TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 36

TRADES AND LABOUR.

THE SHIPBUILDING STKIICE. London, December 11. The Btrike on the Clyde has been settled, the men ieo«iving an immediate advance of Is per week and another shilling in February. The Belfast strikers will receive an advance of Is in February. [The dispute in tbe shipbuildir.g trade commenced in tbo latter psrb of t_ ? ept< mbir. In this trade' tho depression of tho J»sl five yeara has l.ceu mire kreuly filt th«n in any other perhaps. During the last few months, however, orders, principally for war vessels for Home and foreign Governments, have, it is stated, been plentiful. The workmen at Belfast ui\d on the Clyde, th^rs-foro, mnde applic».tiou f> r certain ndvar.ccfl in tho rates of wage*. The e-mflaje'S replied that contracti had been entered inlo ou the bssis of existing rates, and that therefore no increase could be granted to the men without involving the Pinpluycrs in s'rious loss. Some of the trade unious, notibly theboilermakera ar.d iron shipbuilders, showed their willingness to meet the difficulfy by offering to accept 5 per cent, of the increase afked for in the threi months' time and (he other 5 per cent, three months later still. On this basis a eettltmenb seemed probable on the Cij de, where all through the proceedings both tides have thown thomaelvcg more reasonable tban st Belfast ; but then the employers on the Clyde felt themselves bouud by an understanding they had entered into to f tfcnd by the employers of Bflfust, and it w*s intimated that negoHationr.- for a flosl wr I dement mast be concluded with the Clj de ami B>lfa->t employers jointly. Considerable sparring between the parties ensued, and for scms time a gro*t struggle seemed imminent. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers declined to accept a proposal for a joint conference on tho grcutid that, the d'ffc-rtnce as to wages on the Clyde being practically eettled, it was not adv'stbld lo complicate m»tt«rß on the Clyde by connecting thtm with Belfast, where a great struggle hid already commencßd, and where there seemed little prosped; of an early settlement. There were uumerf-us pro,osa!s and suggestions for a solution o\ the difficulty, as well as rumours as to thfc intention of the Clyde shipbuilders- to lock oub their rr.en unless tbe Belfast n>en, who were hoi 'i ing caib for Light r lates of wagfs than the Clyde men had agreed to accept, gave way. Anxiety on the subject became very k«'en, for on the Clyflo alone 6^cl• 40,000 men wtre < ffected, and the effect upon other trades of s> many men being idls for a time must be tcry serious. And, besides, it was ittted tbat the employers on the Tyne, 'Wear, and Tees had decided to assist (he others by locking out their rmn also. The object of this united action on tho part of the employers was of course to cause such a drain upon the funds cf the various workmen's unioqs as to make it impossible for tbc'rn to hold out for any lengthened period. A 8 time-wenfe on, however, and tbe Clyde employes forbore to carjy out their threat of a leek o.>t, anS uhijnaUly tho Amalgamated Bocitfcy o". Engineers iccm si('ercd their d'cis'ou in regard to Ihe proposal cf a' jjint conference, and when .the last mail left representatives of the parties interested bad met tit "Carlisle. The result was that iercus were agreed upou.in regard to Scotland, but the Irish dispute was still unsettled co far as the engineers were concerned, though the boilermakers had c*ome to terms.] December 13. The slipping s( rikers are not disposed to accept Sir H. James's award. An aggregate ballot of the men employed -on the Clyde and at Belfast will be taken to decide the matter. December 14. The Balfaat *hd Clyde strikers reject the settlement terms as beiag too low. Sydney, December 13. The miners at Burwood Colliery, Newcastle have struck without the usual 14 daya* notice. The matter in dispute is what ia technically known as " lifting bottoms." Later. The Burwood miners have resumed work pending a settlement of terms by mutual agreement. THE CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED.] G'HRiSTCQURCH, December 12. S.x of the unemployed who waited on th« mayor yesterday raw him again to-d«.y reipectiog the expected reply from the Premier as to finding work for them. One of the men told his Worship fcbafc unless pucconr came soon ha intended putting an end to his life, a« ha could not tea his "six children starve. Another threatened to run amuck and generally damage things. Tbe mayor advised the latter thaj; should he carry out hi 3 threats he need not expect much a nsideration. No reply having •been received by the mayor, he to-day again communicated with the Premier.

A statistician has discovered that the number of dark-haired girls wbo set married eicseds that of the fair one%