INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 20

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE COAL'COMMISSION. LONDON, May 16 (delayed). Sir C. Gregory Wade, New South Wale ; Agent-geneidl, stated in evidence ati the Coal Commission that the Railway Board in New South Wales had reduced the dangers of State ownership of the railrays to a minimum. The Labour Government of New South Wales had never attempted to nationalise coal, despite the miners' demand for it. There was no stimulus to economy or to any reduction in excessive staffs under State ownership. It encouraged bureaucracy and a desire to avoid responsibilities, and also encouraged lazic 33s among the miners. All coal, after leaving **» pifclead, should be controlled, but this could be accomplished without nationalisation of the whole industry. The miners should be represented at any tribunal fixing wages and conditions of labour, but it would be dangerous.to discipline if the management of the mines were shared with tho miners. " Sir"o. G. Wade said he was certain that State ownership would never stop strikes. This was proved by the -strikes in the Victorian coal mines, the New South Wales railways, the commonwealth shipbuilding yards, and the New Zealand _jal mine's. May 21 (delayed). Giving evidence before the Coal Commission, Lord Gainsford stated that the Coal Owners' Association had authorised him to say that if the coal owners were not allowed to keep complete executive control they would refuse all responsibility for the bidustry. THREATENED POLICE STRIKE.

LONDON, May 29. The.police dispute is becoming critical. It is declared in responsible quarters that a strike is practically inevitable. If it occurs it will ttffeot the large provincial centres in addition to London. A decision is probable "within a week. The authorities are taking every precaution, to meet \\he situation.

May 30. The Cabinet has sanctioned the Police Commissioner's order warning the police fcgainst a strike. The strikers will be instantly dismissed and never permitted to yejoin the forces, and the pensions plea mil not be accepted as an excuse. Officers and men have been instructed to defend themselves, if, necessary, by all legitimate ' tieans in the execution of their duty. May 31. Mr Shortt, Home Secretary, has issued <% stern warning to the police force against Jjtriking. He said the Governme.it had decided to pay a pensionable constable not less than 70s. The Government could pave no dealings with the Policemen *e Union. Any strikers would forthwith be dismissed, and would lose their pensions. |f - a strike occurs not only special conItables, mit every loyal citizen, ehould

come forward to assist in maintaining law and order. June 1. Five hundred men who dissent from a strike policy have withdrawn from the Police Union. The latter offers to postpone action if Mr Lloyd George will consent to an inquiry similar to Mr Justice. Sankey's in- . qufryThe police ballot resulted in 44,539 voting in favour of a strike, and 4324 against. The officials continue to negotiate with the Government. It was' announced at the police demonstration in Hyde Park that the men's executive had postponed the strike until peace ha.., been signed. LABOUR TRIPLE ALLIANCE. '■ I ' LONDON, May 15 (delayed). ) A conference of the "Triple Alliance" j 6/id the Trades Union Parliamentary |Pa f discussed methods for enforcing the resoJutions passed on April 17. It was dec'clod to defer a decision until the Parliamentary Committee has consulted the Government. ' SERIOUS STRIKE IN CANADA. OTTAWA, May 16 (delayed). Thirty thousand trade unionists have -struck, demanding the recognition of their union. The city is at a standstill and is almost foodless. Industry in Winnipeg is at a standstill owing to a general strike in sympathy with the metal trades' efforts for union recognition. v Some weeks ago these trades asked for higher wages, shorter hours, and union recognition. The companies refused, but agreed to arbitration. The unions refused ! arbitration, relying on the principle of 'collective bargaining. The companies thereupon agreed to the demands for higher wages and shorter hours, but refused to deal with any union outside their own employees. To-day the climax was reached. The street car employees, the telephone, postal, and elevator staffs, thousands of clerks and stenographers, general workers, and firemen came out. The stereotypers and pressmen joined the strike, and the newspapers suspended publication. The police also walk-*! out, but the Strike Commictee ordered them to resume duty to preserve order. Sufficient bakers have also been retained to supply bread to the hospitals, while a citizens' committee manned the fire stations. Most of the shops closed; and will not open until they receive permission from the strike leaders, who claim that 26,000 workers have struck. Bread depots have opened to relieve distress. A big force of police has been drafted in. Some rioting occurred this morning, and a few people were injured. The Manitoba Govemment'employees are demanding a 60 per cent, advance in wagea.

May 26. The strike has spread to Calgary, Edmondton, and Saskatchewan. The postal employees refused to obey the Government order to resume, and volunteer postmen are delivering the mails at Toronto. The Labour leaders declare that 45,000 members of 50 unions will strike on Wednesdav, May 28, unless the metal workers' demands are conceded. May 29. Fifty thousand persons are idle through the general strike which started at Winnipeg. The strikers dimand recognition of col- : lective bargaining. I SUEZ CANAL STRIKE. CAIRO, May 16 (delayed). ! A strike among the Suez Canal employees has interrupted navigation, and many ships are held up. ; AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING STRIKE. TAKING A PLEBISCITE. MELBOURNE, May 27. | Writs have been issued on behalf of one New South Wales, two Queensland, and two South Australian members of the Seai men's Federation against five members of | their Executive Council, seeking a declaraI tion that all acts of business transacted ; by defendants as executive officers since January 29 are illegal and void, arid asking the court for an injunction restraining them from acting as executive officers or dealing in any way with the funds of the federation.

May 2a The strikers attempted to rush the wharf where the loyalists were unloading steemers, but were defeated by a strong body of police. Four thousand five hundred people are idle.

An increasing number of loyalists are working under police protection.

