INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 16

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

(By Cable). SEAMEN'S STRSKE OVER. MEN MANNING THE BOATS. SYDNEY, August 25. The seamen lost no time in carrying out their resolution to man the ships immediately on the basis of the Government's latest offer of a round-table conference. The men proceeded bodily to the wharves, and the shipping companies were prepared to ship the crews without delay. August 26. The Seamen's Union has arranged to despatch a crew by the Moeraki to man the Inga, which is held up at Wanganui. August 27. Trouble has been experienced in securing a crew for the Prinzessin, the master refusing to sign on six men who left the vessel in sympathy with the Seamen's Union, which he considers a breach of the terms of their engagement. A deadlock has occurred at "Newcastle, the shipowners refusing to go to the Trades Hall ,to engage labour, - and the men declining to apply at the shipping offices. A compromise was eventually arrived at and the seamen signed on. MELBOURNE, August 26. The round-table conference with the seamen has been convened for Monday.. September 1. '—, August 27. The wharf labourers have decided not to ■work with loyalists and not to handle cargo until the labour bureau is closed. The "Wharf Labourers' Union has issued a writ against the Age, claiming £IO,OOO for an alleged libel in connection with yesterday's meeting. Mr Tudor has issued a similar writ against the Age. A STRIKE THREATENED. SYDNEY, August 25. The bakers have given 14 days' notice of their intention to strike as a protest against the proposed introduction of nightbaking. ' SABOTAGE AT BRISBANE. BRISBANE, August" 25. The engineer of the steamer Porpoise has discovered an attempt to sink the vessel, several nuts having been removed from the engine and the valve taken out of the bilge pump. A DISPUTE SETTLED. LONDON, August 20. The railwaymen's leaders recommend the acceptance of the Government's new offer, wages varying according to length of service, with a maximum of 25s daily for enginemen and motormen, and lis for firemen, inclusive of all war wages. August 22. The railway men have accepted a settlement of their dispute. . . DIRECTORS ORDER A LOCK-OUT. LONDON, August 24. The employees of the co-operative trading societies in North England struck, demanding a 44-hour week and increased wages. The directors, themselves unionordered a lock-out of 30,000 employees beginning on the 27th. Over 300 societies, with 1,500,000 members, are involved. SOUTH WALES STRIKES. LONDON, August 24. It is computed that 7,600,000 working hours were lost on the South Wales coalfields during the 12 months ended in the middle of .July, of which 4,594,000 hours were due to avoidable absenteeism, 2,120,000 hours to unavoidable absence, and 558,000 hours wer© due to strikes. August 27. The South Wales Miners' Federation reasserted its determination not to pay income tax on incomes under £250, and rejected the executive's proposal that in view of recent statements the matter should be left to the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. ENGLISH ARBITRATION AWARD. LONDON, August 24. The arbitration award to settle the bakers' strike gives an advance of 5s a week, making the wages 60s in the country and 65s in the town for a 48-hour week. The award provides payment at the rate of time and a auarter for the first two hours' overtime, then at the rate of time and a-half for subsequent overtime. TTNPLATE INDUSTRY. LONDON, August 26. The Welsh tinplate industry is sending a delegation to the United States with a view to reorganising the Welsh industry on an up-to-date basis, scrapping antiquated machinery, and resuming the premier position which America achieved during war time. LORD WRENBURY'S PROPOSAL. LONDON, August 23. Lord Wrenbury (a Lord Justice of Appeal) in a letter to The Times closely examines the tendencies of advanced trade unionism, and refers to its increasing power, repeated demands, and political pressure, suggests the immediate formation of a permanent National Freedom Force, non-political, and drawn from all classes who are prepared to maintain indispensable services when strikers, representing perhaps a twentieth of the population, threaten the community in order to impose their economically ruinous terms. The Times believes that the people are getting very weary of the interminable demands and threats, and are likely to heartily agree with Lord Wrenbury j but the paper questions whether now is an opportune time to take immediate action, which would be liable to be construed as

a challenge to unionism. Moderate unionists are now apparently reasoning among themselves, and should be given a chance of stabalising the position. WHAT UNIONISTS MUST LEARN. LONDON, August 24. The quarterly report of the General Federation of Trades Unions contains a warning by the Management Committee, signed by Mr Appleton, secretary. Itsays : " The period from November to May next will be fateful, perhaps tragic, unless sanity returns and production in-, creases. Avoidable strikes have been precipitated and union funds have been needlessly dissipated. Some strikes have a distinctly political origin. Such strikes must fail or end in revolution. They are not against the capitalist, but against the community. Against such strikes the Government must protect the people or surrender its functions. In view of the national situation and the possibility of a grave shortage, it is imperative that trades unions should face the facts that the war is over, and competition is forcefully operating; that food and raw material must be bought from countries over whose merchants our Government has no control; and that these commodities must be paid for in goods, not paper." INCREASED PRODUCTION ESSENTIAL. LONDON, August 26. _ Mr Brownlie, chairman of the Amalgamated. Engineers, has written to Mr Bowerman, parliamentary secretary of the Trade Union Congress, drawing attention to the grave national situation. He says that only increased production can avert chaos. Trade unionists cannot evade their responsibilities to the community, and Labour leaders must endeavour to alleviate the 'situation. Merely increasing wages without increasing production will not achieve the workers' ends. Mr Bowerman admits the seriousness of the question, and says trade unionists must concentrate to ensure an increased output. He will circularise the Congress Committee, wi£h a view to congress taking action. EIGHT HOUR BILL. LONDON, August 18. In the House of Commons the National Eight Hours Bill was read a first time. It includes employees of the age of 15 years upwards in all occupations, excepting a few like domestic servants, seamen, and agriculturists. Provision is made for exemption of old and infirm workers. UNITED STATES DISPUTES.. NEW YORK, August 19. The transportation strike has been settled after 48 hours' serious congestion of traffic. The employees underground received 25 per cent, increase in pay. WASHINGTON, August 26. A million and a-half workers in the United States are demanding increases "in wages, and strikes and lockouts are costing the country £100,000,000 daily. IN A REPENTANT MOOD. LONDON, August 20. A crowded meeting of Liverpool police strikers passed a resolution declaring that they realised their mistake, and respectfully begging for reinstatement in the force.