INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 60, 25 October 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

MINERS APPLY FOR AN INCREASE IN WAGES, London 1 , October 24. The 'National Miners’ ! Association has decided to apply, to the Conciliation Board for one-quarter per cent, increase in the standard of jyages.; MOUNT, LYELL DISPUTE. Melbourne, October 2-fi The president and secretary of the Amalgamated Miners held a conference with tiie Mt. Lyell directors, and immediately afterwards left for Tasmania, stating they had new proposals to place before the men. BRITISH RAILWAYS. KEIR HARDIE ADVISES A STRIKE London, October 24. The men’s leaders declare that they had never bound themselves to accept the commissioners’ findings. Mr Henderson, M.P., interviewed, said it was untrue that the Commission had not conceded recognition, also that-nothing could bo done before the termination of the existing agreements. The commissioners recommended the election of new boards as early as possible. Mr Keir Hardi'e, spcnkingbit Keighley, said if a fair minimum wage and recognition were refused, railwayman had no option but to strike. SYDNEY WHARF TROUBLE. . Sydney, October 24. The Moeraki sailed at one o’clock. No wharf labourers turned\ip to work her. The company’s permanent hands and oflico clerks commenced transferring the mails and the passengers’ luggage was quickly aboard. They then started handling the general cargo, meeting with difficulty in the handling of the horses, of which there were eighty, but work is proceeding. Labourers presented themselves for work to-day, but there was no explanation of yesterday’s refusal to work. Otherwise the position iS unchanged. _ A mass meeting is being held to-night to consider the position. There was an important development in the strike at to-night’s mass meeting in the Tracies Hall, when the huge crowd which attended was too big to pack into the hall. It mas decided to adjourn till to-morrow afternoon, when the meeting will be in the basement of the Town Hall, , The deep sea wharf labourers announced tlieir intention of stopping work in the afternoon to enable members to attend the meeting, at which the question of extending the strike to all wharf labourers will be discussed. The union received telegrams from Mr Hughes and Mr Justice Higgins strongly advising the men to return to work. _ ' To-morrow’s meeting will be the crisis. Melbourne, October 24. The conference mot and adjourned till to-morrow to enable certain suggestions to bo submitted to a meeting of the men. THE LITHGOW STRIKERS. , A CONVICTION QUASHED. (Received 25, 9.15 a.in.) Sydney* October ,25. The Banco Court, on appeal, quashed the conviction of one of the Lithgow strikers, who was ; fined for ab-r senting himself from work without reasonable cause. Mr. Justice Bring, in delivering judgment, said the men, in absenting themselves, honestly believed the contract between themselves and employers * had been broken, and therefore they were justified in staying away from work. The decision may effect the other cases.