INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

(By Cable.) AGRICULTURAL WORKERS. LONDON, April 13. A conference of delegates from 2000 branches of the Agricultural Workers' Union adopted a resolution that the minimum -wage be 50s for six days a week of 44 hours. It also demanded the appointment of a commission of inquiry concerning land problems, particularly that of nationalisation. BALLOT BY MINERS. LONDON, April 12. The ballot taken, by the Lancashire an 4 • Cheshire miners resulted in 56,154 voting in favour of accepting Mr Justice Sankey's report, and 12,090 against. The final ballot figures show that 693,084 miners accepted Mr Justice Sankey's report, as against 76,992. LABOUR ALLIANCE CONFERENCE. LONDON, April 17. The Triple Labour Alliance Conference at Southport ratified the acceptance of the offers to the miners, railwaymen, and transport workers, and also urged that the Trade Union Congress convene a national conference to decide upon action in connection with the demand for the withdrawal of conscription, the immediate raising of the blockade, the withdrawal of troops from Russia, and the release of conscientious objectors. STRIKE AT LIMERICK. t LONDON, April 14. A strike of railway men and all other transport workers brought to a standstill the business at Limerick, and the unrest threatens to spread throughout the South of Ireland. The strikers aver the intention to force an issue with the authorities over the question of martial law and the order prohibiting travelling. No bread is being baked and no milk sold, and as the provision dealers are closing the food situation is serious. The gas and electric workers joined the strikers, and candles are the only household lighting. April 20. Business in Limerick continues at a standstill. The strike leaders have picketed the foodstuffs and hotels, but considerable backdoor selling is going on. The military • have erected sentry-posts at all approaches, and have proclaimed an area in which permits are»required for entry and departure. A railway strike has begun. There is no disorder. AUSTRALIAN DISPUTES. SYDNEY, April 15. A meeting of the Miners' Federation Delegate Board at Newcastle accepted the tentative agreement arrived at by the Melbourne conference as to the main clauses of the agreement (which operates until December, 1920),,providing for an increase in wages and rates of pay and for machinery for the settlement of all disputes. At a meeting of the Illawarra Miners' Delegates' Board it was decided that unless the owners grant a 25 per cent, in•crease the men will give 14 days', notice to cease work. April 17. No finality has been reached in the conference between the coal owners and the miners. The conference resumes on Wednesday. April 10. The president of the Miners' Federation states that unless the miners receive the, increases agreed upon by the Melbourne conference nothing can prevent confusion in the industry throughout Australia. . ,'■ MELBOURNE, April 16. Unless immediate action is taken by the Federal Government to prevent the delaying of coal-carrying ships, the whole industrial life of Victoria will be at a standstill in three weeks, and 100,000 employees rendered idle. April 21. The Labour Conference passed a resolution urging the repeal of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act. that the franchise be granted to all persons at the age of 18, and that all shipping be nationalised.