GRAVE OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13755, 6 February 1919, Page 5

GRAVE OUTLOOK.

(Received Thursday, at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday.

The grave industrial situation was tho principal matter of discussion at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

It is understood that the Government continues to refuse to intervene in unauthorised strikes because it would be subversive of the authority of the elected leaders of organised labour, and would play into the hands of the mischievous sectiou which is making an effort to effect a social revolution.

Tho subject will unquestionably figure largely in Parliament, which opens

to-day

In view of recent development, l ? the movement is afoot, backed in responsible quarters, to convene a representative trade union conference for tlie purpose of dealing with, industrial troubles on national lines. It is therefore suggested that a Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress should invite all representatives of organised labour to discuss current disputes and initiate national action- for their settlement.

The outlook became considerably worse late on Monday night owing to the electrical trade unions demanding Government intervention at the Clyde, Belfast and elsewhere

The decision was reached after three ■hours' private discussion.

There was no voting on the ques'

tion.

The resolution demands intervention with a view to the introduction of legislation making a national forty hours a week operative with the object of absorbing all unemployment in the country. In the event of the Government refusing a strike will begin at 6 o'clock on Thursday night.

The Electrical Union will present its resolution to tho Minister for Labour to-day, and report the result to a further meeting on Wednesday.

The decision involves ten thousand men, claiming control of every power station in the metropolis.

The resolution is almost identical in language with that carried by the conference of trade unions in the London district, threatening a strike in all the engineering trades in the district unless the Government legislates in connection with a 40-hour week.

A delegate from the Clyde attended, and'received an enthusiastic reception.

lii connection with the tube motormen's complaint tlu-t they are not allowed time for meals during the eight hours' day, Sir Albert Stanley has issued a statement that the arrangements to which the in , ions agreed provided that where time was allotted for meals it should be exclusive of the eight hours.