ORGANISED LABOUR.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14284, 13 December 1916, Page 2

ORGANISED LABOUR.

AND CONSCRIPTION

WILL THERE. BE A STRIKE ?

Thfii'o is no misundei«standing betv.esn the Government and the Miners' federation about the Fecleration's attitude towards conscirintion (writes a Wellington correspondent of'the Westport '-Times"). It is well understood that the Federation Executive' to a man are violently opposed to consciiptiori*and.they do not pretend that tiiey arc- anxious to stop those strikes now in order to help tue Government wit'i the Act. Nobody talks very; freely about what the executive intendsultimately; to do. but. t^e general belief is that it is "the intention to call a Oig strike when the time is ripe. All aro agreed that the timo is not ripe yet. 'J.here are two very strong reasons why the present is not an opportune time to call a strike. To unsure a chance of success- .the'miners would like tho support of the watersidcrs and the seamen and these bodies most certainly do not want a strike now. The watersiders have stood in with the drivers in a;strike, readily enough but thero were special reasons .why.-that seemed to them good policy. The watersiders' agreement expires on December 18th and they have their demands drawn up for an ikcrease from Is Sd to 2s per hour, ordinary time. A good number of watersider workers are not seriously enough opposed to conscription to go on strike on the issue, especially when to do so would endanger their chance of getting more wages. They are veiy keen for this increany in J wages and may bo expected to tighthard for it. i

The seamen's agreement empires on December 31st and they want the same big increases that tho' Australian seamen are demanding. A maritime strike now; would, if it failed, jeopardise their chances of getting their increases, which, by the way, they believe they can get. ; .;,...-■.: _ . '../ ; ; '