THE SHIPPING DISPUTE IN ENGLAND.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7772, 28 January 1891, Page 6

THE SHIPPING DISPUTE IN ENGLAND.

NEW ZEALAND STEAMERS AFFECTED.

Writing on December 12th, the London correspondent of tbe New Zealand Herald saya:—The dispute between the ShawSavill 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 in endeavoring 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 in the person of the 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 members of the Seamen's 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 a strike has been in progress ever since. Tbe Seamen's Union has resorted to violence, going very great lengths in their efforts to intimidate the crew of the s.s. Mamari. Their rowdies raided the vessel, and brutally attached the crew in 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 in 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. The Shipping Federation are rendering most valuable assistance, and chiefly through their aid the New Zealand steamers have been got off without much delay. The other Unions evidently dislike the idea of becomiug involved in 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 seems to be fizzling out. As I close this letter the steamer Tongariro, which ought to have sailed yesterday, still lies in the Royal Albert Dock, owing to the fog, which is very dense down the river. The vessel, however, has a complete crew, the Shipping Federation having procured a sufficient number of men to sign articles on board, which the Unionists decline to do. There has been some trouble in getting the non-Unionists through the pickets at the dock gates and in the localities, and the officials of the federation say the police protection is not sufficient. The constables are ready to assist if they witness any breach of the peace, but do not intervene to prevent the systematic intimidation which is carried on by supporters of the seamen and firemen on strike, and representations are to be made to the Home Ofilce on this subject*