THE STRIKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8355, 8 September 1890, Page 10

THE STRIKES.

In' our Home Letter we give a summary of the causes which have led up to the labour strikes which are at present paralysing the whole industry and trade of New Zealand. We here reprint from our daily issues the most important information respecting the struggle :— MR. McLEAN ON THE CRISIS. During the debate in the Legislative Council on Wednesday on the Employers Liability Bill (which was eventually thrown out), tho Hon. George McLean, chairman of ; directors of the Union Steamship Company, said that personally he was in favour of dealing fairly with sailors, and the Shipping Company with which he was connected had i endeavoured to do the best they could for the men in their employ. It was not the good men but the bad ones who were the agitators in the present crisis. No good employer objected to doing what was right or just toward the men, and lie might say that hisengineors had informed him that, they had not had auch good times with the firemen as they were now enjoying since the Union firemen had forged themselves -into the Society. Prior to the strike one's life had not been endurable. What was required was unionism, not aggression ; unionism which might ameliorate the sailors' lives, and would nob be aggressive to capital, but which would go hand-in hand with capitalists. The present fight was a suicidal one, for where, ho asked, was the accumulated capital in this colony? The Union Company had paid their men, and had treated them well invariably, and it was deplorable to see these poor deluded men walk over the ships'side with downcast looks going out on strike. These poor fellows were leaving their employment, for what, he would ask ? They also did not know, and they would, perhaps, not know until their wives and little ones were crying out for bread. He warned the leaders that ore long they would be execrated by those men, who, possibly unconsciously, were being misled by them. It was idle to suppose that those leaders could have learned the art of government in a week. Good, he firmly believed, would result from the present evil, but, meanwhile, much suffering and much misery would result. Wages might rise for a time, ! but the workmen would have to pay dearly for every necessary of life meanwhile, and what good, he would ask, would they reap in the end? The men would see what he was advancing now; nay, they already did see their folly, He believed that it would be wiser to defer the Bill and similar socalled Labour Bills until the ensuing general elections had decided which of these Bills were needed. He intended to vote against reconsidering the Bill. Sir George Wiiitmop.e considered that Parliament and also the country owed a deep debt of gratitude to -Mr. McLean for the exceedingly temperate mannar he had conducted the recent negotiations between the company he represented and the men in the company's employment. Much good had been effected by Mr. McLea:. during his public career, but ho felt convinced the lion, gentleman had never effected as much good as ho hail during the last few weeks, and during the continuance of the present social troubles. THE WAIHORA.

The first overt participation in the big strike of officers, seamen, etc., against the Union Steamship Company 'look place on August when the wharf labourers' engaged at t.he s.s. Waihora. refused to work. The work of putting out the vessel's coal had been carried on all through August 28 and early on August 29 without hindrance or opposition, and the taking in of cargo began at eight o'clock, there being about 40 lumpers employed. All went well until about eleven a.m., when the secretary of the Wharf Labourers' Union, Mr. Randall, informed those working that hey were to "come out." The call was quietly obeyed and in a few minutes all were ashore. The Union 8.8. Co. then decided to carry on the work with the Waihora's crew alone, and these went steadily to work both on the wharf and or. the ship, and the cargo was steadily transferred into the vessel's hold as it came down, numbers of the self-discharged lumpers looking on. The crew continued to work till the usual tea hour, when an adjournment was made, operations being resumed for a couple. of hours afterwards. No reason was given by the lumpers for their withdrawal, but it is believed to bo in sympathy with the action of the affiliated seamen in the South. The number of those who struck was about 40 men, and of these several were quite ignorant of there being any special cause for their sudden ceasing of work. TH CARTERS REFUSE TO WORK. At a very large meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Federated Wharfcarters', Expressmen's, and Storemen's Union, held in Temperance Hail, Albert-street, on the 30th of August, the following resolutions were passed :—" As the Union Steam Shipping Company of New Zealand is a member of the Shipowners' Association of Australia, who have openlyavowed its intention of crushing the Labour Unions, thus attacking the first principles of British liberty, viz., liberty of the subject., we the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Federated Wharfcarters', Expressmen's, and Storemon's Union have con-

