LABOUR TROUBLES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11762, 24 February 1919, Page 5

LABOUR TROUBLES.

A SERIOUS LABOUR OUTLOOK. / , GOVERNMENT ALIVE TO POSITION. London, Feb 31 The, Government is folly alive to the seriousness of the Labour outjook. Ministers invited the miners executive,to a conference to-day. It is expected Mr Lloyd George will attend. The miners’ officials, however, express the view that unless the Government advances proposals important enough to warrant another national miners’ conference, a strike cannot be avoided if the ballot gives the necessary two-thirds majority. Conservatives and Labourites admit that the outlook is grave, particularly in view of the transporters’ refusal of arbitration and postponement of negotiations till March 4th. when the result of the National Industrial Council will he known. It is anticipated that the miners’ negotiations will have great influence on next Tuesday’s meeting of representatives of the miners,[railwayman and transporters, organise-* lions, when a joint strike will be discussed. It is known there are differences of opinion between tbe leaders of the three organisations on the question of a general strike, and it is doubtful whether Messrs Smellia and Williams will be able to persuade the railwayman to participate. Mr Wade gave a luncheon to Mr Amery, M. P., Mr Geddes, General Monash, Messrs Coghlau, Frederick Young, Bishop, Long, Newton, Moore and the Agenta-Geueral were present. Mr Bebey protested against the pernicious teaching of the syndicalists, but justified Labour’s aspirations for a standard working day, living wage, and the regulation of juvenile and women’s labour. Tbe present unrest, he said, was international. Every nation was impelled to adopt a new industrial charter. He believed the Whitely scheme would avert communistic Socialism. BELFAST STRIKE ENDED. SHIPYARD WORKERS RESUME. London, Feb 23. The Belfast strike has ended. Twenty thousand shipyard workers have resumed. THE WHUTIiY SYSTEM™ ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE. Reuter. London, Feb 31. A conference of Government officials and representatives of a number of trade unions was held to discuss the application of the Whitely system ro government establishments. The Minister of Labour declared that the Government was ready to apply the system, giving workmen a share in the management of yards. The object of the scheme is to secure that grievances shall he handled immediately they arise, thus .preventing strikes and securing harmony in industry. A committee, representing engineers, shipbailding, building, and other trades, was appointed to draft a constitution for the proposed Whitely councils. The conference of trades unionists and Government officials decided to form Whitley councils for Government industrial departments. The Conference has agreed that there shall he arbitration in the event of the Department’s failing to adopt the recommendation of such industrial councils.

BRITISH "GO-SLOW” POLICY. GIVES SUPREMACY TO AMERICA. United Service. London, Feb 21 Sir Alfred Yarrow predicts that owing to the limitation of output British yards will steadily lose supremacy to America, where there is little slowing down, and machicery is worked continuously. America is hound to become the greatest shipbuilder in the world. Japanese shipbuilders are extremely active, aided by cheap labour. They are now scouring South America with a view of monopolising orders. Yarrow’s gladly pay higher wages at Vancouver because of the doubled output. ASSISTING THE UNEMPLOYED. London, February 21. It was announced in the House of Commons that 724,000 persons had received out-of-work donations under the Government scheme for munition workers and ex-soldiers. The average weekly amount for the three weeks was £590,000. AN ATROCIOUS ACT. "RED RAG” INCENDIARISM. Brisbane, Feb 24 An attempt to burn down the Gladstone meat works was discovered before damage was caused. It is suspected to have been a Red Rag action as the result of recent cancellation of the preference clause in the meat workers’ award. Had it not been discovered the fire would have caused damage to ih© extant of three hundred thousand. MARTIAL-LAW IN MUNICH. Reuter. Copenhagen, February 22 Martial-law has hean proclaimed in Munich A committee of action has been formed, including represenatires of the;Communi«t’s Soviet There were serious disturbances in Augsburg on Friday Cavalry and sailors repeatedly cleared the streets, pouring volleys into the c rowd.

PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS MEAT REDUCED London, February 20. In reapone to an insistent public demand, the Government has appointed a committee to consider tne prices at which the Treasury's vast stock of food will be sold. The Chancellor permitting sales below the purchased prices London, February 21. £|The Food Controller is reducing the price of meat 2d per lb all round on March Ist. The Controller states that he is prepared to remove from control any particular article of food when supplies thereof are abundant, and trust to competition to reduce the cost of distribution to the lowest possible point.