DUNEDIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 215, 11 September 1890, Page 5

DUNEDIN.

MEETING OF OFFICERS. PROPOSED EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIA. TION. BISHOP NEVILLE'S CIRCULAR.

Bishop Neville has addressed a circular to his clergy which concludes thus:— " Should you think it well in the present unhappy struggle to allude to it in your sermons, I venture to suggest it would seem more likely to do good >f you point out the breaches of Christian principles involved in such a condition as now , prevails, than to go into the merits of economic and commercial problems, which we are not specially qualified to solve."

Twelve more men have been arrested for disturbing non-Union labourers, and among them two prominent Unionists. They will be brought up before the Court this afternoon.

Two were discharged on arriving at Chrietchurch by reason of insufficient information.

On Tuesday evening stones were thrown at the non-Union labourers who had been discharging the Herald's cargo of coal into the hulks. One man was struck in the mouth.

Discharging proceeded yesterday, but as a precaution four extra policemen were on duty.

A meeting of the officers on strike was held yesterday, and was attended by about 70. Practically no business was transacted, nor can anything be done until the result of the Labour Conference in Sydney 4 s known.

All present announced their determination nob to return to the Union Company till the difficulty is settled. Everything is unusually quiet, there being nothing whatever to indicate that there is a strike, except that an unusually

large number of seafaring men are about the'streets.

There was a large attendance at a meeting of those favourable to the formation of an Employers' Association, Mr A. Lee Smith presiding. The report of the Committee recommended that all employers of labour, including farmers, merchants, and professional men, should be eligible. The Chairman said there was no intention to form an association to take up an antagonistic position to the labour Unions, but it was intended to counterbalance the affiliated societies. Hβ considered the boycotb a mosb objectionable weapon, and hoped there would be a general abandonment of such attempts to regulate the course of trade. It was decided to adjourn the meeting till next day. The objects of the Association are stated to be mutual benefit, defence, and protection of parties in regard to labour questions, and providing a recognised body, representing employers, clothed with authority to' act in all matters affecting their interest, including authority to meet the representatives of labour,, trade unions, etc., and discuss with them with the view to adjustment upon an equitable basis of all differences between employers and employed, providing against any action taken to obstruct employers in the prosecution of their lawful business, and impeding the free course of trade.