LABOUR AND THE WAR.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13658, 29 August 1916, Page 3

LABOUR AND THE WAR.

DEPUTATION TO WAR .MINISTER, SOLDIERS OR MUNITION WORKERS.

. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.), LONDON.. August 27., The Rt." Hon! D. Lloyd George (Min-. ister of War), in receiving a Labour deputation headed by ,Mr C, W, Bower- , man, 1 Labour M.P., stated that soldiers employed in a civilian occupation received the usual civilian pay. Mr S, Walsh,.Labour M,P., replied that. such men should be withdrawn from military discipline. Mr Lloyd George said that nothing would please the War Office - better, than to be able to stop such transfers. The Adjutant-General wanted the men in the army. He quoted a case: When the big offensive was' approaching and . lie knew its success would be dependent almost entirely on the quantity of big shells produced, he was unable to get the men to do the work, and was obliged to ask the assistance of the AdjutantGeneral, who spared a thousand soldiers as an emcrgoncy measure, If lie had been told they would be regarded as civilians lie was certain they would have been refused, because the ,men \vore wanted in the army. It was mere- ■ !y a. sparing of soldiers to fill shells for their comrades iu France until other labour was found. Mr J. Q'Grady, Labour M,P., thought these military working parties would be avoidable by,a better organisation of. labour, •Hon. IL. W. Forster-(Financial Secrc-' tary to the War Office) tho. quqs- , tion was primarily one for the Minister oi Munitions and the Board of Trade. Mr ■ G, J. Wardle, Labour M,P,, said all were willing to help in a better or- • ganisation of labour if it would enable the authorities to dispense. with military working parties. Mr Lloyd George promised a special inquiry regarding men being discharged • from the Army before they were lit' to Undertake normal industrial work. Concluding,. Mr. Lloyd George said: ''Wo in no instance have -supplied soldiers in the ease of labour, disputes, nor., any except in cases of overwhelming military necessity." ' LABOUR AND THE COST OT' j LIVING. PIRATICAL METHODS DENOUNCED PRICE OF INDUSTRIAL TRUCE. (Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 27. At a demonstration of railwaymen held at Hyde-Park, n protest against' the increased cost of living, speakers from five platforms 'vigorously dcnoiiwv : cd the piratical methods of I he capilalists. The keynote of the workers'' altitude. is: "No industrial truce unless fair play is granted- towards the workers.''' Resolutions were carried that trades union circles do not share the belief of an early peace, and there is a growing conviction,, in view of the present output of material and'munitions aud'also the preparations for eventualities, that tho end is not'yet-in sight. 1 •• A prominent Labour representative dbclared that tho war would only end when the workers had given their best.

HESTIVS GERMAN SCCIALI&TS. GENERAL STRIKE :; URGED. (Australian ami N.2. Cable Association.) « AWERDAI, August 27. Herr Hoffmann, a Socialist .member ol tho Prussian Landtag, has been arrested lor 'distributing circulars 'urging e all'workers in-tlie'Empire-lo declare,-a, I? general strike; ■: t PATRIOTISM IN AFRICA,' ■ > t INOPPORTUNE TIME.TO QUARREL. r 5 (Australian,dud N.Z.-Cable Association,) 1 . CAPETOWN, August. 27. -' ' A strike' of tlm .miners of Johannes- >' b«rg has beeraverted,.is'the Industrial' '■ Federation decided not-to force a wages dispute to:extremes.,. /Hie present is . regarded as an inopportune' time for a J' general setMcificnt. ■ ! /'. ROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA,' ■' ' MINERS; RESENT! ALIEN' ' COMRADES. ' BRISBANE, August 28, , Large'• wettings of' Australian canegrowers passed- a resolution refusing to recognise the award ; granting employees increases, and pledging themselves'to cease'' harvesting until 'the''award "is abolished. As a result two tlibusand men in: tho Alackay district arc uncin- '■ ployed,' ~ , ■ 1 ' PERTH, ■'August-28. ' ■ Ttvo thousand ''miners are'.idie'] at'Kalgoorlie ;as the result of ilieir refusal to work, with' Dalmatians.' ■ : WELSH RAILWAY DEMAND. INCREASE OP-TEN'SHILLINGS . ' ' WEEKLY. '■' (AuetralinU;aud. U,Z, Cnblo' Association). , Received August 28, B,b'.p.m, . LONDON, Augustus. ■ The' South-' "Wales' railwaynieir tyaye reaffirmed 'their'demand 'for' an 'increase of' 10/ : ' per week. . 'Failing; compliance . .with their demand they meet,in,a -fort--night to decide upon future action.