LABOUR'S TRAVAIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17713, 26 August 1919, Page 5

LABOUR'S TRAVAIL

NATIONALISATION OF MINES.

MR BMILLIE'S PROPOSAL.

Pr«ee Association— By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, August 24. Mr Robert Smillie (miners' president), in an interview, stated that the Miners' Federation had decided to ask for a trade union congress to be held in September, to make nationalisation of the mines a test question, involving the interests of tho whole of organised Labour.—Reuter.

LABOUR'S INTERMINABLE DEMANDS,.

LORD WRENBURY'S PROPOSAL.

LONDON, August 23. Lord Wrenbury (a Lord Justice of Appeal) in a letter to The Times closely examines the tendencies of advanced trade unionism, and refers to its increasing power, repeated demands, and political pressure. He suggests the immediate formation of a permanent National Freedom Force, non-political, and drawn from all classes -who are prepared to maintain indisponsablo services -when strikers, representing perhaps a twentieth of the population, threaten the community in order to impose their economically ruinous terms.

The Times believes that the people are getting very weary of the interminable demands and threats, and are likely to heartily agree -with. Lord Wrenbury; but the paper questions whether now is an opportune time to take immediate action, which would be liable to be construed as a challenge to unionism. Moderate unionists are now apparently reasoning among themselves, and should be given a chance of stabilising tho position.—Times. SOUTH WALES STRIKES.

IMMENSE LOSS OF WORKING TIME.

LONDON, August 24. It is computed that 7,600,000 working hours were lost on the South Wales coalfields during the 12 months ended in the middle of July, of which 4,594,000 hours were due to avoidable absenteeism, 2,120,000 hours to unavoidable absence, and 558,000 hours were due to strikes A. and N.Z. Cable.