LABOUR MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 14579, 21 November 1910, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS

THE SITUATION IN WALES TROUBLOUS TIMES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, Nov. 19. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. Plcketting in South Wales is ia» creasing in rigour, and a number of officials have been molested. Houses are watched day and night. Objectionable epithets are being painted on front doors. A crowd stoned the house of the manager of the Ely colliery, and inhabitants are imperilled. A revolver fired at the strikers dispersed them. EMIGRATION. LONDON, Nov. 19. Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. The Immigration Committee of th* Central unemployed body lias secured berths on the Barbarossa at increased rates. English ships are not available. THE BOILERMAKERS. LONDON, Nov. 18. The Boilermakers’ Executive has iissued a circular announcing that it is negotiating a loan, but that lenders stipulate for unanimity and loyalty within the ranks. The Executive is pressing the Admiralty and the Board of Trade to compel the withdrawal of lock-out notices. V. S. AND CANADIAN FEDERATIONS. NEW YORK, Nov. 18.

The question of affiliating the Canadian to .the American Federation of Labour caused a dispute at the St. Louis Convention. The Canadian delegates sought to carry a resolution declaring Canada co-ordinate and simultaneously independent of the American Federation. A rival proposal was made to admit Canada to the status of a State Federation. The question was referred to a committee. . THE SYDNEY COAL LEMPERS. SYDNEY. Nov. 19. Many coal lumpers refuse to accept the agreement made by the executive and declined to work last night. They placarded some ships with a demand for two shillings an hour overtime. The majority, however, worked and are apparent l "' content. / ’ EMPLOYERS’ PROTESTS. (Special to the Times.) DUNEDIN. Nov. 11. The annual meeting of the Otago Em» ployers’ Association, held on Thursday afternoon, was not open to the press. The annual report was of a somewhat lengthy nature and dealt particularly with threatened changes in the Indus* trial system, and various speakers con* demned the extreme revolutionary me*; thods of some of the Labour leaders and their attempt to capture industries and revolutionise the industrial system. All the speakers were emphatic in their de« sire for a strong organisation of employers to combat these tendencies and retain the present system, otherwise no employer would be safe. Two clauses in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbi* tration Act Amendment Bill, the first’ dealing with compulsory unionism and the second with the prohibition of contracting for labour, were also strongly denounced. The working of the Industrial Conciliation Council was also discussed, opinions being divided as to whether it was serving a good purpose or not. The general feeling was that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was going through a trying time, and that if it was to be tinkered with much more, or If the workers were to give any other evidence of bx-eaking away from it, the whole thing should he removed from tl Statute Book altogethex-.

N.Z. LABOUR PARTY. LOCAL BRANCH MEETING. A meeting of the Invercargill branch of the New Zealand Labour party was held in Allen’s Hall on Saturday evening. There were about twenty people present, and Mr T. O’Byrne was voted to the chair. . The chairman said that since the inaugural meeting he had heard on all sides expressions of approval regarding the formation of the branch, and one gentleman had forwarded £1 as a donation towards the funds.

The report of the Committee which had been appointed to wait on the different Unions was adopted. The members stated that they had been well received by the various Unions. The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows; President, Mr M. J. Forde; Vice-Presi-dent. Mr J. Alsweiler; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr H. J. Farrant: committee: Messrs Meffin, J. Hogan, T. Edge, G. Griffith, Hopgood, Gilbert, and Ryan. Considerable discussion took place as to the amount of the annual subscription which was eventually fixed at one shilling. The Executive was instructed to draw up rules, etc., for submission to the next meeting. Several small accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting closed after a vote of thanks had been accorded Mr O’Byrne for presiding.