TRADES AND LABOUR

Otago Witness, Issue 2578, 12 August 1903, Page 21

TRADES AN D LABOUR

NEW YORK, August '4. Although the United States miners are very impatient *at the Conciliation. Board's inability to settle their disputes, it is understood that high officials in the* Miners' Union intend to postpone a general strike until the Presidential campaign is near, when it is considered that the political complications resulting from, the strike will so injure the Republican chances that the victory of the miners .will be assured. J SYDNEY, August 4.'

Full work has been resumed at tho Central Broken Hill mine.

ADELAIDE, August 4-.

Notices were posted in all the railway stations on Saturday stating that after August 17 nine and a-half hours would constitute a day's work throughout the service with certain exceptions. Subsequently, after a Cabinet meeting, a notice was posted to the effect that the matter had been postponed for further consideration.

Regarding the threatened increase of hours in the railway service, the Labour party strongly oppose any interference with eight hours, and threaten to combine Avith the Opposition if the Government attempt to increase the time.

The Chamber of Commerce adopted a resolution to the effect that a Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was an unnecessary and unjustifiable invasion of the rights of each State to govern its own." domestic affairs, strongly condemning the compulsory clause, and demanding the- appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the effect of similar legislation in New Zealand and elsewhere. The resolution further declared that the whole tendency of such legislation was calculated to restrict enterprise, hamper development, and destroy the commerce of Australia.

August 5. In the Assembly Mr Price, the leader of the Labour party, on the motion for adjournment, referred to the posting of a notice in regard to the railway men's increased hours, and asked if the Government intended to abolish the eight-hour system. The Premier replied that he and the other Ministers were unaware, that the notice had been posted. When he obtained a copy the Cabinet considered it, and wrote to the Railway Commissioner pointing out that it was nece.ssary to fisst submit to the consideration of Parliament any regulation for an alteration in the number of hours, and impressed upon him that the integrity of the eight-hour system should in no way be impaired. The Commissioner replied, and postponed any action in deference to the Premier's desire, but considered it his duty, in view of the present state of the railway revenue, to submit the proposed increase to the Cabinet's consideration. The Premier added that, so far as the Government; was concerned, before making any drastic alterations in the railway service it would a<-k for the approval of Parliament.

Traveller should drink only WOL7T.S SCHNAPPS, for vai.jus reasons.