INDUSTRIAL UNREST

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 27

INDUSTRIAL UNREST

BRITISH POSTAL DISPUTE. LONDON, April 10. The Postal Service Conference at Bristol, by 98 votes to 47, resolved to empower the postal workers to strike. It was stated that their employment entails special responsibilities. Considerable unrest prevails among postal employees at the present time. The Post-master-general recently refused an immediate inquiry into their wages and conditions of work, but stated that the Government was prepared to appoint a commission to sit in 1913 after the Board of Trade inquiry into the cost of living was concluded This postponement of consideration of the workers' demands has caused great dissatisfaction. The Prime Minister was invited to receive a deputation on the subject from tlie National Joint Committee of the Postal and Telegraph Associations, but his reply was that the answer given by the Postmaster-general " represents the considered decision of the Government, and t'hat he thinks no useful purpose would be served by 'his receiving a deputation." DUNDEE STRIKE SETTLED. LONDON, April 15. The Dundee jute strike is ended. The workers obtained an advance of 2i per cent, in wages. DEMAND FOR MINIMUM WAGES. LONDON, April 15. At a demonstration by shop assistants, barmen, bakers, and waitresses in Trafalgar square a resolution was carried asking the Government to establish a minimum wage. AMERICAN COAL STRIKE. NEW YORK, April 11. There are bright prospects of a settlement of the anthracite coal strike. LITHGOW STRIKE ENDED. SYDNEY, April 10. A conference of representatives of trade unions and the Chamber of Manufacturers agreed to declare the Lithgow strike off to-day. It has lasted nine months. THE NEWCASTLE CRISIS. SYDNEY, April 11. A considerable section of the coal miners are changing front in regard to the abolition of the afternoon shift. They now fear that it will result in throwing many men out of employment. Although the Lithgow strike is not yet officially reclared off, the embargo on Lithgow iron, which caused the stoppage of the Sydney foundries, has been removed, and the men have resumed. WEST COAST MINERS' DISPUTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, April 10. As a result of the meeting held last night of the Blackball Coal Miners' Union the dispute with the company has been referred to the Federation of Labour. WESTPORT, Ajiril 10 The Westport Coal Company received a demand to-day from the Engine Drivers' Union at Denniston for an assistant to be placed with the drivers in charge of the engines driving the fans at the mine, but it was refused. The Miners' Union thereupon notified the company that it would take to-morrow off to consider the position ; consequently the Denniston section of tha company's mines will bo idle to-mor-row. April 11. The deadlock at the Westport Coal Company's Denniston mines continues, attempts to come to an amicable settlement to-day proving abortive. The union mentions that firemen have been employed for the last four or five years, and it has only lately been decided to do away with them. It considers it unsafe for a man to be in charge of engines at night with no one else in attendance. Another meeting is to be held tomorrow. Mr Dowgray, one of the executive of the Federation of Labour, ia proceeding to Denniston in the morning to try to arrive at an amicable settlement. April 12. The Denniston Engine Drivers' Union decided at the meeting held to-day to return to work under protest, pending the settlement of their dispute with the Westport Coal Company by the Federation of Labour. The company decided to have the power-house connected up by telephone. TERRITORIALS AND INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. WELLINGTON, April 12. The Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister of Defence, wa3 interviewed to-day in reference to his remarks made to the deputation which waited on him yesterday in regard to his answer to a question as to whether Territorials should be used in cases of industrial disputes. Mr Myers said that the report was cor-

rect, but he wished to add that he desired to make it quite clear that, while the Territorials should in no way take part in industrial disputes, if, however, as the result of such disputes, society was in a state of anarchy resulting in riot and disorder in the community it would be his dutv to assist to see that law and order was maintained. It was clearly the function of the police to safeguard the civil rights of the community, and only as a last resort, ai. r the failure of the usual protectors of public order, would the question of using the military arise.