fidcnce in, and agree to stand by and support the Maritime Council, thereby refusing to handle, or cart any cargo to or from the Union Company's boat.", pending a settlement of the dispute." "That this meeting very deeply regrets, and protests against the unjust and arbitrary action of certain Auckland employers, in coercing their employos by threats of instant dismissal, should they exercise their rights as Unionists, thus introducing unci kindling feelings of bitterness very much to be deplored." WALK MINES. The Taupiri Extended miners have struck work, owing to their belief that the company were sending coal to Auckland to an agent supplying the Union t ompany. The directors had previously replied to the notice received that they could not recognise the right of miners to dictate to them as to whom they supplied with coal. On September 2 they desired the manager to give a guarantee no more coal should be supplied, directly or indirectly, to the Union Company. He had no authority to give such a guarantee, and refused to accede, where upon they peacefully went out and returned to their homes The Auckland directors had a meeting on the situation in the afternoon, but the result did not transpire. It seems that the men were in error as to their suspicions. The Taupiri coalmine owners (the Messrs. Ralph) are in the same lix. Their men gave a similar warning about the Union Company, and exacted a like guarantee, but the owners declined to give it. The Taupiri Reserve Company's men have taken no steps as yet, but there is little doubt that the miners will act in concert with their fellow miners elsewhere. The Waikato coal mines are now practically closed, over 400 miners having left off working. WHAT TOOK PLACE IN AUSTRALIA. The Union Company have published details of what took place in Australia leading up to the strike. These show that when the Corinna incident occurred the company telegraphed to the Sydney manager: "Australian owners principally interested ; matter should be left to their decision ; carefully guard against aggressive action ; Seamen's Union with ourselves anxious not get involved iu struggle if possible." On loth August information | was received that Mr. Millar had telegraphed to the Maritime Council, Sydney, "You may rely upon full support when required." The Union Company felt that although so far the Maritime Council here had joined in trying to prevent New Zealand being embroiled there was no hope that the New Zealand Seamen's Union would withdraw from the Australian affiliation. On the Sydney manager cabling that work on the Waihora had been stopped, and asking for instructions, a cable was sent " Seamen and Lumpers' Unions cabled Sydney urging continue work Waihora; meantime you take no prominent position." After some delay the Waihora was discharged. Then came the delay with the Taieri. At the rate at which the cargo was being discharged, it would take a month to unload her. The Ohau met a similar delay on the 22nd, and the Tarawera also met with delay on the 24th. The Sydney agent was cabled to that the Union Company were prepared to fall in absolutely with the Steamship Owners' Association, in any future action, and free labour was employed to discharge the Tarawera,

The communication . proceeds :—"So far, e have simply detailed the facts, but it may be proper that we should say here that we believe, because several of them have told us so, that our officers »vero in reality driven to affiliate with the Mari time Council because of their unbearable position with the crews. They felt they were at the mercy of the Seamen's Union, which had far more weight with us than they could have, and this they were right in. We supplied yesterday to the press a complete denial of Air. Millar's statement about the crew of the Te Anau. Yesterday we received from Russell the following unsolicited telegram from the captain of the Pukaki, bound for Fiji:—" Leaving here with full complement first-class officers and crew." We merely give these items of information that the public may judge of the reliability of the statements made at the public meeting on Monday evening. We have had lengthened relations with the various Unions, and have nothing serious against them ; but when we are not only denied the labour we require but prevented from employing free labour, of which abundance is offering, and are threatened with the "extreme boycott" on all hands, we consider it necessary to ignore the Unions altogether, and make a vigorous attempt to carry on our business as best we can independently of tnem. We have only to add, in conclusion, that we heard it from themselves. We never so much as thought of " crushing the Unions" of which they are disposed to make so much. FELLMONGERS, TANNERS, &c. A special meeting of the workmen at the above trades was held in Crosher's Rooms, on September 4,— Mr. Wixen occupying the chair. The Secretary (Mr. Lees) pointed out to the men present the object of the meeting. He said that there was a shipment of bark on board the Wairarapa, one of the Union Company's boats. This bark had been lauded by non-Union labour, and therefore the Union Carters had refused to carry it from the wharf. Now, if this could be carried to the different works by nonUnion carters, the action of the strikers would be frustrated. The case was submitted to the Trades and Labour Council, and they decided that should any of this bark come to any Union factory the hands employed there must be called out forthwith. They must refuse to handle goods that have been handled by free labour. The secretary had warned the employers to this effect, and until September 4 not one bag of bark had been removed. The Trades and Labour Council were prepared to pay he fellmongers a fair share of the strike funds raised. That night a load of caustic soda was carted from the wharf bound for Warnock Bros. Pickets were then appointed to watch the different tanneries to mark any man who carted or handled goods from any of the Union S.S. Co.'s boats.

