The Shipping Dispute in England.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2306, 4 February 1891, Page 2

The Shipping Dispute in England.

Writing on December 12, the London correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald" says:—"The dispute, between the Shaw, Savill and New Zealand Shipping Companies and the Seamen and Firemen's Union has become acute. The ill-feeling has been actively fostered by Mr Wilson, the secretary of the Union, who has followed a most aggressive policy ever since the foundation of the body he controls. It was his action m endeavouring to compel all masters and officers of the mercantile marine to join his union, and thus deprive shipowners of the control over their property, that was the main cause of the formation of the Shipping Federation. Now, apparently Nemesis has overtaken Mr Wilson m the person of federation. The dispute commenced about three months ago, when the union demanded that all the labor work connected with the repairs of the hulls, machinery, and boilers of the vessels must be done by the members of the Seamen and Firemen's Union, and not as hitherto by the Amalgamated Protection Union of Hammermen, Enginemen, Helpers, and General Laborers' Union. The Seamen's Union thereupon attempted to prevent the ships going to sea by preventing the shipping of crews. The company, with whom was now associated the great firm of Gray, Dawes, and Co., of the British India service, refused to accede to these demands, and g a strike has been m progress ever since. The Seamen's Union have resorted to violence, going very great lengths m their efforts to intimidate the crew of the s.s. Mamari. Their rowdies raided the vessel, and brutally attacked the crew m the presence and without the interference of the dock policemen. They were incensed because the owners had engaged the crew on board ship, and not m the shipping office, where the men are intimidated and assaulted. Though the Seamen's Union are very confident it is generally thought they must be beaten. Tho Shipping Federation are rendering most valuable assistance, and chiefly through their aid the New Zealand steamers have been gob off without much delay. The other unions evidently dislike the idea of becoming involved m a great and probably hopeless struggle. The riggers and stevedores and dockers have declined to interfere point blank, and the strike at the present moment scsms to be fizzling out,"