LABOUR TROUBLES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10524, 10 December 1912, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

I BRITISH RAILWAY STRIKE. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received December 10, 9 a.m. London, December 9. Several meetings of the NorthEastern railwayman passed resolutions to strike until Knox, the driver, is reinstated, and to resist interference with private lines of fellow workers. London, December 9. Knox was disorderly on a tramcar and assaulted the police. The company did not dismiss him because he was a driver for 33 years, but instead reduced him to pilot driver at wages 9s less. The North Eastern manager states that it is necessary to protect the public, and there is no answer if there is an accident after a conviction of drunkenness. He recalls the Board of Trade’s report on the Darlington accident, which described drunkenness even off duty an unpardonable offence for an engine driver. The company is willing to re-instate Knox after the probationary period. The strikers doubt Knox’s guilt and in any case his conduct off duty was not the company’s business.

SUPPORT REFUSED. Meetings of the railwaymen at Hull, Sunderland, York and Darlington refused to support the strike. The North-Eastern has given notice that 3500 strikers are dismissed, and has asked them to return their uniforms and equipment. There, is unrest on the Midland the men alleging victimisation M union leaders. EMPLOYEES’ APPRECIATION. South Shields Seamen’s and Firemen’s Union has passed a resolution of appreciation of the shipowners voluntary increases and expressing the opinion that the Union considers the time opportune for establishing a National Wages Board to standardise wages on all British ships, DOCKERS GO ON STRIKE. Received December 10, 11 a.m. London, December 9. Twevle hundred North-Eastern Tyne dockers have struck in sympathy. The coal trade is being held up and much shipping is idle. The railwaymen are appealing to the Amalgamated Union to declare a national strike. / TRADE UNION BALLOTS. Trade Unionist Societies officially deny Wolmer’s statement that the trade union ballots have Jieen irregularly conducted.

TIMARU STRIKE “OFF.” Per Press Association. Timarti, December 9. The wharf strike was declared "off” to-day. Mr Webb, president of the Federation, met the men. He pointed out that the strike had not been authorised by the Federation, and, in the interests of discipline, the men should resume work. Recognising the force of Mr Webb’s argument, the men agreed to resume. Ko steamer was in until the Karamea came in this After the stock sale at, Pleasant Point to-day the farmers present held a meeting, and roundly condemned the strike. They decided that arrangements ought to be made to getgmen in from the country at once in'the case of any future strike on the 'wharves, as such stoppages of port business affected farmers material!} 7 . At a meeting of farmers in the town on Saturday, it was said that 400 to 500 men could be got in a couple of hours if necessary.