LABOUR MATTERS

Southland Times, Issue 16792, 22 July 1911, Page 6

LABOUR MATTERS

THE shipping strike. SITUATION AT CARDIFF. (By Telegraph.--Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON. July 21. Received July 21, 0.20 p.m. Work at Cardiff is at a standstill and 100 vessels are idle. The Lord Mayor conferred with the shipowners, who subsequently made proposals which the men considered. The Lord (Mayor is hopeful that these proposals will form the basis of a settlement. All Chinese laundries were attacked at night and one was burnt. Dockers at Barry have struck. ALLEGED SHORTAGE OP LABOUR. SYDNEY, July 21. Before the Shortage of Labour Commission the evidence disclosed that the Lithgow ironworks recently refused a £50,000 contract owing to inability to secure hands. Another witness deposed that orders had gone to Germany and elsewhere from the same cause. SYDNEY. July '2l. Received July 21, 9.25 p.m. Before the Works’ Commission the Engineer of Harbours and Rivers, stated that he had experienced no shortage either of skilled or unskilled labour. Workers liked Government jobs; but a manufacturer stated that he was paying up to £8 per week, and was unable to get men. If he imported men from England they would have to pay £2O to join the union.

THE SUGAR STRIKE; MR HUGHES’ ACTION CRITICISED. MELBOURNE, , July 21. The steamship owners will next week consider the position that has arisen over the sugar strike. It is considered unnecessary to take immediate action, as a large quantity of sugar is lying in Queensland ports still to be shipped. There is much comment on Mr Hughe’s attitude. It Is urged that he should either resign the AttorneyGeneralship or the Presidency of the Waterside Workers’ Federation. Mr Hughes claims that the Federation has not contravened the Federal Arbitration Act. It was not the cause of the. strike, and anyhow the Arbitration Court has jurisdiction only in a dispute extending beyond one State. Directly anything arises involving an industrial dispute he will resign the presidency. No action has yet been taken by the waterside workers. If is considered significant in connection with the present situation that the new agreement between the steamship owners and Waterside Workers’ Federations has not yet been signed. THE WATERSIDERS. MELBOURNE, July 21. Received July 22, 12.10 a.m. A meeting of the Council of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, Mr Hughes (Attorney - General) presiding, confirmed the decision of the Executive riot to handle non-union sugar during the currency of the Queensland dispute. Mr Hughes afterwards declared that the men would not strike; they merely refused to handle certain goods.