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOUR AND THE STRIKE. A large meeting of the Knights was held on Wednesday evening, September 3, in the Cook-street Hull. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this assembly, while fully sympathising with the Unions in maintaining their principles, especially those of association and combination, regrets the extreme measures being taken, and that this colony, just emerging from an era of depression, should become involved in an industrial war, which cannot but result in disaster to all concerned. This assembly earnestly suggests that the matters in dispute should be speedily referred to arbitration, so that the colony may be relieved from the present disastrous conflict. " RATES OF WAGES. Enquiries have been made as to pay of men on strike were receiving at the time of the strike. The Union Company's otiicers in vessels other than the collier class were obtaining : Chief officer, £15 ; second, £12. In coasting vessels third officer, £9; in intercolonial boats, third officer £10; fourth officer, £8. In colliers, chief otiicers, £14 ; second officers, £11. Seamen, £7 ; overtime, Is (id an hour ; firemen, £9, ditto ; trimmers, £7, do. Carters, £2 2s per week ; but many employers paid above Union scaie up to £2 IGs. Lumpers' Union : Owing to the char acter of the work difficult to tell earnings— pay, Is 3d an hour on general cargo, Is 6d for coal, from eight a.m. to five p.m. ; from live in. to eight a.m., 2s per hour. It. is stated their average wages would be about £2 to £2 10-, but good men get the run of the work from the stevedores, and some lumpers have made £4 to £5, and one as high as £7 in a week under special circumstances. Others again only earn a few shillings to a pound, if not physically qualified for the work or in the running. It is thus difficult to tell the real earnings, owing to the peculiarities of the calling. About 150 men practically do the work of the wharves. The average amount paid by the Union Company for labour at cargo in Auckland is from £150 to £200 per week, and the average earnings per man for those regularly employed is £3. When there has been much night work men have earned from £5 to £6 per week from Union Company's work alone. The expressmen have a tariff, and their earnings depend on casual work, or express work for firms, and their pay therefore fluctuates, but on the whole they make a fair living. NORTHERN" COMPANY'S CREW ON STRIKE.

On September 5 the crew and officers of four of the Northern Steamship Company's vessels left their work. The cause of their withdrawal is not given by the strikers themselves, who in all cases left their vessels without giving the company any notice of their intention so to do, the ollicers, at least, displaying in this si lack of courtesy of which no other striking ollicers had previously been guilty, the solitary exception being Mr. C. Faulkner, the chief officer of the Chelmsford, ■who gave the usual twenty-four hours' notice, and stood by his vessel during her discharge, and will leave only today when his term of notice expires. Yesterday evening, however, several officers called upon Mr. Hanson, the manager of the Northern Steamship Company, and apologised for the summary manner in which they had left their posts, but that gentleman, while accepting their expressions of regret, remarked that they were somewhat late in being made. The reason for the call-out is doubtless the aid which the Northern Steamship Company gave to the Union Steamship Company by conveying a quantity of firebars to Russell for the s.s. l'ukaki, and in bringing up a quantity of free labour from Whansarei.

