INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3500, 12 April 1921, Page 15

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

THE SHIPBUILDING TRADE. LONDON, April 2. The conference between the shipbuilding employers and employees, wdth a view to arranging a new basis for wages, has failed. The employers declined the suggested arbitration under the Industrial Court Act. The employees are approach mg the Ministry with a view to establishing machinery for a settlement. .CLEVELAND IRONSTONE MINERS LONDON, April 4. The Cleveland ironstone miners have agreed to a further reduction in wages of 3s per day, making 5s in five weeks. DUTCH MINERS. AMSTERDAM, April 6. The Coal Comniission is discussing wage reductions. The miners are demanding State aid to maintain the present rates of pay. The owners now offer the continuation of the present wages during April, with a 6 per cent, reduction next month. TROUBLE AT TURIN. ROME, April 7. The Eiat Works at Turin have closed down, 13,000 workers being dismissed, owing to their refusal to submit to partial dismissals. THE IRREPRESSIBLE MR WALSH. SYDNEY, April 8. According to the official report of the Australian Workers’ recent conference Mr Walsh (president of the Seamen’s Union), in a speech, declared that the seamen would not have arbitration. They held that there was nothing to arbitrate about. They would only accept such compromises as they were driven to, holding to their agreements as long as they were suitable, and breaking them as soon as the circumstances of the moment demanded. If revolutionary exigencies demanded it, even the existing constitution of the Seamen’s Union would be scrapped. Until the Workers’ Union was prepared to accept views similar to the Seamen’s Union there was no hope of the seamen joining the proposed union. OWNERS’ OFFER REJECTED. MELBOURNE, April 8. At a conference of seamen and owners in connection with the seamen’s new log the owners' offer of an increase of 10s weekly was rejected. MOUNT LYELL COMPANY. HOBART, April 8. Mount Lyell miners declined the company’s proposals and advised the company to apply to the Arbitration Court to secure the necessary relief. [The Mount Lyell Company submitted a statement to tile employees showing the cost of working and the price of copper. The company suggested the introduction of an 88-hour fortnight, and a reduction in wages of from 10 to 15 per cent.] FEMALE EMPLOYEES STRIKE. SYDNEY, April 9. A number of female employees engaged in bootmaking struck for a 44-hour and five-day week. STEVEDORES’ COMPLAINT. MELBOURNE, April 10. The stevedores declined to continue work on overseas vesse’s unless the sailors cease chipping paint work. The stevedores complain that the noise interferes with their conversation. MOUNT MORGAN MINE. BRISBANE, April 10. There is no immediate prospect of a resumption of operations at the Mount Morgan mine. A conference between the owners and the men on the question of a reduction in wages failed to reach an agreement. FRENCH MINERS’ DISPUTE. PARIS, April 9. The mineowners in Northern France have refused to increase the miners’ wages, but have agreed to raise the allotments to the miners’ families. ANARCHY IN ITALY. ROME, April 8. All the persons implicated in the Milan Theatre outrage have been arrested. It is reported that they admitted their guilt. Following the destruction of the Labour offices by Padova Fascists, Socialists proclaimed a general strike and attempted to set fire to the Fascist clubs. The opposing processions fought, one person being killed and many injured. Finally the Fascists overcame and dispersed the Socialists. Thirty-nine Anarchists arrested at Ferrars were implicated in a plot to bomb the Fascist clubs, cafes, and tho Verdi Theatre.