LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14361, 6 February 1911, Page 5

LABOUR.

DISPUTES AT HOME.

RAILWAY MEN STRIKING. Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 3. Tho North-Eostern Railway Company dismissed, after the expiration of notice, live porters at Hull Btation for declining to act as checkers without extra pay. Tho men's demand was resisted on; the ground that the conciliation conference was considering the whole aircumstances of employment in this grade of service, and the men should await its decision. In consequence, 3000 railway men at Hull have resolved to strike to-night unless the porters are reinstated. The men at Sunderland and Middleborough have resolved to support the Hull men. The strike will be contrary to the Amalgamated Society of Railwaymen's declaration that a strike without uotioe is unconstitutional. Received 5.5 p.m., Feb. 6th. LONDON, Feb. 4. Enginemen and signalmen at Hull will strike at midnight. Picketing has began at the various depots. Fifteen signalmen at Goole have refused to work. Railwnymen at Newcastle and Gateshead decided to await tomorrow's moss meeting, called to con. sider a proposal to strike at midnight. THE STRIKE COLLAPSES. Received 12.80 a.m., Feb. 6th. LONDON, Feb. 5. Tho railway strike has collapsed, the men discovering that they were mistaken concerning the North Eastern Company's treatment of tho grievances of the discharged fish porters. Iho genoral manager's announcement that unless the strikers returned to >vork on Monday their places would be filled, accelerated the decision. There were many Btrange scenes during the strike. The public travelled without tickets, particularly crowds attending football matchos. The quays at Hull were heaped with fish, which it was impossible to distribute. THE SYDNEY CONGRESS. SYDNEY, Feb. 5. The Labour Congress carried a resolution that every member governed by ail award under the Industrial Disputes' Act should contribute to tho funds of the Union obtaining such award. This is to be made a plank of the fighting platform. Another resolution favoured an increase of State Members' pay to £SOO. Received 12.45 a.m., Feb. 6th. SYDNEY, Feb. 5.

The Labour Congress reaffirmed the claim for absolute preference to unionists.

It was resolved after a heated debate that the interstate conference which draws up the' Federal Labour platform ought to be reconstituted on a population basis, and that the conference elected on. the present baßis should np nothing but carry out , - och reconßtitution.

Mr Holman, in moving this, dedared that unless tho functions handed over to a Federal Parliament were safeguarded, he and others like him would bo driven out of the Labour movement. Mr Holman , subsequently moved that the Labour movement opposes any further extension of the power of the Federal Parliament until the constitution has been reorganised apon lines which will secure parliamentary supremacy. The discussion was adjourned to Monday night. AUSTRALIAN POSTAL SERVANTS. A mass meeting of postal employees, convened by the Council of the Fedpral Service Associations, discussed their grievances. Speakers asserted that recent statements about a grave crisis about to occur were exaggerated. The Postal Department was not endeavouring to foment a strike. The object of the meeting was to link up the associations of the various States with a view to obtaining a governing body which could speak for the publio service as a whole, and the PostmasterGeneral would not be permitted to put them off with mere promises in the future. Resolutions were carried approving of the adoption of the Royal Commission's report by the Federal Government as a basis of reorganisation of the postal and telegraph departments. A deputation was appointed to interview the PostmasterGeneral. WELSH MINERS. The South Wales Minora' Federation, with the support of tho Cambrian miners, have asked the Board of Trade tj enterpret the assurances in Mr D. Thomas' letter towards a settlement of the Cambrian dispute. THE LONDON PRINTERS. The Board of Trade's mediation in the 'printers' dispute has been fruitless and the printers will strike on Monday. AUSTRALIAN BUILDERS. MELBOURNE, Feb. 4. Tho Federal Council of tho Builders' and Labourers' Federation discussed tho situation arisinc out of the failure of the conference. Certain resolutions were adopted, but not disclosed. It is bolieved that early and important developments are pending.