MANIFESTO BY THE UNION 'COMPANY. The directors of the Union Steamship Company issued the following manifesto " The directors of the Union S.S. Company of New Zealand have arrived at the conclusion, with much regret, that the present policy of the Labour Unions of all Australasia, which has led to the imminent paralysis to trade in all tho colonies, and which has kept up constant irritation and unbearable uncertainty in all departments of trade for some months past, is the outcome of a general determination on their part to try their strength with all employers of labour. '* There has been no dispute of anv serious character in New Zealand, and the disputes in Australia cannot be considered to bear any relation to the measures adopted by the unions. " The directors have therefore alternative left but to fall in with the 1 jlutions of the Steamship Owners' Association and other employers of labour, and to support them to the utmost of their power in opposing the encroachments of the labour unions by every possible means, until it is found that negotiations can be re-opened with some prospect of such a settlement as will enable them to conduct business with some degree of comfort and confidence. "They have no hesitation in declaring that the wages paid by them for many years are such as 110 reasonable man can complain of, and that their relations with all classes of their men have always been such as they ,have a right to regard with satisfaction. "Therefore they unhesitatingly throw the whole responsibility of the very serious disorganisation which is about to ensue upon the shoulders of the leaders of the Unions."

THE MARITIME COUNCIL MANIFESTO. At a meeting of the Maritime Labour Council, Dunedin, the following manifesto was prepared :— "The directors of the Union S.S. Co having issued a manifesto, in which they endeavour to lay the whole blame of the present difficulty ' upon tho shoulders of the labour party, we fsel it to be our duty

, to lay a plain statement of the case before , the public, and they will perhaps see that / we are not responsible, but that the blame f lies with the Shipowners' Association. 3 "We distinctly deny that we have been anxious to have a trial of strength, as they 3 state. On the contrary, we have done j everything in our power to avert it; but , the Steamship Owners' Association, seeing l that the various Unions throughout Aus. b tralasia were becoming, in their opinion i too powerful, decided to endeavour to b crush them out, and, with the object, ol r effecting a rupture, have studiously avoided • entertaining any proposals submitted by ; the various Union*. 5 "The present dispute originated some I two months ago, when the officers belon«. • ing to the various companies resolved to i form a Union. After doing so they sub- > mitted their rules and rates of pay to tha > Association, but the latter declined is > recognise them. After this the ofliceot i affiliated with the Trades and Labour ■ Councils of New South Wales and Victoria : again submitted their demands, when a conference was arrange ! between the two . parties ; but prior to the date on which it had been agreed to hold it the Ship, i owners' Association sent notice that they i declined to meet them unless they with i drew from the Trades Councils. This tin officers declined to do, upon the ground, that as an individual society they had failec i to gain recognition from the Association, and furthermore, that it was arbitrary anc unjust on the part of the shipowners t< debar them from affiliating with the Council whilst the shipowners retained the righi to themselves to band together in an association. " Efforts have repeatedly been made by the officers and seamen to have their demands considered at a Conference and decided upon their merits, but all theii efforts have proved fruitless, owing to the offhand and contemptible action of the Shipowners' Association, and it is this treatment which has compelled the labour bodies to show that they intend to demand that respect which they as men are entitled to. " We admit that no direct quarrel with the Union Company existed at present, but the Union Company being a portion of an Association which has openly expressed its intention of crushing-Labour Unions cannot expect to be allowed to run free, and thus far they share the responsibility of causing the present crisis, as had the I nionCo. and A. U.S.N. Co., who practically seem to work together, used their voting power in the Association to prevent this disquiet, it would have never taken place. The public can therefore see by the fore going statement that the treatment accorded to the labour unions by the Shipowners' Association has forced them into the present position, as they had either to fight or lie down and be kicked, and they chose the former. " The Seamen's Union of New Zealand have endeavoured to prevent the strike extending to New Zealand, and the directors of the Union Company have admitted that it was impossible for us to do anything more than we have done unless we instructed our members to work with blacklegs, and as evidence ol the feelings of our members, we may simply point out the fact that the crews of the Tarawera, Taieri, and Ohau ,eft in Sydney without instructions from us sooner than work with blacklegs, and this feelinj.; is openly expressed by every member ol the Union who has had an opportunity ol expressing it. Had the Union Company not employed blacklegs on the Sydney wharf, trade might still have been open, as would also the coastal trade ; but bavin;.; thrown in their lot with the Association, and determined to assist them in crushing labour unions, they cannot any longer expect us to work for them, nor can the New Zealand public expect New Zealand seamen to allow themselves to be the tools of any employers who are endeavouring to criu-l; the labour organisations of Australia. " Although the seamen may regret thattheir action may cause paralysis of trade, they maintain that their action has only been taken in self-defence. — John" A. Millar, Secretary." THE DEMANDS OF THE MARINE OFFICERS. A Sydney contemporary says that the officers state that they are now determined not to resume their positions unless they receive the whole of their requests, although previously they might have accepted more moderate concessions. Their demands are: 1. " That the minimum rate of wages shall be—chief officers, £10 per month ; second officers, £14 per month ; third officers, £I'2 per month." '2, " That all intercolonial steamers shall carry three certificated officers besides the master, and that a system of three watches shall be observed at sea." 3. " That all seagoing steamers trading within the limits of the colony shall carry two certificated officers besides the master." 4. "To define the works of officers in the four principal ports — Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane." 5. "That all steamers licensed to carry 100 passengers or over in the Hobson's Bay trade sTia.ll carry at least two certificated officers in addition to the master, for the safety of the travelling public." They are also determined that in the event of gaining what they ask for, th° owners shall be enforced to reinstate the officers on their respective vessels, and the other bodies have decided to support them in this determination."

