WAR'S AFTERMATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17534, 28 January 1919, Page 2

WAR'S AFTERMATH

GENERAL LABOUR UNREST. TROUBLE IN GREAT BRITAIN. Pies» Aoeociation—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 25. The concessions granted to the Yorkshire miners are to apply only during the period of control. It is anticipated that 95 per cent, of the strikers -will resume work before Monday. The rest of the Yorkshire owners have communicated with, the Miners' Association protesting that they did not cause tho sadden stoppage of work, and denying that any workpeople have been locked out. Thirty Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire collieries are idle, involving 50,000 miners. The owners refuse to meet the men until work is resumed. Several thousand miners, at a mass meeting at Mansfield, demanded that Mr Smillie, their president, call a general strike of miners within two days, and, if that fails, to call out the "triple alliance," which comprises miners, railwaymen, and transport workers. The unrest in South Wales is spreading. The Bristol Channel boilermakers "are out in support of the wages movement. There is a belief that the renewal of trouble in Glasgow means that the advocates of direct industrial action are exploiting the shorter hours' agitation as a method r .of calling a general strike on Monday unless a 40-honr week is conceded. This resembles an ultimatum, excluding the possibility of negotiation, and involves the employers' unconditional surrender or a strike.

The organisers of the strike movement held a meeting, at which they received reports from industrial centres in England, and sent missions to attempt to bring the British workers into line.

Mr Clynes presided at a meeting of general workers representing one million unionists. The meeting emphasised the necessity for shorter hours "to enable the 'absorption of a greater number of demobilised men.

MUNICIPAL STROKE IN BELFAST. ' CITY WITHOUT LIGHT. INDUSTRIES CLOSING DOWN. LONDON, January 26. As the result of a municipal strike, Belfast is without gas, trains, and light, and many industries are dosing down for lack of electric power.—A. and N.2- Cable. TRANSPORT STRIKE IN PARIS. GOVERNMENT CONTROL ESTABLISHED. PARIS, January 25. The ■underground rail-way and tramway employees have struck. Traffic is paralysed, and troops, are guarding the stations. The Government has decided to take over the underground railways and all omnibuses in the city, to prevent a stoppage of these services.—Renter's Telegrams. AT THE PEACE CONGRESS. SPECIAL CONFERENCE TO SIT. FRAMING LABOUR PROBLEMS. LONDON, January 24. The Morning Post's Paris correspondent states : At the x conference to consider Labour problems on January 25 the dominions will be given a right to present their own cases; but it is more likely that the dominions will agree to be represented by the British case, seeing that dominion affairs participate in. its drawing up. The dominions have already made progress regarding the coloured labour question. The conference is not to attempt to standardise hours 1 of labour and wages. MR LANSBURY'S HOPES. A. REASONABLE CHARTER. : . LONDON, January 24. Mr George Lansbury, Labour M.P., interviewed, said that he found the Americans most sympathetic to Labour's demands, and was hopeful that the Peace Conference •would accept a reasonable Labour charter. Hβ fears outbreaks of Bolshevism in England and France unless the ruling classes, keep their pledges that the world shall be a better place for the workers. UNEMPLOYMENT IN UNITED STATES. SERIOUS EXPERIENCES PREDICTED. NEW YORK, January 25. . The Director of Labour estimates that 10 million people are without work in the United States. He' predicts a serious period of trade. adjustment.—A. and N.Z. Cable. '. SITUATION MORE CHEERING. MINERS RESUMING WORK. ENGINEERS STILL TALK OF STRIKING. LONDON, January 24. ■ (Received Jan. 27, at 7.25 p.m.) The coal miners are returning to work, and all pits are expected to be working full time on Monday. The engineers in London are holding mass meetings at the week-end. Most of them are still out, but all are expected to resume work on Monday. The position on the Clyde is unchanged. The trade union officers and men fully support the-decision to strike bn Monday in order to enforce the concession of a 40-hour week, as a means of absorbing thousands of men being demobilised from the army.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE PARIS STRIKE. MAXIMUM OF DISCOMFORT ' CAUSED. PARIS, January 24. (Received Jan. 27, at 7.25 pun.) The underground railway, motor T>us, and tramway workers suddenly struck to-day, demanding better wages, holidays, and pensions. Only a few trains and 'buses are running. The stoppage is keenly felt, the city is crowded with Peace Conference delegates and their staffs. The taxi-cabs are reaping a rich harvest.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BERLIN ELECTRICIANS STRIKE. .. -SUFFERING AT HOSPITALS. [ AMSTERDAM, January 24. (Received Jan. 27, at 7.25 p.m.) ' The electricians have struck in Berlin and stopped the telephone and postal services. The inability to sterilise milk for children and invalids has caused chaos in the hospitals. A coal strike has also plunged the city into darkness.—A. and N.Z. Cable.