WORKERS' DISCONTENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14895, 22 January 1912, Page 7

WORKERS' DISCONTENT.

I. BIG DECISION BY MINERS. ' TO STOP WORK NEXT MONTH. WELSHMEN OPPOSE PEACE. ,t A SPLIT AT THE CONFERENCE. 0 .' ' , *"■'.■:■ By Telegraph. Press Association.— Copyugbt s Received January 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 20. .. The Welsh delegates at the Miners' Conference, which represents 600,000 j men, strongly opposed overtures for a peaceful settlement. 1 The English delegates complained . bitterly against the demand made from South Wales for a minimum wage of Bs, claiming that it was unfair to ask the rest of the miners, to fight for something that they were not asking for themselves. The Welshmen refused to amend » their demand. The Conference resolved to formally tender notices in every district terminating work at the end of Febr ruary. ) It ,was also agreed to inform t the masters that members were pret pared to continue the peace negotia- _ tions both in the various districts, and nationally. ; . The Conference has adjourned till 1 February 1. COTTON DISPUTE ENDED. * London, January 19. The cotton dispute has been settled, and the mills resume work on Monday. THE BRISBANE TRAMWAYS. BIG STRIKE POSSIBLE. January 22, 12.30 a.m.) * Brisbane, January 21. The restricted tram service is etill running. . The police are patrolling, the route, ' but have no trouble. Mr. Prendergast, * president of the Federal Tramwaymen's - Association, states that he has been legally 3 advised that the action of the Brisbane Company is illegal. The association in--1 tends to take action, and unless the case is heard before next month, a big strike is likely. The strikers marched through the streets in a body. 1 Two men were arrested for disorderly conduct, bat otherwise the proceedings were quiet. The mounted police were employed to keep the crowds in check. STRIKE IN A HAT FACTORY. {Received January 22, 12.3 a.m.) ■ ■; Melbourne, January 21. A strike at the Denton hat mills, against i the employment of a non-unionist, threw 350 men out of work. ' ' . WHARF-WORKER?) AT DEADLOCK. 1 , . Sydney, January 20. It is stated that the conference of interstate steamship, owners and wharf labour* t ers* 1 delegates was rendered futile by the l men insisting on their demand of la 6d r ( an hour ordinary time ; and 2s 3d over- ' time, the employers offering Is 5d and 2s ' lid. The delegates undertook to submit the offer* to a mass meeting on Tuesday, and to confer with the owners again on. Wednesday. It is understood' that the men also put forward certain claims re- ' garding working hours and the non-em- • ployment of ~' permanent hands on the wharves. The Pelaw Main colliery workers have resumed, pending consideration of their grievances, l -1 ELECTRA STILL HELD UP. (Received January- 22, 12.30 a.m.) i Stdxet, January 21. There is no change in the wharf labourers' trouble. The Electra is still held up. Though it has been pointed out that her cargo was loaded by her crew, who are 8 all unionists. The wharf-labourers refuse to unload her. The secretary of. the union states that he sees no reason why they should not unload her. OIL WORKERS DISAFFECTED. Sydney, January 20. The cause which led to the despatch of police from Sydney to Newnes in connec- , tion with a strike of coal miners was that a the men employed in the Commonwealth < Oil Corporation threatened to join with the miners on strike. i- COAL LUMPERS' WAGES. ' * Brisbane, January 20. t The Coal Lumpers' Union, dissatisfied fl with the Wages Board award, has asked y for an increase to Is 9d an hour for; day I, and 2s 3d for night work. The employers e offered Is 7£d and 2s 2d. The union is to submit the offer to a mass meeting, and work is being continued in the meantime. RISE FOR TIMBER STACKERS. Melbourne, January 20. The employers conceded the timber stackers' demand for increase of wages to Is 5d an hour.