INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Otago Witness, Issue 3574, 12 September 1922, Page 23

INDUSTRIAL WORLD

DEMONSTRATION IN LON DOT?. LONDON. September 2. Two thousand civil servants demonstrated at Trafalgar Square protesting against the rates of pay fixed for 5000 men and 2000 women who were recently given permanent appointments after serving in a temporary capacity for several years and passing an examination. Tho speakers declared that the rates, which range from 57s weekly for third grade clerks to 70s weekly for first grade clerks, are from 7s to 20s below the amounts paid to temporary employees xvho failed at the examinations. They are also, below the rates paid to manual labourers. CAPTAIN’S ORDERS DISREGARDED. LONDON, September 6. Thirty-one coloured seamen belonging to the Wonganella xvere charged at the Middlesborough Police Court xvith disobeying the captain’s orders. The men demanded pay to which it xvas alleged they were not entitled. They refused to xvork, and as a result the ship lost the tide. The two ringleaders were imprisoned for four weeks and the others, xvho were bound over, said they preferred prison. WAGE CUTS RESENTED. OTTAWA, September 7. The Canadian Cabinet has called a special meeting to consider an appeal by the Railway Shopmen’s Union from tha findings of the Conciliation Board, which announced itself in favour of tentative wage cuts. THE COAL TRIBUNAL. SY'DNEY', September 6. The Coal Tribunal has adjourned sine die, the miners’ representatives opposing the hearing of the owners’ claims till tha South Coast dispute has been decided by the High Court. Tha chairman, xvhilst opposed to further delay, explained that there was no alternative to an adjournment, as the miners’ representatives otherwise would absent themselves, leaving the tribunal without a legal quorum. As the outcome of a special meeting of the Council of the Miners' Federation, which endorsed the action of the miners’ representatives on the Coal Tribunal in refusing to proceed with farther consideration with tile owners’ claims for a reduction in wages, the miners at the collieries throughout the commonwealth will hold stop-xvork meetings on Thursday to discuss whether the men s representatives shall xvith draw from the tribunal. COAL MINERS RESTIVE. SYDNEY’, September 7. Meetings of coal miners in every State in Australia discussed xvhether they xvould give 14 days’ notice to strike as a protest ; against the proposed reduction in wages, i Several meetings in New South Wales i unanimously decided to ask the consent ! of the Federation to give notice if their : grievances xvere not adjusted, i = It is estimated that through the stop- ! xvork meetings in New South W ales tha j union members lost £30,000 in \vage3. COST OF LTV INO INQUIRY. SYDNEY', September 7. j A public inquiry as to the increase or ! decrease in the cost of living has opened : before the Board of Trade with the object .of making a nexv declaration of the living wage. The inquiry xvas adjourned till September 14. PRINTING TR \DE DISPUTES. HUB ART. September 4. The Mercury’s printers resumed work pending a conference to settle certain j points in dispute upon which no agreement has been reached. PERTH. September 4. Tho printing strike remains unsettled. No papers are publishing.