EIGHT HOURS DEMONSTRATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 34

EIGHT HOURS DEMONSTRATION.

The annual meeting of the Eight Hours Demonstration Committee was held at the Trades Hall on Tuesday, Mr A. Collins in the chair. A majority of the societies represented last year sent delegates. The following g-entlemen were nominated for the various offices, the election for which takes place on the 26th inst. : President, Messrs A. Collins and A. Ward ; vice - presidents, Messrs Poynton, Lamb, Rutter, T. H. Hogg and Pearce ; secretary, Messrs Bishop and Miles } treasurer Messrs Haggett, Shaw and Jones; four trustees, Messrs Poynton, Pearce, Tregear, Hislop and Heaton; patron, Hon B. J. Seddon ; hon vice-presidents, Hons W. P. Reeves, J. McKenzie, J. G. Ward, J. Carroll, Sir P. Buckley, Hon A. J. Cadman, Messrs 11. D. Bell, J. Duthie, Sir Robert Stout and Dr Newman, M’s.II.R., Mr C. M. Luke (Mayor of Wellington) and Mr Wilford.

The delegates of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants were engaged all day yesterday week in interviewing Mr Ronayne (General Manager of the Railways). Various subjects in connection with the railways were discussed, the most important being the manner in which promotions are made in the Locomotive Department, the deputation asking for certain modifications. The grievances of platelayers were also considered, and it was pointed out that they were subject to differential treatment, and that there was a want of uniformity in their instructions, which were read differently in different sections. The delegates were very reasonable in their requests, and the interview passed off very satisfactorily. The whole

matter will be laid before the Minister for Railways, who was not present at the interview. The Southern delegates returned home on Saturday night, and the Northern delegates on Monday. Sydney, February 27. The annual report of the Australian Workers’ Union, submitted to the Workers’ Conference, referring to the recent shearing difficulties, says : —“ We can unhesitatingly claim a victory, i When the full list is made up it will be found that not moi’o than 25 per cent, of the sheds shore under the new agreement. Practically, the Pastoralists’Union acknowledged itself beaten by its confessed inability to supply men. It was also intended, if successful here, to carry the war into New Zealand, but the defeat of the Pastoralists’ Union on this side has caused the Maoriland squatters to give up the idea. Thus labour in that colony was left alone. If is quite clear that tho real object of the Pastoralists’ Union and the banks was to crush the men’s organisation.andthen make up for it by a 50 per cent, reduction in wages.” Sidney, March 2. The Laboxxr Conference has finished. It was decided to bring under the notice of the Board of Health in each colony the hut accommodation on many of the stations ; also to obtain tho particulars necessary to formulate specific charges against the owners of the stations.

The Conference agreed to establish a fund for the relief of tho wives and families of the members imprisoned in connection with the shearing disputes. It was further decided to admit all classes of labour in towns and cities to membership, the subscription to be 3s per quarter. Tho Pastoralists’ Federal Council has decided not to alter the 1894 agreement. In connection with tho recent report furnished by tho Workers’ Conference, the secretary of the local Pastoralists’ Union has written to tho secretary of the Workers’ Union :—“T can only regard the report as a threat that unless tho Pastoralists’ Union accedes to the request contained in tho report, the outrages of last year will bo rc-

1 pea,ted during the coming season, with . sanction of your Union, and that the per- ■ petrators will, as in the past, have the | pecuniary assistance and support of your Union.” The letter concludes —“ Under these circumstances I am directed to decline further communication with you or the Workers’ Union.” Newcastle, March 3. The Duckenfield, Wallsend, Back Creek and Seaham miners have decided to take united action in resisting thethreatened reduction in rates, and will also attempt to reorganise the Miners’ Association. If the attempt fails, then the four lodges named will form themselves into a separate Association. Work in the Back Creek and Duckcnfield mines will be resumed with nonUnionists under strong police protection to-morrow. Two hundred of the companies’ late employees living in their properties are to be evicted. Sydney, March 5. In connection with the friction between the pastoralists and shearers, Mr Spence, Secretary of the Shearers’ Union, states emphatically that there is not the slightest hope of the pastoralists meeting the sheai*ers’ representatives in conference. His Union is quite prepared to renew the fight during the coming season. A good deal of the time of the late conference was devoted to perfecting the arrangements to meet the coming difficulty. Mr Rae is hopeful of the result of the coming struggle and asserts that the Shearers’ Union is stronger than ever. He states that the pastoi’alists individually are being misled as to the resources of the Pas-toi-alists’ Union, and that the experience of the past is distinctly against anything like unanimity in the future. The squatters who are in a position to take independent action simply study their own interests and shear with Unionists. Last season the cost of food supplies to the shearers on strike was .£15,000.

London, February 28. The South Wales coal-owners have given a month’s notice to 100,000 men. This is the outcome of- a demand made

by the men for an increase in the sliding scale rates. London, March 2. The Workshops and Factories Bill has been read a first time in the House of Commons. It includes laundries, bakehouses, docks, wharves and buildings where machinery is employed, and provides for the registration of all workshops. The measure has been favourably received. Employers in Lancashire have given notice to 60,000 cot ton operatives of their intention to reduce wages by 5 per cent. The mine-owners of Wales, in renewing the sliding scale, offered tho men 71 percent. with 1 per cent, on each shilling- of advance in the price of coal. The mon demanded 10 per cent., and notified that they would cease work* if it was not conceded.

About 100,000 men will bo involved if there is a strike.

Christchurch, March 5. At a meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council a letter was received from the Wellington Council asking endorsement of a resolution approving of the recent remarks of the Hon W. P. Reeves in Christchurch regarding labour legislation. The resolution was endorsed, and the secretary was instructed to forward a copy to the Minister. It was also resolved to write to the Wellington Council asking for particulars of the interview with the Premier.