WORK AND WAGES

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2732, 14 July 1925, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

Too little Of Both Isi Many Quarters LULL IN COAL NEGOTIATIONS. [By Electric Cable —Copynght.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. There was a lull in the coal crisis. The Sunday Ministerial circles refuse to believe that Government mediation has failed. They consider both sides are sparring for an opening and that Bridgeman’s efforts will bo allowed to continue, despite his apparent rebuff. RAILWAY MEN DEMONSTRATE. AGAINST WAGES REDUCTION (Received Monday, 7 p.m.) LONDON. July 12. Twenty thousand members of the National Union of Railwaymen demonstrated in Hyde Park against the companies’ proposed 5 per cent, wage reduction. The demonstrators carried many silk banners, one inscribed: “To Hell with wage reduction. Fight now. and win.”

HOLD-UP ORDERED. OF COASTAL AND INTERSTATE VESSELS. (Received Monday, 9.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 13. The Seamen’s Union has instructed members not to man any inter-state or coastal vessels requiring crews. Already two coastal and one interstate vessels are held up and unless an eleventh-hour settlement was reached, all the crews will be withdrawn. NO, CREWS UNTIL AGREEMENT IS REACHED. COMMONWEALTH LINE ALONE EXPECTED. (Received Tuesday, 12.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 13. The seamen have extended the deadlock to all companies trading on the Australian coast and all ships will automatically be tide up as they reach port. When the Howard Smith steamer Cooma arrived, the men gave notice and the ship' was tide up indefinitely. Calls were made for men to replace the crew, they were but futile. The crews of the North Coast company’s steamers also gave noticcr-and efforts to replace them were unavailing. Until a settlement is reached no crews will b c forthcoming for any but the Commonwealth line steamers. A strong section of the Seamen’s Union favours making the fight a general one and including this line. The Burns, Philp Coy. has also been declared “black,” although it agreed to the men's terms. This decision was reached because a section of the Seamen’s Union executive believes the company is bound up financially with the inter-State companies.

The transport group of unions met and adjourned until Tuesday, when the result of the conference with the owners in Melbourne may be known.

A Melbourne report states that the conference of the Commonwealth Shipowners’ Association, attended by owners from other States outside the Association, has commenced, with the object of ensuring that the terms of settlement in the shipping dispute will be acceptable to all shipowners. Beyond issuing a statement that more ships were being laid up and the immediate safeguarding of the owners’ interests would bc a leading feature of the conference, no announcement was made. The conference is still sitting. (Received Tuesday 1.20 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, July 13. The owners’ conference sat till a late hour without reaching finality. A mass meeting of seamen decided to give twenty-four hours’ notice on Tuesday on vessels at home ports belonging to owners not granting the guarantee clause. _____