WORK AND WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10299, 2 November 1911, Page 1

WORK AND WAGES.

• BRITISH RAILWAY MEN. United Pjvsb Association—By Electrio TeleL'raph—Copyright. LONDON, November 1. _ The. railway men have issued a manifesto for prrsenta-tion to tho companies demanding improved conditions and The Executive Committee_ of four railway men's unions will begin to-day to discuss the Commission's rinding.

FREE LABOUR CONGRESS

PEACEFUL PICKETING. LONDON, November 1. Tho annual report presented to the National Free Labour Congresshinted that tho Association would run its own candidates at the election. , "While ensenssing an amendment to the peacetul picketing clause, the Congress was informed that a hundred of its members had been virtually imprisoned m tho Clrovesend Cable Works for protection against tlie violence of peaceful picketcrs. The "Time?;," commenting on Mr Asquith's refusal to amend the Trades Disputes Act, accepts his answer as indicative that a more energetic and effective enforcement of the existing law is perfectly possible. STRIKE OF TAXI-DRIVERS. LONDON, November 1. Six hundred ti'.xi-drivars in London struck in sympathy with a comrade who was net allowed to take out cabs on the ground of withholding from the proprietor extras received in respect of two- boxes. 'The allegation was denied. Seven thousand drivers threaten to strike.

THE SYDNEY STRIKE,

PROSPECTS OF EXTENSION,

SYDNEY, November 1. The Maheno, which sailed for Auckland to-night, took very little cargo. The officers and crew of the steamer Karitano are discharging the cargo of lead.

Tho strike outlook is less hopeful. T'ho mass meeting of wharf labourers, including the deep-sea, section, lasted to a very late hour. Tho Press were not admitted. Everybody concerned is extremely reticent, and disclosed nothing of a definite nature. Thero is reason, however, to believe that tho trouble will bo oxter/Jed to the deepsea section, and they possibly will be out to-morrow. The men were in high spirits. One declared, "We will all be out to-morrow."

AUCKLAND LABOURERS

FURTHER TROUBLE THREATENED.

ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION. [Psn Pe£sS Association.! AUCKLAND, November 1. Now difficulties have cropped up to prevent the immediate settlement of the labourers' strike, and it is threatened that unless a speedy adjustment is effected to smooth over what is regarded by the Union as a clear breach of tho non-discrimination agreement, the whole of tho men will be again called out and possibly the area' of the trouble further extended than previously. One specific condition. of the settlement was that as far as possible the contractors and tho local 1 bodies should reinstate the men who went out in obedience to the orders of the Union and that no discrimination would be shown, wliilo on tho other hand tho Union agreed that there would be no interference with the men who remained loyal to their employers throughout the difficulties. It is claimed to-day that the officers of two of tho local bodies, the Mount Eden Borough Council and the Remuera Road Board have, in selecting a few men to return to Work, distinctly discriminated against several members of the Union known to have taken a prominent part in the trouble that was precipitated. The men who were out on striko returned to their respective jobs at tho usual hour this morning, and, with the exception of the two bodies mentioned, work was resumed without any difficulty arising. Just what happened from the Union's standpoiht is not altogether clear, but it is allowed that the men prominent in the strike were rejected, although some of them were old hands, and preference was given to comparatively 'new hands. A meeting of Union officials, attended also by the men who were turned away, was held this morning and the wholo matter considered. Statements were made by the men and explanations tendered by the chairman of the Remuera Road Board and by the engineer of the .Mount Eden Borough Council were placed before the meeting. Subsequently Mr P. Fraser, president of the .Union, informed a reporter that the explanations given wore not satisfactory and the Union officials were convinced that victimisation for participating in the strike had taken place. "Jt simply means," ho said, " that unless the position is.remedied and members are not discriminated ajrainst, all the labourers will bo again called out and. if necessary, the strike will be extended to a wider area than during the la?t week." The MoiMit Eden engineer explained to a reporter subsequently that the Council decided at its meeting on Monday evening that the loan expenditure should cease until such time as the ratepayers had been given an opportunity to vote on the new scheme of public works. That decision meant the cessation of the present operations, and the Council looked to hiiri to carry tho resolution into effect. Yv'lien the men assembled at tho Council yards this' morning ho explained the position to th em. -Tho outcome of the dispute was that none of the men, with the exception of the cistilt loyal ones and r.n expert in a certain branch of work, returned to work. With regard to the Remuera. Road Beard, Mr Cawkwell denies most definitely that there has been any discrimination against the men who figured in the strike. Mr Cawkwell said he had explained the position to the Union officials, and they accepted it as satisfactorily clearing up the matter. Ho was surprised to hear that trouble was likely to ensue.

In regard to the possible resumption of the fitrike owing to trouble with local bodies over alleged discrimination shown intakmg on workers again, Mr Semple said to-night that the trouble as far as tho B.emuera Board was concerned was at an end, the Union being satisfied that no discrimination was shown. The trouble as regards the Mount Eden authorities will bo discussed to-morrow.