TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 19

TRADES AND LABOUR.

London, February 22. The Newcastle District Amalgamated Engineers have retaliated for the recant lock-out of blacksmiths by calling a strike of their members. Febrnary 23. The labourers employed in tbe shipbuilding yards on the north-east coast of England have taken a ballot and decided againßt a strike. Tbe amalgamated engineers bave agreed to confer with tba employers. ; February 24. j A strike of railway employees has ocourred at the chief stations on tba North-eastern line. Tbe difficulty arose in the goods department, and the men employed in the passenger department are partly affected. Tbe amalgamated engineers and blacksmiths bave withdrawn from the shipbuilding yards in tbe Newcastle district, a conference of masters and men having failed to arrive at a, settlement. February 25. The Newcastle engineers held a meeting, and decided to call a general strike. The North-Eastern Railway Company have issued a notification that the goods traffic to the chief cantres has been temporarily stopped. February 26. Owing to the strike the passenger traffic on the North-eastern railway is partly blocked. The company offer to confer with , the men, but claim damages against the 1 "strikers. j There is a prospect of tbe railway strike affecting collieries, and so paralysing trade | and restricting food supplies, and doing | ) immense damage to business. February 27. A temporary settlement of tbe railway difficulty has been arranged. The con- ! f erence between the oompany and the men meets on March 12 to discuss the grievances of the men. Rome, Febrnary 26. I Butchers la Borne have struck work as a I protest against the large consumption of horse meat. . THE SEAMEN'S DEMANDS. (Feom Oub Own Cobbmspondbht.) Wellington, February 23. Xhe Conciliation Board recommend in the

matter of the demands made by the JSeamen'f Union that the wages of seamen and firemen be increased 10s per month from March 1 next, overtime to remain as at present ; Boxing Day to bs added to the holidays, and steps taken to have Labour Day recognised on one date for the whole colony. The board declare that employers should employ members of the union in preference to non-members, provided they are available, and recommend that a member of the union be allowed to visit vessels except during working hours. Messrs A. Collins and D. P. Fisher entered their dissent as to the recommendation re wages and overtime, bat the remaining three members of the board agree to the judgment. The owners of steamers have accepted the award. The Federated Seamen's Union have called a special meeting to consider the award. It is believed an early settlement of all the matters in dispute will be announced. February 25. At a meeting of the Seamen's Union considerable discussion took pluce on the judg- [ ment of the Conciliation Board. It was con. | sidered that while the concessions reoommended [ were not so great as expected they should be ' accepted for the present as an inttalment ; bat it was decided to ask for a few modifications in matters of detail, whioh it was thought the shipowners were not likely to refuse. If these are conceded the present dispute will be at an end. February 27. The Railway department has completed the construction of a large number of waggons. One hundred and fifty are to replace the stock aold to Western Australia and 2QO for the extension of traffic. The work is now completed, and will entail the discharging of some hundred hands who had been taken on. The reduction, it is understood, is not to apply to the Pet ore workshops, and the surmise is that the coming election fur Wellington Suburbs may have something to do with this.