INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 28 October 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE RAILWAY COMMISSION’S REPORT. THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. London, October 27. Mr. Hohhouse, speaking at Bristol, declared that until the companies’ railway men decided what their action was to bo, the Government would not make a pronouncement on the commission’s report. The riotous proceedings- in the recent strikes led to the demand for amendment of the Trades Disputes Act in regard to peaceful picketing. The Government considered the law strong enough to protect the individual, and therefore they did not intend to amend it. ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION. y London, October 27. Mr Sydney Buxton announced that, in addition to the Industrial Council, the Government ivere creating a special department under the Chief Industrial Commissioner, through which the existing Board of Trade conciliation and arbitration powers would in future be exorcised. EFFECT OF THE RECENT STRIKE. London, October 27. A Liverpool doctor estimates that at least five hundred children died in August and September as a direct consequence of the strike interfering with the food supplies. OWNERS’ DEMAND FOR REDUCTION. THE UNIONS COUNTER STROKE. - ,i, Loudon, October 27. The Cardiff Seamen’s Union reply to the OAvncrs’ demand for a reduction in AA'ages by applying for an advance in the maximum rate of 110 s monthly, fixed under the recent agreement. The dockers at SAvansea are acting in sympathy. The NeAvport 'dockers refused to Avork the Hornby Grange. NEWPORT DOCKERS’ TROUBLE. London, October 27. The NeAvport dockers arc submitting the dispute Avitli Houlder Bros, to the Industrial Council before declaring a general strike of transpot Avorkers in Bristol Channel ports. RAILWAY COMPANIES RETALIATE. (Received 2S, 9.30 a.m.) London, October 27. The railway companies are increasing the Avages of the loAver grades as a counterstroke to the raihVaynien’s threatened strike against the commissioners’ finding. ’I bis is understood to be a prelude to tlie higher passenger and freight rates Avhich the Government promised to sanction. SYDNEY WHARF STRIKE. A SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT. Sydney, October 27. A serious development of the strike occured to-day, Avhen a number of constant hands employed on the Avharves declined to continue, although' they are not members of the Wharf Laborer’s Union. Men Avorking the. ore cargoes also “knocked off.” The union officials and representatives of the companies state they have no idea avliv this stop Avas taken. The men themselves say they have no particular reason for this action, but sympathy for the strikers played a big part. A remarkable feature of the strike is the apathy Avitli Avhich the strikers regard the clerks and others avlio are doing their Avork, there being no sign of a demonstration. AN OFFER DECLINED. Sydney, October 27. Mr Carmichael made an offer tx) the Inter-State Coastal Steamship oAvners to accept the intermediate position as stevedore, paying the rates demanded on the basis of a contract drayvn up on the principle of the deep sea” contract, refunding to the shipoAvncrs any profits that might accrue from the ' experiment, Avhich Avould continue until the parties went to arbitration. Both the intor-State and coastal shipoAvncrs declined the offer, Avhich is still open. NO SUPPORT FROM HOBART. Hobart, October 27. The wharf labourers at a meeting decided that the Sydney men had broken their agreement, and therefore they Avould not support them.