TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2063, 7 September 1893, Page 14

TRADES AND LABOUR.

(Per FiiEsa Association.)

London, August 29.

A thousand Welsh miners are in a starving condition. Ben Tillett and others condemn the strike, and urge the men to form a union.

Tillett also advocates that miners' wages should regulate the prices of coal.

The Durham miners have again declined to strike.

Reinforcements having arrived, the miners' riot in Holbrook, Derbyshire, bas been supprceset 1 .

August 30.

Tho coal owners have had a conference, the result of which is that they have refused to withdraw the reduction. It is believed the determination not to modify the terms is likely to foice the strikers to early submission.

August 31.

The Scotch miners are striking. Coalowners express regret at the miners declining arbitration.

Nearly half the Welsh miners have returned to work.

Many of the unemployed in Chicago laid siege to the rifle store. The troops plaritfcd Gatling Runs in the streets, and at; the si.Tjht of these formidable weapons the mob quickly dispersed. '

IU-feel''ng between the French and Italian workmen continue?, and many of the latter were expelled from works at Nancy.

September 1.

The strikers in Derbyshire attempted to wreck express, good 3 , and excursion trains on the Midland railway.

The miners of Notts are raising a loan at 5 per cent., repayable in three months, in support of the men out on strike.

The strikers let loose a truck on the Midland railway, at Erkingtou, but, tho signalman gave warning just in time to prevent a crowded excursion train being wrecked.

September 3.

The executive of the Miners' Federation are issuing ballot papers askirg the mesi to decide upon three questions — (1) To agree to arbitration ; (2) to resume at the old rate ; or (3) to accept a partial reduction.

The miners in Notts are stealing sheep, apples, and potatoes in order to avoid starvation.

Owing to tb.9 strike 10,000 wom°n and children in the Midlands are beicg fed daily by charitable bodice.

In reply to a question in the House, the Premier said he was aware there were 20,000 artisans unemployed. He believed it to be due to a recurrence of the depression, and did not see how the Government could take any action to cope with it. Pabis, August 30. French labourers have ejected the Italians from the quarries at Nancy.

Placards have been posted up refusing to permit them to share French bread.

Washington, August 31. Further unemployed riots have taken place in Chicago. The police were stoned, but they charged and dispersed the mob.

Sydney, August 30.

The gold mine owners have resolved to reduce the wages of quartz miners throughout the colony on September 4 to 7s 6d per day for first-class miners and 6s 6d for labourers.

September 3.

The woolshed at the Naryil Company's station, the scene of the recent trouble in connection with the wages paid to rouseabouts, has been burned down. The origin of the fire is unknown. The police reinforcements have not yet reached the station.

Brisbane, August 31.

A party of 70 men put in an appearance at the Nerigileo station, Cooper Creek, and objtcted to rouseabouts making less than 30s a week. Three who were receiving 25s ware forcibly abducted, and are detained as prisoners. A force of police has been despatched to rescue them.

A contract for Japanese coal (says the "Australasian Insurance and Banking Record") is said to have bsen made with San Francisco for 2,500,000 tons, extending over 10 years. During the strike in 1890, the idea that Japan could at all compete with Australia in the American coal trade was in many quarters ridiculed. If anything should bring home to tho<-e interested in the coal trade of New South Wales the efficacy of Japanese competition, surely this should do so. Nothing but dire want will convince the miners that their occupation is gone ; this, too, where vast sums are lavished on education — unnecessary, because never brought to practical use, nor even availed of for self instruction.