INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12665, 19 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

! PLIGHT OF ENGLISH COTTON WORKERS. MANY CASES OF PRIVATION. (Press Assn.— By* Telegraph.— Copyriijat.) LONDON, January 18. Many meetings have been held to test [ the feelings of the cotton operatives towards a truce. Thirteen hours of snow ! storms in the North of England are in- ! creasing the sufferings of the strikers, I and there are general regrets that they --; had not struck in the summer when coals and gas were .unnecessary. Many operai tives are economising by staying in beef I in the morning and making the midday meal breakfast and dinner. Only 50 per i cent, are receiving strike pay at some ; mills at Rochdale. There are many ! cases of extreme privation at Break- [ burn, where the educational authorities . are providing children with free meals. Judgment summonses against debtors have been adjourned for two months. (Received January 19, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 19. The Miners' conference has commenced !at Birmingham. The ballot resulted in ! 458,401 voting in favor of tendering notices, while £15,921 voted against. Fifteen thousand miners have been thrown idle at Channock Chase. owing to the difficulty in moving railway trucks. Owing to reported disturbances in connection with the strike of miners at Newnes, a detachment of police left the city for the scene last night. NEW YORK, January 18. I The United Mirfe Workers' Federation j of America, at a convention at Indianopolis, favored Government ownership of industries. The Socialists launched a ■resolution seeking endorsement of their party as a political party of the! working classes. Opposition developed, and a stormy debate followed. The . question ; . was finally adjourned. Many speakers •objected to pledging to the mine-work- ■'•' era and a political party. MELBOURNE, an.; 18. , Stevedores are increasing the stacking. '■' rates on oversea cargoes by 2d per ton, making the rate 10£d. It is pointed W that during the year they' have been: compelled to increase the^yharf labor- ' era' wages 26 per cent. - i „.."•■" WELLINGTON, last night; The conference between representatives of the Seamen's Union and steam-. •> ship owners, which was commenced in ■ November last, and adjourned. after a 7 • provisional agreement had -been drawn., up, and signed by both parties, was re. -• sumed to-day, Mr P. Hally presiding;' -' When the last conference adjourned it* 4; was decided that the agreement arrived"" at, which wap made without prejudice to side, should .remain vn. force, as • the conference did not wish to take a ' final step until the award' of the Federal -'„ Arbitration Court. was made known. Although the agreement was made without' : prejudice to either side, the Union was" of opinion that the* question of prefer- ' ence to unionists was practically settled but it was found at to-day's meeting that :•. such was not the case. The whole question was re-ppened and a greater part of „ todays sitting was occupied in discuss:" ' : ing the subject in every aspect. When?? tne meeting adjourned the question of preference had been practically settled to the satisfaction of the union. It is ' expected the conference will conclude to-'---morrow. . (Spw4al to Herald.) WELLINGTON, thin dav. ■ This morning at 10 o'clock the men'' W i7 . b e allowed to cease work on the wharf to hear the agreement ; read at the waitincr-robm. :.Jn a sense this will be an unprecedented cohering. The men will also receive printed copies of the new conditions under which they will"' nW 1 labor, and this procedure will be followed at various ports. There was a- Unique sight on the wharf to-day, vessels being practically idle while the men were at the meeting, They filed out at 11 .45^ but say little as to the new agreement., Some profess themselves as delighted : others consider it too early to pronounce an opjn- " ion, while a few confess they cannot yet ■' understand the details. Work was resumed at 1^ o'clock..