How the Trouble Spread—Employers' Offer and Men's Demands—Naval Authorities to the Rescue From Our Own Correspondent Hongkong, April 19.
I have no doubt it was with a certain amount of envy that local business men read the article upon shipbuilding in Shanghai which appeared in a recent issue of the "North-China Daily News." Your yards have achieved a record during the past three months because, for one thing, "labour difficulties are at a minimum.'
Wot are, as you know, in the midst of a strike The Chinese fitters stopped work over a fortnight ago and far from a settlement being in sight, the trouble is gradually spreading and causing inconvenience and loss to many and varied commercial interests.
The fitters of the Telephone Company, about 300 in number, joined their discontented brethren on Friday and, although the foremen and the exchange operators ave remaining at their posts, and the service will be continued by the European staff, repair work will have to "stand over." The Gas Company have also just lost 30 of their "outside fitters."" Their departure, it is true, makes little or no difference to the supply of gas, but here again necessary repair work will be delayed.
The public have not suffered any serious inconvenience so far because, fortunately, the naval authorities have supplied men to keep the more urgent services going, but opinion seems to be crystallizing into the fixed belief that the larger employers have mismanaged the affair from the commencement, and the demand that the Government—should, establish a Board of Arbitration is growing more and more insistent.
Tan Peak Tram.
The Peak dwellers have, perhaps, as individuals, the greatest cause for complaint. They are almost entirely dependent upon the cable tram and that has failed them badly during the past few days. The men from the Navy are doing their best, but they are unused to the work and it is a ticklish business to run the cars smoothly from top to bottom, regularing the steam pressure to suit the varying loads and gradients. Shortly before the strike a flaw was discovered in the cable. This cable had only been in use for two months whilst the—previous one had lasted for considerably over a year. There was only one other in stock and this was put down on the track two days before the fitters left. That seemed at first a subject for congratulation. At any rate, it was not likely that cable troubles would add to the difficulties of the management. But due allowance was not made for Jack's regard for the fair sex. A lady came running into the top station just as the tram had started. Instinetively, the acting brakesnian stopped the car. Due warning was not given, with the result that the car at the other end of the line over-ran the cable by its own momentum and twisted it into knot. Alas for the new rope. Twenty feet or so had to be cut off and on that day most of the Peak residents had to find their way home as best they could.
There have been other troubles too. Passengers for termediate stations often find 3 selves obliged to descend from the car some considerable number of yards either below or above the platforms, and then the jerking, the stopping for no apparent reason and the slide-back to the starting point have all helped to "put the wind up" the more timorous. There is no congestion during the tiffin interval now, many people preferring lunch in town to the excitement and uncertainly of being drawn 1,500 fect above sea-level in such a fashion-Moreover, the service has been considerably curtailed: the last car is at 8.30 p.m. and there are no cars between 10.30 and 12.30 and between 2.30 and 4 p.m. which effectively puts a stop tto a good many golfing and shopping expeditions.
Tue Anortive CoNFERENCE-
There was a conference on the 17th instant between ithe employers and the representatives of the men, who had been elected and sent to Hongkong from Canton by the Fitters' and Turners'—Guild. Figures as to the relative cost of living in ithe years 1914 and 1920 were placed before the meeting with a view to fixing the basis upon which an increase in the pay of fitters should be made. These figures were calculated on the cost of living for four persons—husband, wife and two children—and it was shown that in this period the rate of pay for the fitters had been increased by 15 cents daily, the average rate in 1914 being 80 cents against 95 at the present time. Deducting this increase of 15 cents in pay from the 41 cents advance in cost of living, and making an allowance of four cent per day for Sundays. jas_non-earning days. the figure -Prrived at was an increase in living expenses of 20 c-nts per day on the average earnings of 95 cents daily. It was agreed by the employers that. the higher paid workmen should receive a relatively higher daily increase than the Tower naid men, and a graduated scale of increase was offered, men earning 70 cents daily were offered a daily increase of 25 cents. making a monthly rate of $25.65. Men earning $2 a day were offered
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.