LONDON BUILDERS' STRIKE

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12805, 1 June 1914, Page 8

LONDON BUILDERS' STRIKE

25,000 MEN OUT. Bj Electric Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Received 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May 30. The provincial masters are not keen on the lock-out. The Federation Council meets within ten days to take a I ballot, which is necessary before a national lock-out. | The stumbling block in the settlement is the employment of non-union-ists, and to a lesser degree the non-re-cognition of the men's federation. The masters are convinced that the continuance of lightning strikes paralyses trade. The method was for the workmen to appiont a certain day for production of fellow workers' tickets, and if not produced a strike was called without notice. After twenty lightning strikes the masters are determined to secure prohibitive guarantees, which are refused. The strikers number 25,000 out of 150,000 workers involved in the building trades. Of the former 14-,000 are skilled workmen. The dispute at present only affects London master builders' associations, with a membership of 300, and does not represent the whole building trade. The men's executive states that the men received 15s weekly strike pay, which was increased to 20s in some instances by local contributions according to the wealth of the local allied trades unions. Of 11,000 labourers the bulk received 7s, and some to 12s Od. Many, chiefly those who newly joined, are dependent on street collections, as low as 2s. Many strikers obtain employment with builders outside the masters' association, and contribute to the general fund. The strike exchequer is being rapidly depleted. The employers' federation represents (5000 members, employing (500,000 men, and the wages bill is over £750,000 weekly. It is estimated that a national lockout will cause a standstill of £150,000,000 capital and £50,000,000 worth of work in progress. " A GOOD DINNER SHARPENS WIT while it softens the heart." —A happy and beneficial help to both is MarteH's—the brandy of two centuries' good repute. Little Jack Horner sat sick in :t corner, A-coughing and rubbing his eyes, While Granny was waiting and watching him taking A dose fit to poison the flies. Twas a draught of her own, and far best left alone, Which she made her young victim endure—• O. the silly old muff! to brew worthless home stuff When there's Woods' Great Peppermint Cure.