INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 28 May 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

STRIKE OF COMPOSITORS. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) London, May 27. The strikes, in a manifesto, accuse the masters of breaking pledges not to exercise pressure by preference in selecting men and victimising trade unionists, ignoring agreements, and ilouting conciliatory unions, while important employers were endeavouring to crush the unions. The strikes committee decided to give facilities to> maintain refrigerators on shipboard and in the cold storage warehouses. Mr Askwith, prior to the strike, wrote to the Master Lightermen's Association, suggesting the appointment of a conciliation board. The Association declined, on the ground thatsuch an expedient had been previouslytried, and had failed to secure a lasting settlement. A hundred thousand transporters held a demonstration in Trafalgar Square and demanded a uniform rate of JOd per hour, with overtime at lid. It was decided not to resume until their grievances were satisfied. Two thousand members of the building trades employed by the Port of: London Authority are considering joining the transporters to secure better terms. The navvies at Milwall Dock have already struck. The Compositors' Society is seeking to induce trade unions to refuse to work under the Insurance Act, alleging that the Government is giving contracts for insurance literature to firms which the Compositors' Society does not recognise. Many districts in the English federated area are demanding an increase of 5 per cent, on wages, owing to the higher price of coal and tho nature of the minimum wage awards. CONTROVERS! AL M A 'IT ERS. London, May 27. The masters agreed to again submit the dispute to Mr Rollit, who made the award in August. Mr McKenna promised to protect the Moat Carriers' Association in conveying meat from the markets. 'At the Socialists' conference a resolution was carried in favour of an obligatory citizen army, instead of a professional army. Mv Keir Hardie, presiding at the Independent Labour Party's demonstration at Merthyr Tydvil, said that the party stood for the overthrow of the existing order, replacing it with a socialist state. Mr Anderson, the president, repeated the advice to soldiers not to shoot strikers. GOOD-NATURED STRIKERS. (Received 28, 9.30 a.m.) London, May 27. The New South WaleJß eight-oared boat is being taken to the Olympic Games. The strikers prevented it being put on a lorry'or to lie taken from Beading to Tilbury. The Marlow authorities, in view of threatening difficulties, offered 25 police for the protection of the boat, but Horniman, who is in charge of the boat, refused, trusting to the strikers' sportsmanship. The strikers good-naturedly then allowed the boat to pass. ' STEWARDS ON STRIKE. (Received 28, 9.30 a.m.) * London, May 27. Owing to the strike the Osterley's passengers were obliged to handle their own luggage. The stewards and others struck for better ventilated quarters and more lifeboats. The secrotary of the Orient Co. and the Osterley's captain and chief officer worked the winch for lowering the luggage. STRIKE-BREAKERS. (Received 28, 9.30 a.m.) London, May 27. Butchers from Smithfield unloaded an Argentine cargo and conveyed the meat by motor to Smithfield under police protection. GISBORNE BUTCHERS' STRIKE. Gisborne, May 27. Sixteen Gisborne butchers concerned in the recent strike in the retail trade were charged with an offence under Section 9 of the Industrial Conciliation Act by the Inspector of Factories to-day, and nine were found guilty. Mr Knight, president of the union, was fined £lO, nine others .-C3 and costs, and the remaining cases were dismissed, defendants showing that they had been given leave by their employers. THE REEFTON STRIKE. Reef ton, May 27. There is no change in the situation. It is reported that a number of men have been placed in different situations. Young unmarried men are still leaving, and there has been a great clearance from town. Business is depressed, but most of the tradesmen look on the present trouble as clearing the air, and are hopeful that the trouble will soon be settled. There is no trouble between the companies other than between one consolidated group and the men ; in fact, the best relations exist outside the present strike. A COMPROMISE. (Received 28, 10.0 a.m.) Sydney, May 28. The master butchers have derided to co-operate in securing shorter hours thus obviating the threatened strike.