May 29. Loyalists returning from work were subjected to a hostile demonstration by the strikers, -whom the mounted police dispersed. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Oman) has announced that, as a result of intimidation by the unionists, loyalists have left work at the Brooklyn -wheat stacks; therefore he has decided to pay off all unionists and offer the work to returned soldiers.

The Acting Prime Minister of the Commonwealth (Mr Watt) has refused to allow the Queensland Government to charter vessels to ease the strike situation.

The Shipping Conference has decided to take a plebiscite of employees regarding the manning of ships. All other matters in dispute will be refered to the Arbitration Court.

! The conference adjourned till Juno 6, when it is hoped the result of the ballot will bo available. i May 30. ' The coal lumpers have refused to work steamers on which loyalists ere employed.

The Coal Board has decided to regulate the coal supply. From Wednesday next only essential industries will be supplied. A crowd of strikers attempted to rush a vessel on which loyalists were engaged. They were beaten off after a fight, during which the police used their batons. May 31. There are now 6600 idle as the result of the seamen's strike, and the wages loss totals £16,000 weekly. June 2.

One hundred and fifty 'loyal lumpers are working the Kotomahana and the Westralia.

The Melbourne Seamen's Union will commence to take a plebiscite of members on Tuesday. SYDNEY, May 27. The conference adjourned to enable the seamen's representative from Queensland to attend, he having, been delayed as a result of the quarantine restrictions. The loyalists resumed work on the wharves under the protection of a strong force of mounted and foot police. There has been no demonstrating on the paTt of the strikers so far. Five thousand people have been rendered idle as a result of the strike. May 28. The Waterside Workers' Federation has received advice from the Brisbane branch that the men at Brisbane are prepared to work interstate cargo from oversea ships, provided such cargo was loaded entirely by waterside workers' labour. It is unlikely that shipowners will agree to this, as it would mean the abandonment of preference to the loyalists who are at present loading oversea steamers. There are now 14 New South Wales northern collieries idle. May 29. * Most of the interstate and coastal steamers are now laid up. It is estimated that there are 50,000 tons of cargo on the waterfront awaiting shipment to interstate ports. There are masny thousands of unemployed in the Northern district, including 5000 coal miners.

May 30. The committee has made final arrange-" ments for a ballot of seamen throughout Australia on the question, " Shall the ships be manned forthwith, and if so manned shall the dispute be referred to the Arbitration Court?" In view of this arrangement the local ballot, which.evoked a poor response, has been stopped. May 31. The Seamen's Union at Sydney has approved of the "taking of a plebiscite. The opinion is expressed that the ballot will result in an overwhelming majority in favour of the resumption of shipping. June 1. The Victorian seamen have joined in the Queensland decision to ignore a ballot, but the New South Wales Union is, confident that an overwhelming number of its members will favour a resumption of work and be able to out-vote the other branches. BRISBANE, May 31. The Seamen's Union refused to take a plebiscite on the question of submitting the trouble to arbitration, and declined to man ships until the demands receive attention. . STRIKE) IN THE TOBACCO TRADE. SYDNEY, May 30. The. girls in the British-Australasian tobacco factory have struck, demanding higher wages. The men struck in sympathy, and there are 1200 workers idle. LOSS CAUSED BY STRIKES. MELBOURNE, May 30. Mr Watt, Acting Prime Minister, states that there have been 1647 strikes in the commonwealth in the past three years, resulting in a loss of 8,000,000 working days and £4,500,000 in wages. LABOUR IN AN UGLY MOOD. (Fkom Oue Own Coruespondent.) SYDNEY,- May 21. Australia i& again in the throes of a shipping strike which, if it is not promptly settled,- is certain to extend widely and have consequences. It is of vital importance that at present, when '[the readjustment from war to peace conditions is taking place, all our commercial activities be unhampered. If this strike develops as at th» moment it promises to do, the general prospect is the worst possible. Labour in Australia is in an ugly mood. - Not only have we with us the. usual plagues in the shape of 1.W.W.-ism and Bolshevism, but we have also that very definite spirit of social unrest that has been created by the war. Qn top of this is the belief, almost universal, that the masses have been exploited in the most brutal manner by all kinds of trades people, so that the cost of living :s far beyond what it ought tobe. Whether this is justified or not, the fact remains that the resentment against high prices is found everywhere. It is ju.«t the tinder that such a tiling as a seamen's .strike may light. The whole situation requires prompt, and delicate handling. New Zealand had experience of the same kind of trouble quite recently, when shipping was tied up for a long time because the seamen wanted —and eventually got — epidemio pay. Some two months ago the Brisbane seamen demanded the same thing, and were rc-lused. Ever since then, many ships have been tied up in Brisbane. For a long time the appeals of the Brisbane men for the support of the Seamen's Federation wore unavailing, but at last —by what devious ways no one knows—the federation has been persuaded to move. Tho federation demands epidemio pay for the seamen, and "Victoria and New South Wales have gone on strike with Queensland. South Australia and West Australia are standing out and refuse to strike. Big efforts are being made to-day in Melbourne to get the parties to agree to refer the dispute to a board of reference, and there is reasonable- prospect that this will be done.

Meanwhile, food prices everywhere are "rocketing-." The food situation is said to be critical even now, so it can be imagined what it means if the supplies usually brought by steamer are out off. Nothing is more certain to lead to a revolutionary outbreak is what Australia has to leqf. Tho result would be & foregone conclusion. It

is only the very noisy minority in Australia which the outside world hears of —but it is a minority which has to be suppressed: sooner or later.

This may be the last mail to New Zesuland for some time. The plight of the many New Zealanders marooned in thia country as a consequence of the* "flu" restrictions is a pitiful one, and it now threatens to become worse. Experiences in recent months are enough to give a trip to cither New Zealand or Australia all the characteristics of a very dangerous adventi.re.