THE INDUSTRIAL FERMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3329, 22 September 1911, Page 5

THE INDUSTRIAL FERMENT.

WIDESPREAD UNREST. SERIOUS POSITION IN BRITAIN. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON; Sept. 28. • Irish companies are firmly resisting the strikers’ demands. They declined an invitation to meet the Railway Servants’ Association executive. The latter thereupon resolved _ that unless the companies ceased penalising men for refusing to' handle blackleg goods they would call out all Irish railwaymen. A number of men imported from Manchester to fill the King’s Bridge strikers’ places yielded to persuasion of pickets, with the exception of nine, whom the police escorted. Large drafts of troops are ready for emergencies. Royal engineers are engaged in driving passenger trains. Good© traffic is suspended. The South-Eastern Railway Company is the only one that refused to accept “blackleg” goods, and its service is untouched. „ Three Wexford iron founders have locked out the employees. Another firm has decided that as some employees joined the Transport Workers’ Union henceforth they will employ nonunionists.

The price of provisions is rising. The Home Office has devised an elaborate scheme for registering special constables for emergency duties, enabling police reservists to join the colors in war time, and giving confidence to the public in regard to protecting life and property without military aid. Strikers are eligible for enrolment, as they are concerned in suppressing “hooliganism” which discredits their cause. The pension clauses of the police apply to specials killed or injured. They also receive payment for service. The boilermakers’ dispute in Lincoln has been settled on a two years’ basis with a shilling a week advance, and 2-J- pei' cent, on piece rates. ROME. Sept. 20. A strike of printers in Milan for higher wages has prevented the publication of the newspapers. NEW YORK, Sept. 20. Seventeen hundred men employed on the Detroit street railways are on strike for increased wages, and the town is without a car service.

SYDNEY, Sept. 20. The Stettin colliery wheelers have resolved to resume work on the old conditions to-morrow.

POSSIBLE WAY OUT.

SUGGESTED ARBITRATION BOARD

(Received Sept. 21, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21. Mr Buxton is adopting Sir Charles McAra’s scheme, and has invited leading representatives of the employers and employed to form an industrial arbitration board _with ten on each side, forming a panel f rom whence a number would be chosen to deal with disputes, Air Asquith to he chairman.

RIOTING AT LEEDS. COLLIERS ON STRIKE. (Received Sept. 21, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON;, Sept. 21. There was much disorder at Leeds as the outcome cf a strike of 800 colliers. A coal train was held-up, and the manager’s house was stoned.. The police by means of baton charges dispersed the rioters, and a number of police were injured l . SITUATION IN IRELAND.

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

(Received Sept. 21, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 21. _ An official of the Board, of Trade is visiting Dublin seeking to promote settlements with the men. The executive has deferred action, although it has warned the men to be ready for a signal failing a settlement. It is estimated that Dublin has only two days food supply, and there is a great scarcity ■ in. other centres. No communication has been available with many inland towns since Monday. The absence of organised disorder is noticeable, although there have been some isolated) cases of intimidation.

The signal wires were cut at Tralee, and the points at Wexford were jammed with stones.

There are heaps of produce on the line, and fowls are perishing on the platforms. The mails are interrupted, and the live cattle and produce industries are paralysed. An injunction is being sought against the South-Eastern railway to restrain the Company, as common carriers, from refusing to accept goods. The Companies have decided' to ignore the railway executive’s resolution.

IMPLEMENT WORKERS CO OUT. NON-UNIONISTS ROUGHLY HANDLED. .

[UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. (Received Sept. 21, 11.40 p.m.) MELBOURNE 1 , Sept. 21. A strike occurred at the Sunshine Harvester works, because an employee was discharged for refusing to work with non-unionists. After the works closed three nonUniqnists were chased to the railway station and roughly handled.