BRITISH LABOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12777, 22 October 1919, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR.

IMPROVED OUTLOOK. A BANKER’S VIEWS. By Telegraph—;Piees jUKJrtaiion—Copyright Australian and Cable Association, , (Received October 22, 8.56 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 20. At a trade conference held in Atlantic Oity, Sir James Simpson, director of the Bank of Liverpool, in a .speech said: —“Wo do.not come to ask help from any organisation. Wo ask only that no obstruction be placed in the way of normal business transactions. No Government in England would stand which contemplated for a moment any weakening in regard to the payment of our debts.” The crisis in the labour situation had passed, he added. The labouring classes -were tired of strikes and the employers were realising that the workers must have larger remuneration and a greater share in the management. The producing power of the national industries was approximately equal to that of pre-war days. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. (Received October 22, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 21, Te coal output during the railway strike •week was 2,071,610 tons, as compared ' with 4,481,434. tons during the previous week. Representatives of the engineering and shipbuilding trade unions Interviewed Sir li. vS. Horne (Minister of Labour) and demanded that the present rates ho stabilised for another year, as already conceded to the vailwaymen. Sir R. S. Horne will consult Cabinet; and tlie employers. THE COAL PROBLEM. POSITION REVIEWED. (Received October 22, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 21. The “Labour Gazette” reviews the coal output week by week since June, and shows that between August 23, when the coal strikes were over, and September 27, ‘when the railway strike began, the weekly output under the seven hour day arrangement averaged 4,407,321 tons, representing a 6) per cent reduction ■as compared with earlier normal periods under the eight hour day. Tt is pointed out that experts on the Ooal Commission predicted a dron ot 12i per cent, and even Mr Justice Sankey and Sir Richard Redmayne, after allowing for possible improvements in methods and appliances, estimated a rail of 10 per cent.« 4.here is some likelihood of a revision ortho 6s a ton increase if the returns continue to he favourable, as the Board of Trade based the increase on a 10 per cent reduction.