The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-18

THE Spanish IRON TRADE.-Yet one
more difficulty has been added to those with
which the British iron industry In strug
Cling. The ironstone mines near Bilboa
have fallen into the hands OF Don Carlos,
who will not permit them to be worked.
He has other occupations for the miners to
engage in, and therefore the growing min
eral industry Of Northern Spain, which
was doing much for the prosperity of the
country, must he stopped. The rapid de-
velopment of this branch Of Spanish pro-
duction may be inferred from the follow
ing statistics showing the imports into the
United Kingdom of iron ore from the Pc
ninsula during the past five years 1872,
631, l34 tons 1871, 1902, 1892 tons 1870,
l79. O85 tons 1869, 99,8l5 tons 1868,
~, no tons The recent growth has been
even more surprising than in any of the
years named. Two Sheffield firms alone
have recently arranged for the importation
of l,O00,OO0 tons annually of Spanish
ironstone. 1t may therefore be imagined
how great is the loss to the English iron
trade occasionally this untowarl Interrupt
ton
SCARCITY Of WORKMAN IN VICTORIA. -
toria that the scarcity of labor in that col
ony is beginning to cause much mconveni-
encc. Though it is difficult, says the Mel
bourne 1rgus, to get the working classes. by
whom the chief voting power is held, to see
the advantages which would arise from ar
tifcially increasing the population Of the
colony, the necessity of fresh immigration
becomes every day more apparent. The
farmers especially feel the scarcity of la
Dor, and the position is very accurately do
scribed iii petition recently presented t.
the Legislative Assembly from the Haml
denshire Council in favor of the resuml,-
ton Of assisted immigration. The petition
ers stated there are so many public works
being carried on at present, and SO many
outlets which drain the labor markets, that
the farmer cannot secure his harvest, nor
indeed can he obtain any class Of labor ex-
cept at ruinous rates. From this cause
many farmers have been compelled to give
mp cultivating their lands and farms alto
gether, a circumstance which must newt
ably lead to disastrous results, affecting, as
it will seriously, the whole population II
the colony"
AMALGAMATEp WEAyERs' CONFERENCES.
The annual conference Of the Amalga-
mated Weavers of Great Britain and Ire
land was held in the Town Hall, Alva, on
Friday and Saturday Mr. Robert Thomp-
son, Paisley, president, in the chair. The
minutes for the last year were read and
approved The district reports, which were
then given IN by the delegates, showed
trade to be in healthy state, all hands be
ing employed, although prices We're aot
very remunerative. In the Alva districts
great dissatisfaction prevailed against the
new table of prices for wooden plaids and
shawis. but steps were being taken to get it
amended In the Glasgow districts the ia
bles Of prices had advanced, and the posi-
ton Of the workmen had improved, but
the shirting trade was still far behind. In
Kirkintlloch trade was good. \ confer
ence with employers had been held with a
view to reducing the hours 1T labor and
it had been agreed that the hours tie from
six a. IN. till 5 y. m. An amended table Of
prices for this district WAS adopted. New
milns centretrade was very good, and an adj
vance had been obtained. In Paisley there
is strike going on at present in the har-
ness shawl trade-the employers having
been memorialized for an advance of IL
per cent. and few extras, to be put ON the
cheaper class work, so AS to eqnalize the
prices this advance to commence upon
the lst If September A resolution Of
sympathy with Paisley was passed by the
conference The auditors, Messrs. A.
Dykes and ID. Fulton, gave in their
report which showed the position
Of the society to be highly satisfac-
tory. The report was sdOpted Paisley
was then elected convening centre for the
ensuing year, and GlasgoS was named as
the place for the next conference. Mr..
VIM. Henderson, representative in the
Glasgow United Trades Counch gave in
his report. which was adopted, and r. was
reelected as weavers' representative Hhe
usual votes Of thanks closed the proceed
ings.