INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 3 October 1911, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

GREAT BRITAIN TEXTILE WORKERS FEDERATE. (By Electric. Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, October 2. A conference of Lancashire textile workers at Huddersfield decided to federate, with a view to common action. The strikers’ conference pretested against the formation of a volunteer police force at St. Gaudens. AUSTRALIA. MINE ENGINEERS. Melbourne, October 2. The engineers employed in the State coalmine have demanded an increase of Is 8d per shift. Failing compliance they tln-caten drastic action. SEAMEN’S CLAIMS. / (Received 3, 10.15 a.m.) Melbourne, October 3. The Federal Arbiration Court has commenced the hearing of seamen’s claims against the Steamship Owners’ Association. The demands are:— Boatswains £9 per month, A.B.’s £B, lamp trimmers £9, ordinary seamen £O, donkeymen £ll, greasers £lO, and runners £B. Four hours on duty and eight off when at sea is claimed.

NEW ZEALAND. SEAMEN AND OFFICERS. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, October 2. It is stated unofficially that the Auckland Seamen’s Union has decided to apply lor the cancellation of its registration under the Arbitration Act. There were, it is stated, from 16 to 2b members present at the meeting at. which the decision was arrived at out of a total of from five to six hundred financial members, which comprises the union. The Auckland Union’s agreement with the shipowners expired twelve months ago last March, and apparently no fresh terms of agreement have been submitted. The secretary of the Auckland Union (Mr Kneen) says he is not in a position to discuss the matter at present.

An officer in the Auckland coastal fleet, when asked to-day whether he thought there was a possibility of a strike there, in sympathy with the Wellington officers, said it was impossible to say what would happen. A claim for an award respecting the Auckland coastal service had been filed' under the Arbitration Act, and was to have come before the Court during the present sitting, but ships’ officers all through the Dominion were so dissatisfied with the Arbitration Court award in Wellington that he believed the officers in Auckland would seek to withdraw their claim for an award fact he !( kncw that that course had been advised by Captain Watson (secretary of the Merchant Service Guild). It was, he declared, absolutely beyond Id's comprehension as to how the Court-could have declared that it was a fair thing for officers to work 20 hours out of the 24. Here in Auckland officers in the coastal fleets were now working 30 hours out of 48, and they wanted less than that, but evidently the Arbitration Court thought they should work, more. A meeting of officers had been called to consider the desirability of taking action, but unanimity as to tho course to be taken had not prevailed.

ARBITRATION GOU RT. Auckland, October 2. At tiie Arbitration 'Court to-day, in the ship ami boat baUdk.g j dispute, the union’s representatives said all points but wages, limitation of apprentices, and tlie term of the award, had been settled before the Conciliation Council. -The union was asking for Is Gd an hour all round, the rate prevailing all over the Dominion, except at Auckland. The employers offered Is 3d an hour for shipwrights, and Is 2d for boatbuilders. Mr Justice Sim said an agreement had been arrived at in 1909, and it was for the union to show that conditions had so changed that the increase was necessary, and this they hadmiot done. After evidence had been taken, the Court reserved its decision. ANCHOR LINE MAY BE HELD UP. Nelson, October 2.

Unloss the coastal shipping trouble is settled within two or three days it is probable that the whole of the Anchor fleet will bo laid up. The company has arranged for the completion of several trips, but all vessels on return to Nelson will be laid up pending a settlement. "It is rumoured that the Union Company's officers may strike in sympathy with those on small vessels, although they are not affected by the Arbitration Court award.

SOLICITOR STRUCK OFF. FOR EMiIEZZLEMENT. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 3. Tho -Court of Appeal tin’s morning, on the application of tho Wellington District law Society, made an absolute rule to strike Arthur Harold Bunn off tho roll of solicitors. Tho ground for the order was that ho was a solicitor who had been convicted of embezzling his employer’s money. Mr. A. Gray appeared in -support of tho application, and Mr. T. Young for Bunn. Fifteen cpiiueas costs were allowed to the Society.