INDUSTRIAL UNREST

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 29

INDUSTRIAL UNREST

COPPER-WORKERS ON STRIKE. , LONDON, October 9. Seven hundred copper-workers at Hafodmorfa have struck over the nonunionist question. THE HOBBLE SKIRT. LONDON, October 9. Owing to the hobble skirt lessening the demand for underskirts, a number of girls in tihe Brooks Manufacturing Company at Northampton were given other work, at which they struck. The company retaliated, and has now locked out all their 1200 employees. October 14. The hobble skirt-makers' lock-out has been settled oh the basis that the girls receive the minimum wage. THE DUBLIN BAKERS. LONDON, October 10. The bakeries in Dublin are gradually resuming work. I, A LOCK-OUT AVOIDED. ;t H ' ' LONDON, October 10. The lock-out in Lancashire has been avoided, the no l-uraionists agreeing to join the unions.

STRIKE IN SWANSEA. LONDON, October 12. A strike of the waggon-workers at Swansea led to riots and the wrecking of the! Brutish Waggon Company's premises. The police were furiously stoned, and had temporarily to retreat. October 13. .The Swansea riots were renewed last evening. Burning cotton waste was thrown in a paint shop, setting fire to it in three places. The police extinguished the-flames under a fusillade of stones. ~~ INQUIRY INTO DISPUTES. LONDON, October 11. After consulting a number of representatives of the employers and workmen, the Board of Trade has established an Industrial Council of 26 members, consisting of equal numbers of employers and workmen, holding office for a year, to inquire into trade disputes. The council will have no compulsory powers. Members representing shipping, mining, metals, printing, railways, cotton, engineering, building, textile, transport and other trades have already been appointed with Mr Askwith as chairman. The council includes Mr T. L. Devitt, the presidents of the various Masters' Associations, Mr Henderson, Mr Burt, and other leading trade union officials. October 12. Although diverse labour views are expressed regarding the Industrial Council, the balance of opinion seems to be favourable. The scheme is a step forward. Mr Appleton, the secretary of the Trades Union Federation, fears that the delay in the settlement of disputes will form the stepping-stone to compulsion. Mr W. Thorne, M.P., declined membership on the ground that the council will weaken the power of organised labour. . October 13. The Labour Leader says that the Industrial Council will not remove the causes which have generated the industrial upheaval by merely sitting as a safety valve. The Socialist press condemn the scheme.

COLLIERS IDLE. LONDON, October 15. The Cambrian collieries at Clyachvale ar9 again idle owing to the haulers declining to descend the pit because a comrade had been suspended from work.

warning to miners. . LONDON, October 13. Mr Abraham, ivi.P.', has strongly warned the extremists in the Miners Federation against, the precipitation of a national stoppage for a minimum wage.

A COSTLY DISPUTE. LONDON, October 15

Speaking at Hirst, Mr C Fenwick (L.) said that the trouble arising out of the Eight Hours Act in Northumberland had cost the Miners' Association over £IOO,OOO.

MIDLAND RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. LONDON, October 16. A mass meeting of Sheffield railwaymen resolved to strike unless the Midland Company fulfils the whole terms of the settlement, instead of, as is . alleged, penalising prominent strikers. OUTRAGE IN FRANCE. PARIS, October 15. The telephone junction cabin at Belair was blown up and destroyed, and communication between Paris and the Seine and Marne towns temporarily destroyed. The act is believed to be one of sabotage. STRIKE IN WINNIPEG. VANCOUVER; October 10. The Winnipeg boilermakers and machinists on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railwas struck to-day. Three hundred and fifty men aru affected. Negotiations for a settlement have been pending for the last two months, but have not matured. The men seek a nine-hour day at 45J cents (Is 10£d) per boor.

MELBOURNE, October 12. . The conference between the Mount Lyell directors and the officers of ths union to-day was abortive. It lasted only an hour. The reinstatement of White is still the stumbling block. October 15. The Mount Lyell engine-drivers did'not come out on Saturday as was expected. They are awaiting the result of a secret ballot by the miners, who are divided as to the expediency o'f calling ' out the drivers. HOB ART, October 12. It is stated that the union does not intend to issue further provision coupons. There is a great exodus of miners from che district, and homes have been sold for next to nothing. THE LITHGOW STRIKE, SYDNEY, October 14. Strike affairs at Lithgow are at * standstill. Ample funds are being received. » v . . October 15.

The trial of the Lithgow strike leaders lias been concluded at Bathurst. Scully, Hayes, and Williams were found guilty of participating in the riot, and Cooper and Kennedy riot guilty. In the cases of Caives and Dixon the jury failed to agrea. Sentences were deferred. SYMPATHY FOR THE WORKERS. SiTDNEY, October 10. The Baptist Assembly to-day passed a resolution of sympathy with the worker* of Australasia in their attempts to obtain their just aims and aspirations. SYDNEY, October 16. The enforcement of the broken shift system, which has led to the threatened strike by the telegraphists, has been Jfostponed to allow the new Postmastergeneral to become seized of the situation. He has arranged an interview with the officials of the Telegraphists' Association. The Postmaster-general received a deputation from the Telegraphists' Association, and discussed the men's troubles.. He promised the operators a fair deal, but said he would not be bluffed into giving an answer to the demands until after fuller consideration.

SHEARERS' WAGES. SYDNEY, October 10. Mr Justice Higgins will hear the representatives of both sides before finally; settling the- terms of the shearers' award. ONEHUNGA TROUBLE SETTLED. AUCKLAND, October 10. The trouble between the men employed on the Onehunga drainage works and the contractor has terminated, the contractor having agreed to the men's demands—namely, 5s per shift on all days for tida work, the shifts not to exceed two hours. AUCKLAND WATERSIDE WORKERS. AUCKLAND, October 11. At a special meeting of members of tha Auckland Waterside Workers' Union today it was decided to take a ballot ben tween Tuesday, 16th inst;, and Saturday, 21st inst., on the question of cancellation under the act and registration with the New Zealand Federation of Labour. A number of the men oontended that it was useless going before the Arbitration Court with demands for betterment of existing conditions, and a strong feeling prevailed in favour of cuttinlg adrift from the Arbf. tiation Court to give the workers a frea hand in pursuing the redress of grievances until satisfaction was obtained.