INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 86, 24 November 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

ENGLISH RAILWAY MEN. London, November 23. In the House of Commons Mr MacDonald, moving in favour of raihvay conference, urged tlie necessity of avoiding a crisis in December, , when tho Government’s: intervention Avill mean taking sides. Mr Asquith said the Government Avould not accept a resolution unless reflection on tlie companies Avas omitted. He thought, Inwover, that once any suggestionof censure Avas eliminated and tlie, men accepted the report as a basis of future relations with, the companies, the latter might, consistently with traditions of industrial life and Avithout impairing the directors’ self-respect, agree to a further strictly limited conference as to tlie best means of carrying out tho report. In that sense only tho Government Avould invite a conference. The Prime Minister concluded by declaring that the companies’ liberality in increasing Avages shoAved a patriotism redounding to their credit. Mr Bonar Law, Leader of the Unionist Party, replied that although personally ho would be glad if the Government had obtained tho directors’ assent ,to reopening negotiations, its attempt at pressure upon tho companies through the House of Commons Avas unfair to the companies. Mr Bonar Law added that tlie Unionists’ repudiation of the commission Avas serious enough, but the Government’s taking sides v.as far more serious.

Ultimately, after further criticism from the Opposition side, and steady objections from the Labour benches, Mr Lloyd-Gcorge’s amendment, giving efleet to Mr Asquith’s suggestion was carried by a large majority. FATALITIES IN MINES. (Received 24, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, November 24. A section of tho miners at Broken Hill South decided that in tlie event of a fatal accident in the mine the employees Avould cease work until the victim Avas buried. The fact that a fall of ground, unless immediately picked up, might involve further loss of life Avas disregarded.