LABOUR UPHEAVAL

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14024, 29 March 1919, Page 7

LABOUR UPHEAVAL

UNAUTHORISED STRIKES SPREADING. 80,000 MEN NOW OUT. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) Received March 29. 12.10 a.m. LONDON, March 28. The British miners’ unauthorised strikes are spreading, and over 80,000 men are ouL • COMPLETE BREAKDOWN THREATENED. POLITICAL CRISIS INDICATED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable-Assir.) Received March 29; 9 a.m., LONDON, March 28. The ballot of Nottingham miners showed that 21,000 favoured a continuance of the strike and-15,250 are against, hence at to-morrow’s negotiations between the employers and employed a complete breakdown is threatened an! there are indications of a political crisis.

THE COSMBITTEE’S REPORT. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. PERMANENT NATIONAL COUNCIL. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 29, 11.40 a.m. LONDON, March 27. The Press Bureau states that the unanimous report of the Provisional Joint Committee appointed on February 271 h to consider the causes of the present unrest and the question of hours, wages, unemployment and the promotion of co-operation between capital and labour, recommends, inter alia, the establishment of the principle of a 48hours week, the discouragement, of systematic overtime, minimum rates of wages, organised short time in periods of depression, acceleration of the Government housing schemes. State development of new industries, more adequate provision for unemployment, sickness, infirmity and old age, establishment of a permanent National Industrial Council to, advise the Govern- •; ment, consisting of- 400 members, elected equally from the trade union and employers. In the event of the conference to be held on April 4th adopting the report, the committee ui'ges the Government to give effect thereto forthwith. A CONCILIATORY STATEMENT. BY MR BONAR LAW. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 29, 10.20 a.m. LONDON, March 27. At a conference between the executive of the Miners’ Federation and the Government Mr Bonar Law, In the course of a long conciliatory statement dealing with the miners’ proposed modifications of Mr Justice Sankey’s report, said that the Government was unable to go beyond Mr Justice Sankey’s chief recommendations. Mr Bonar Law emphasised the great benefits which would accrue to miners if the report were accepted and a strike averted from the anticipated fall in the cost of living before the end of the year. Moreover, the Commission would continue to sit and issue interim reports in regard to the betterment of the mining conditions. Mr Smillie, who replied, undertook to fully submit the position to the Miners’ Conference. He expressed the opinion that the continuation -of the Commission probably opened it new era, which would possibly do more to bring peace and prosperity to the mining industry than anything hitherto.