INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 16

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

THE MINING INDUSTRY. LONDON, February 22. The first move was made yesterday in what , will probably be a crucial struggle, affecting the mining industries’ future, when the executive of the Miners’ Federation accepted the Government’s invitation to hear a proposal for the financial decontrol of the mines, at the same time deciding to oppose it as vigorously as possible unless given a satisfactory guarantee regarding wages. The owners demand that the Government, before surrendering control, shall settle the wages question in their favour or guarantee a subsidy, claiming that it is impossible to conduct the industry on the existing wage basis. The Miners’ Delegates’ Conference rejected the South Wales proposals for a frotnight’s ultimatum. February 23. The conference between Sir Robert Horne (Minister of Labour) and the Miners’ Federation resulted in Sir Robert Horne promising t-o cancel the instructions to the owners which had led certain collieries to serve 14 days’ formal notice on. the workmen in order to terminate the existing agreement. The miners’ leaders are alleging that 60 days’ notice is necessary under the control system. Tire federation also protested against the decontrol of the coal industry on March 31. In any case, there should be no financial decontrol until August 31. Sir Robert Horne replied that decontrol was proposed at the end of March. Representatives of the masters and men were now hard at work endeavouring to find a mutual settlement cf the wages problem. Feburary 24. The Miners’ Conference passed a resolution that it -would oppose by every means in its power the decontrol of coal, which is prejudicial to the interests of the trade and of the nation generally. The executive is preparing a scheme to make a levy of the support of unemployed miners. February 25. The Coal Owners’ Association has notified the miners that it cannot discuss the wages settlement on a national basis, and is willing only to consider a reversion to district settlements. STATISTICS OF MEMBERSHIP. LONDON. February 24. Statistics published by the International Labour Office of the League of Nations show that the total trades union membership in the 20 chief countries rose from 10,835,000 at the end of 1910 to 32,680,000 at the end of 1919. The growth occurred in all countries. The membership in the European countries only at the end of 1919 is given as 26,000,000, compared with 8,500,000 in 1910. DECLINE IN WAGES. LONDON, February 22. The January statistics of the Ministry of Labour show the first substantial decline in wages, 1.450,000 persons sustaining a net decrease of £168,000 weekly, mainly in the mining, textile, and steel industries, but 700,000 received a net increase of £54.000 weekly, mainly railwaymen. AMERICAN LABOUR PROPOSALS. WASHINGTON, February 23. Representatives of 19 unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labour have adopted resolutions indicating that the organisation will oppose the efforts of the employers to employ non-union labour, and to bring about a reduction of wages. They demand the prohibition of profiteering and of the secret coercive measures which the employers are alleged to have adopted. The organisation further indicated that it would strive to induce the Harding Administration to adopt certain social labour measures. AN ILLEGAL STRIKE. SYDNEY, February 24. The Arbitration Court fined the Furniture Trades Society £IOO for participating in an illegal strike. The evidence disclosed that a- certain employer was unable to obtain workmen through the society until he dismissed a man against whom j his fellow members of the society com- | plained that he broke the time of the shop by finishing a job in less time than was considered proper. WHARF LABOURERS’ DISPUTE. SYDNEY, February 22. The wharf labourers have accepted the owners’ offer as an interim agreement as follows: —2s 9d per hour, 3s 9d per hour from 5 p.m. to midnight, and 4s 5d per hour from midnight till 8 a.m.