INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 20 February 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

BIG COAL STRIKE POSSIBLE IN ENGLAND. INTERVENTION NOT DESIRED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, February 19. The total members of the Miners’ Union number 610,000. The funds ■available run into two millions. Judging by the notices withheld in South Wales, fully half the men will be unwillingly idled. If a reasonably largo number desire to work, it is believed the owners will keep parts of the mines working, whatever the consequences. Mr D. Thomas, speaking at Cardiff, said neither side wanted intervention, but public pressure would compel the Government to intervene. If it did he hoped it would act impartially. During the Mid-Rhondda trouble, Mr Churchill showed his impartiality by denouncing both sides, without enquiring into the merits of the case. Messrs Harvey and Haslam, members of the House of Commons, declared that intervention was undesirable until masters and colliers had exhausted negotiations. THE GOVERNMENT RETICENT. (Received 20, 10.35 a.m.) London, February 19. Mr Buxton, in the House of Commons, declined to make a statement as to the Government’s action concerning the coal strike. POSITION OF AUSTRALASIA. London, February 19. Mr Pember Reeves, in a letter to the newspapers, replying to Mr Robertson, says that the suggestion that there is acute unrest, is unjust as applied to such exceptionally comfortable and thriving countries as Australia and New Zealand. He adds that for twenty years past New Zealand has suffered less from industrial turmoil than any other free country where white labour is able to assert itself to its full power. GLASGOW DOCKERS. London, 1 February 19. Cargoes valued at £1,000,"000 are lying at the Glasgow docks. ADAMANTINE SHIP-OWNERS. (Received 20, 10.35 a.m.) London, February 19. , The Glasgow ship-owners insist that the dockers adhere to the terms signed by the men in Sir G. Askwith’s presence. They arc arranging for the removal of cargoes under military protection. MUNICIPAL WORKERS GO OUT. (Received 20, 10.35 a.m.) London, February 19. Two thousand municipal employees at Salford struck. Scavenging and the supply of electricity and gas are at a standstill. WORLD STRIKE DEMANDED. Paris, February 19. Mr Keir Bardie, addressing the Unified Socialistic Congress at Lyons, which included German and Italian delegates, said that within a month there would bo a million on strike, asking for minimum wages.. He asked foreign workers to help by a general strike, which would be a reply to capitalistic enterprises and territorial spoliations in the Transvaal, Morocco, and Tripoli. M. Sembat, president, replied that Socialists must not allow the FrancoBritish entente to become anti-Ger-man. HAPPENINGS IN BRISBANE. V Brisbane, February 19. The miners at Blair Athol colliery forestalled the proprietors’ intention to close the pit by declaring the strike off. The work of unloading steamers with crows and free labour is proceeding satisfactorily. Employers in the building trades decided not to resume until the men are prepared to return in numbers. Employers in the iron trades resolved to keep the works closed until reason prevails among the employees. The Hutton Bacon Factory and the Castlemaine Brewery have resumed. FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. Melbourne, February 19. Further lengthy evidence was tendered on behalf of the tramway companies in the arbitration case. Mr Badger (Brisbane tramways manager) detailed the incidents in connection with the badge trouble in the Brisbane strike. A secret ballot of the Tramway Employees’ Associations in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane on the question of a general strike in the event ef an objection to the case now before the Arbitration Court proving successful, is proceeding.' In Melbourne the men voted largely in favour of ;i strike. THE AUCKLAND DISPUTE. Auckland, February 19. In connection with the general laborers’ dispute, Mr. Parr has challenged the Mayor to justify his action at a public meeting of citizens called for Thursday night. No other reply has been received by the Federation of Labour. WELLINGTON ”MEAT WORKERS’ Wellington, February 20. A conference between the representatives of the employers and the strik-, ers at Petone and at the Ngahauranga Freezing Works was held to-day

lasting from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Good progress was made jin the earlier stages, but eventually a deadlock was ' reached on the question of overtime, and it is very doubtful if it will bo possible to get over this. A meeting of the men will be held in the morning to consider the progress report of their representatives, who are again to meet the employers to-morrow evening. THE WEARING OF RADGES. (Received 20, 9.15 a.m.) Melbourne, February 20. In the Arbitration Court case the secretary of the Melbourne Tramway Company said the company did not approve of unions and several times had endeavoured to prevent their formation. Mr Badger declared that ho thought it necessary to prevent tho men wearing badges, because on Eight Hour Day those not wearing them were subjected to abuse. The President of the Court directed the witness to obtain the documents necessary to prove the validity of Id's action in forbidding tho men to wear what they chose. Witness: We claim a, common law right. The President: What next! The common law right is that every man may dress as he choses. Mr Badger: “In the interests of peace we have the right to prohibit the wearing of an emblem which will subject a non-wearer to abuse.” He admitted that it was now the practice of the company to ask new men not to join the Australian Tramways Association. They did not object to the local union. The case then adjourned.