TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10619, 14 March 1896, Page 4

TRADES AND LABOUR.

A LARGE STEIKJJ IMPENDING.

Presn Association— By Telegraph—OopyrlsM. Sidney, March 13.

Tug strika ballot amongst the Newcastle miners' lodges is proceeding. The 16th inst. i'J the last day fixed for sending in papers. A fortnight's notico hss to be given of a strike, and already a majority of lodges, including those of several non-union pits, have made the requisite demand for increased wages. Tha Stockton minors, following the lead of some other non-asßooiatsd lodges, have isjoined the Miners' Association. Most of the wheelon ami other employees in the pits will throw in their lot with tho miners.

The management of the Waratata mine have already informed tha miners that it is impossible to comply with tha demand for an increase. A. number of oUisr large pro-, prietaries hava unofficially announced that it in not- their intention to grant tha iucreasa.

Both sides appear very firm, and tlwre seems little chance of a compromise.

STATE INTBRffEUKNCE.

A deputation representing the Socialistic and Democratic Associations presented the Premier with the resolutioas passed at a recent meeting in favour of interference in connection with tha difficulty in the Newcastle coal trade and State ownership of mines. Mr Roid snid that a Government monopoly under the most favourable circanartances could only control local consumption. As a subject of practical politics lie wonld not taka the matter up, because it would rn!y be a waste of time. The idea vt&s Utopian, aud not practicable. We might in future get a bßtter &tete of society and government, when such questions might be considered.

THE MINISTRY JUBILANT At knowing that Fiossnrd's Cavonr Ctgara are I now procurable everywhere. in naokßls of eight I for. la. 6

'XHB PBB&IIBR.AND THE UNEMPLOYED, The following letter has been received from the Premier in rapty to the communication with regard to fee unemployed addressed to him by the. Chrlvtobnrch city and suburban merabera of the Houae of Kepresautatives :—

"Premier's Office, Wellington, March 9, 1896.

"Gentlemen, —la respect to yont oommunicn.tion of B'ebruary 28, in reference to the unemployed in Chriatcharch, I have tha honour to inform you that the matter has been carefully considered by the Government. We regret to heav that tha mayor shonld have stated that no help was to ba expeistod from the municipal authorities, seeing that such a conclusion io abrogatiug tho fahctious of the local authorities. As regards tho recoinmendatioas made by the members in the memorandum nurfer reply,

" (a) Expenditure by co-operative system on the Springfield end of the Midland Railway.— We h»v(! no yilaua for this work. They are in the po39B«sion of. the Company, and it ifl not likely thith the company will hand them over to the Government. I am informed by the best authority that before any earthworks would.be available there is a large viaduci to ba oonsfctnottd. I am inquiring as to whether any more men oan be put on at the Jackson's end of tho line. ( . :

" (b) The establishment of a State farm in Canterbury to absorb men.—lnquiries are being made a? to obtaining land suitable for a village settlement. The difficulty at the present time is. that we cannot compulsorily take land within a five-mile limit of the city. So soon, however, an a suitable piece of ltod i« obtained we wiH do our beat by this mews to partially ineeb the difficulty which you h&ve brought uudsr our uotice. . •

" (c) The establishment of village and homestead settlements in Canterbury.—Negotiations ate pruceadiug for the obtaining of lands under the Lands for Settlement Act, and a certain portion of the Highbaok estata has boea sat au»rt for tho establishment of a village ssttlenifnb.

" (d) The location of men on unoesapied railway reserreg.—The Minister f6r Railways in making inquiries, but, co far, h« fears that t'ac lands S7a.il*ble are too far out of town to ba of any survice. Where any land, however, in suitable and can ba utilised favourable consideration will be given to the proposal. " la conclusion, I must express the concern of the Government at so many men being out of employment and in necessitous circumstances so soon after the grass-seeding and harvwutin-'. Many men, we are informed, have only juilt returned from tho harvest fields. We are also informed that good money has been made by grass-seeding and harvesting this year, and for the men to be in neoeasitous. circumstances now shows an entire want of thrift. It would appear as though tkesy spent the money just as they earned it, reiyidg too much upou ttio Government and too little upon individual exertion and thrift to make any provision for a rainy day. The policy of the Government in respect to the unemployed wa» laid down by me to a deputation which waited upon me at. Christchuroh last spring, and from that policy we see no reason to depart."

R&ILWAY SERVANTS' CONFERENCE, Auckland, March 13.

At the Railway Servants' Conference oonsiderable discassion arose re plfltela.yers' wagss. It wbs proposed to oiake some alteration in porjsra' wages. Otbendse there wao no iticlination to make any change in the existing rstes of wages ia the Railway service. The conference sat in the evening, and discussed the regulation regarding overtime for maintenan^s. Some changes were asked for »b to labourers ia this department.

A Wdlington telegram states that tbera are 16 Labour organisations there not affiliated to the Trade* and Labour Council, and an attempt is beiug made to form these into » federation distinct from tbe Trades and Labour Connoil.