TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 19

TRADES AND LABOUR.

o» MOTOR MUSMEN' SSTRIKE. LONDON, January 10. ' Eight hundred motor busmen have been dismissed on refusing to resume duty. IMMEDIATE EIGHT-HOURS DAY CONCEDED. PARIS, January 7. | The French companies have virtually conceded to the miners an immediate eight-hours day, instead of waiting until 1910. ______ MINERS' EIGHT-HOUR BILL. LONDON, January 9. An influential deputation representing the Mining Association of Great Britain •waited on the Home Secretary, and urged various objections against the Government's Mines Eight-hours Bill, especially declaring that they must reduce the coal supply by ,10 or 13 per cent., and also increase prices. Mr Gladstone replied that Parliament desired a limitation of hours. He admitted the result would be to raise prices, and promised to do his best to find a basis , of agreement that would be satisfactory to ■employer and employed. ** WHARF LABOURERS' DISPUTE. SYDNEY, January 9. A mass meeting of wharf labourers decided, in sympathy with the Newcastle wharf labourers, not to handle the cargo of vessels belonging to the North Coast Company, the Newcastle Company, or the ' Ulawarra Company. The dispute is over ' the rates of jjay^ and the question, of the .

reinstatement of, certain men on the wharves. No unionist wharf labourers offered themselves at the Newcastle or Illawarra Companies' wharves to-day, and the work of loading and discharging was done by the crews of vessels and free labourers. The North Coast Company is practically ilhaffected, as it has employed non-union- ; iste for some- time. The position at the ; Newcastle wharves^ is unaltered. January 10. The Sydney Labour Council passed a resolution in support of the whaif labourers at Newcastle. Mr Kavanagh, ex-president, raised the point whether the council was consistent in doing so. Delegates had, he said, night after night cried out in support of arbitration, and when the union, which had an award made, was dissatisfied with it, and went on strike, the council decided to support the union. t BIRMINGHAM UNEMPLOYED. LONDON, January 9. A mob of unemployed were foiled while attempting to invade the Birmingham Council House. They intended to capture and fasten the mayor to a pillar outside ■ for declining to enforce the Unemployed | Act on the ground that the distress was ; not acute. There are 10,000 unemployed in Glasgow.