SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7283, 6 August 1887, Page 4

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, August 5.

The 'Star' says, with reference to the dispute between the Seamen's Union and the Northern Steamship Company: "Du ring the present strike a levy will be made upon all members of the Union employed in vessels trading out of the Colony, to provide funds for carrying on the strike. The New Zealand Union is said to include between 1,000 and 1,500 men, the greater portion of whom are employed on the Union Steam Ship Company's steamers. The Seamen's Union, according to their rales, can levy LI per head on all their members in employment; and it is expected such a levy will be made throughout New Zealand from the first of the present month. The levy, however, may be 103 per head, or even much less, according to requirements. The accumulated funds of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand amount to L 3,000 or L 4.000, the annual income from subscriptions, etc., being about Ll9O. This, along with a levy per month, is considered sufficient to carry on the strike without any assistance being asked from the Federated Union of Australia, which, however, is expected to stand by New Zealand in case of necessity. Its accumulated funds amount to something like L 20.000, and great assistance could be rendered from that source. It is expected that the opposition steamers will commence running about the end of next week. This afternoon a private meeting of the firms engaged in the wholesale trades in Auckland took place in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of arranging a uniform system of discount and terms of credit. The meeting was convened by Mr A. H. Nathan, president of the Chamber of Commerce. The ' Star,' referring to the matter, says:—'_'lt is a question well worth the consideration of all the Chambers of Commerce whether all .discharges in bankruptcy ought not to be delayed at least six months. A proposition of this kind seemed to find favor at the meeting of the Wellington Chamber, which had referred the whole question to a Committee, and other Chambers in the Colony anight very profitably give the subject their attention. The real remedy for the gigantic «vil, which everyone deplores, is, however, in the hands of the wholesale houses. If they were less eager to push business, and were more cautious in giving credit and were more loyal in their support to the retailers who are doing a sound trade, we should have fewer bankruptcies. In order to bring this wholesome change about it is not necessary to await the slow movements of Parliament. Whether the bankrupt law is to be re-framed or abolished, it will still rest with the trading community itself to secure punctual payments; and we therefore hail the meeting of the wholesale bouses to consider measures for restricting credit as a promising sign, and one which may lead to a more wholesome condition of our system of trade."