THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7162, 30 October 1884, Page 5

THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

At the Police Court yesterday morning, before the Resident Magistrate (Mr. H. G. Seth Smith), tha 23 men charged on Monday with deserting and refusing to do'duty on the Northern Steamship Company's vessels on Saturday, also the six men of the Thomas Russell, arrested on Monday, all surrendered to their bail. Since Monday another seaman of the Thomas Russell had been arrested on warrant, and was charged with the others. Mr. S. Hesketh appeared for the prosecution, and Messrs. T. Cotter and T. Cooper for the defence. Mr. Hesketh said he appeared in the cases which concerned the Northern Steamship Company, aud he had received instructions on their behalf to withdraw the charges against their men, as circumstances had arisen which justified the company in making the application to the Court. Mr. Cotter said, "it is unnecessary for me to say further than that I offer no objection." His Worship ordered that the charges against the Northern Steamship Company's men should be struck out. Mr. Cotter then applied that the cnse3 against the men of the Thomas Russell should be adjourned to Monday, the 3rd proximo, and that the six, along with Field, should be liberated on bail to that date, as the captain of the steamer was absent. His Worship granted bail, and remanded the cases accordingly.-

In our yesterday's issuii we stated that the strike of the seamen and firemen at this port had come to an end, by the Northern Company falling in with . the Union rules. Yesterday Messrs. Hannigan (the President) and O. Humphries (the Treasurer) had an interview with Captain McGregor, of the Northern Steamship Company, and the two former gentlemen informed Captain McGregor that they believed they (the Union) had by their striking put the Northern Company to some considerable expense, and they were therefore desirous of meeting the Northern Company fairly in the matter, and were willing to defray such, extra expense caused by the strike. The result of the interview was that Mr. Humphries gave Captain McGregor a cheque for £100, as the expense estimated that, the Northern Company had been put to. Later in the day, the two gentlemen named met Mr. G. Fraser, and the result of the meeting was that the boats belonging to that gentleman are to have new articles, eigned on Monday next, in accordance with the Union rules, excepting the clause referring to overtime, which Mr. Fraser will not be called upon to pay to his men. Last evening a very largely-attended meeting of the members of the Union was held at the Seamen's Rest, and at which a considerable amount of routine business was transacted. The Chairman (Mr. Hannigan, the President), again exhorted the members to do all in their power to further the interests of the shipowners, urging that it was the duty of every member to do their utmost for those who had accepted their rules, aud amidst cheei'3 the speaker stated that Captain McGregor had consented not to press the charge against those men who had been arrested, and the consequence of this liberal action was that all—except the Thomas Russell's crew—whose case was adjourned until the 3rd proximo, were set at liberty, and wei-e now in attendance at the ineetiug. After the passing ot oordial votes of thanks to the Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, the meeting separated.