A MANIFESTO. t The following manifesto was received by i the Auckland Trades and Labour Council . from the New South Wales Labour Defence Committee : — ; 1' el low-workers.—The time has come when a supreme struggle must be fought in defence of the principle of trade unionism. J he question at issue in this conflict is not merely the granting of a special concession to any one body of workers, but of the maintenance and defence of the right of labour to federate in a common cause. The individual members of the different Unions now on strike have been offered all and in some cases more than they claim, if only they will prove false to their fellow-workers by ceding their right to combine for mutual self-defence and advancement. Such offered concessions, under these circumstances, are merely briues ; and, if accepted under such degrading conditions, would be quickly revoked as soon ;ia the labour organisations had become corrupted and disorganised by their acceptance, J he motto of the enemies of labour has ever been ''Divide and Conquer," and where threats are powerless bribery will always be had recourse to. Australian workers! remember that your honour is at stake, and stand farm. It is given to you at this junction to set the world an example of fidelity and fraternity by refusing to acept any concession unless offeree! through the recognised channel of your labour organisations, and to as resolutely decline any proposal, however otherwise satisfactory, which in any way limits your right as members of a labour federation. We deplore, as all thinking men must, the inevitable loss and suffering which a general strike must entail upon the community. Yet. at the same time, we, as the producers of all wealth, claim, and are prepared to practically assert our right to cease production, unless we can retain for ourselves at least a reasonable proportion of the wealth we create. We regret that, under existing unnatural social conditions, industrial war is a stern necessity. Nevertheless, we confidently assert that the temporary Joss and hardship involved in such a struggle is as nothing compared to the widespread and constant misery that would ensue were we weakly to allow ourselves to be forced down to the condition of industrial slavery from which our fellows in other lands, are even now struggling to free themselves, and whom we can best aid by maintaining, a' wliatever cost, the privileges we now possess. The conflict is not of our seeking, but seeing that it is inevitable we are resolved to fight it out once for all to the bitter end. In this course lies our only safety, and we appeal to the woi kers of Australia to stand by us and each other in this great conflict, sinking all petty differences of rule or method in the common cause. By the mutual trust and faith that such a battle must inspire, we shall all be better fitted for the task which in the near future lies before us—that of the reconstruction ot socl 1 e upon the firm basis of justice to all, and the full recognition of the 1 e 'A 0 carry this struggle U ? a suecessf termination (and if united we must be successful) a large amount of pergonal self-sacrifice and self-denial will A^=?,? C r SSar ' kut in these high qualities Australians have never been found wanting m the hour °.cd. We appeal to all who are interested m the common welfare to aid us m this battle. To all who labour, whether with hand or brain, we say : Our cause is yours—our gain is yours—and our defeat would be your loss, for the standard of wages cannot be lowered in any one branch of production without affecting all. Fellow-Aus-tralians, this is your hour of trial; be true to yourselves, and let the whole world see that; neither threats can appal or bribes corrupt you. Let the noble generosity which you have always extended towards the oppressed or other lands be as frely shown toward your fellows who may need aid in this the suijretgjfk.-; crisis of our nation's history, -■•'ien the bats!?, ' of labour's right is to be fought and woo- M ' "H*