparent inability of the Government to cope with the situation resulting in the strike and declare the the Arbitration Act is a dead letter. Mr Carmichael (Minister for Labor) is disappointed at the non-acceptance of his offer to do stevedoring. He states that he understood that the parties who waited on the Government were anxious to prevent loss to the producers and the country but he was apparently mistaken. THE BROKEN AGREEMENT.

Received October 31, 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 31. The Trades Hall Council discussed a letter from Mr Morris (secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation) requesting support in the endeavor to persuade the men to return to work. The writer stated that an agreement which was honorably entered into was broken without provocation or notice. Discussion on the matter was adjourned. CONDEMMED AT MELBOURNE. Received October 31, 10.10 a.m. MELBOURNE, October 31. The Melbourne wharf laborers condemn the action of the strikers. MOUNT LYELL STRIKE. Received October 31, 10.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 31. The Mount Lyell strike is still on. The company demands that the men shall return unconditionally, and if they do a conference will be granted. The men decline to return until the White question is disposed of satisfactorily. " INDUSTRIAL TERRORISM." Received October 31, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 30. The Congress of the National Free Labor Association, representing 800,000 workmen, has opened in London. It was resolved: "That in view of many violences during the recent strike it is essential to repeal the Trades Disputes Act which the trade union pickets regard as an excuse for industrial terrorism." TYRANNY OF PICKETING. Received October 31, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 30. Questioned in the House of Commons regarding the Employers' Parliamentary Council's memorial protesting against the tyranny of picketing, Mr Asquith (Prime Minister) said the Government was considering the matter. Tho law was not inadequate to stop intimidation, but the difficulties were due to the impossibility of procuring evidence. WHARF LABORERS COMBINE. Received October 31, 10.50 a.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 31. At a conference of various laborers' unions throughout the Commonwealth it was decided to amalgamate. The union will start with a membership of 25,000, and members will have a uniform ticket at 10s per year. CLERKS' CLAIMS. Received October 31. 10.50 a.m. SYDNEY, Oct. 31. The Clerks' Union has filed an application with the Wages Board, claiming £3 for a week of 39 hours.