INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 17

INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS

BE ITIS H ENG INKERS. LONDON, June 29. The engineers’ ballot resulted in 257,532 members voting against, and 125,014 in favour of the wage reduction scheme. The parties are conferring on the new situation. LONDON, June 30. After a heated debate, an overwhelming majority of engineers’ delegates at the conference recommended the acceptance of a provisional wage cut agreement. The members are balloting on the proposal. The agreement provides for two reductions of 3s weekly for time rates and per cent, for piece rates, to operate from July 15 and August 15 respectively. The engineering dispute has been settled on the terms cabled. RAILWAY MEN’S WAGES. LONDON, June 28. Another 5s per week reduction in railvaymen’s wages was , agreed to to-day owing to a fall of 25 per cent, in the cost of living. This will save the country £10,000,000 a year. THE RAND MINES. CAPETOWN, June 28. Speaking in the Chamber of Mines at Johannesburg, the chairman, in referring to the Labour objection to the importation of tropical natives as contrary to the ideal of a white South Africa, and preventing the substitution of white unskilled labour for black, said that such a substitution would men an addition to the wages bill of £20,000,000 yearly, whereas the total working profit of all the mines last year was £1i,500,000. In other words, such a* change would instantly destroy the whole industry. UNEMPLOYED IN SOUTH AFRICA. CAPETOWN, June 28. The Unemployment Commission appointed by the Government recommends an extensive land settlement scheme involving an expenditure of £15,000,000, whereby it is e-timated that 20,000 white families will be provided for: also forced labour colonies for first offenders for illicit liquor selling. LABOUR IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, June 28. Mr Samuel Gompers was re-elected by the Denver Convention president of the American Federation of Labour, beating Mr Lewis by 25,000 votes to 13,000. This is Gompers’s fortieth term of office. He overcame most bitter opposition on the part of the more radical elements. NEW YORK, June 29. The Chicago railway shop employees voted overwhelmingly in favour of refusing a 12 per cent, wage cut which the Railway Labour Board ordered to be effective on July 1. The men are threatening to strike. INTERNATION AL LABOUR, LONDON, July 2. The House of Commons ratified the Washington International Labour Convention’s recommendations except the recommendation relating to maternity. Dr Macnamara- pointed out that the provisions relating to maternity m England were in advance of those of other countries. The Government felt that it would not be justified in scrapping the existing machinery. The Government also could not accept the recommendation in regard to the hours of labour, which cut across the voluntary agreement with the railway workers. Mr Chamberlain said that Americas abstention from the convention was an insuperable barrier against the hope that the world would advance equally in securing an improvement in industrial conditions. The Government was prepared to participate in a special conference to secure a more elastic convention. He repudiated the idea that any section would render futile the League of Nations Labour organisation. SHIP JOINERS’ STRIKE. LONDON, July 2. , Following upon a conference at Edinburgh. the employers are submitting a new offer to the snip joiners, who have been on strike for seven months. LABOUR SOLIDARITY. SYDNEY, June 28. The New South Wales delegates to the Unions’ Congress have returned to Sydney. They explained that as the outcome of the congress an effort was to be made to reconcile all the diverse interests of the workers' on common interests, allowing each to retain its individual identity on particular matters.