THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8372, 27 September 1890, Page 5

THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

Sydney, September 26. The Labour Conference have sent a further communication to *he employers stating that their representative position entitles them to act on behalf of the unions who are most anxious to see a settlement of the present difficulty effected. The proprietors of one of the largest stations in the colony, have laid informations against 45 of their hands for leaving before their agreement was completed. [ttecelred September 27, 1.10 turn.} Sydney, September 26. The employers decline to agree to a conference without the consent of the otner employers' unions in Australasia. They have further informed the labour delegates that they must await the result of the negotiations proceeding between the Melbourne Trades Hall and employers before they can consider the request for a conference. Adelaide, September 26. The strike of stevedores lias not Ixad the effect of blocking all ship? '~>g. Several vessels are now loading ai. aloading by means of free labour. Melbourne, September 26. The Trades Hall Strike Committee has recommended the various societies to levy a day's pay per man per week, to help those who have been called out. HELP FROM ENGLAND. London, September 25. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers are levying a contribution of 6d per member, which is expected to yield £1400 for the Australian strikers. The dockers' will remit £750 to Sydney, and the United Labour Council £400. A labourer was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment for thrashing dockers who refused to pay 3d levy to assist Australians. It is asserted that hundreds are being forced by means of threats to subscribe against their will, and that the banks are refusing to transmit money. The Union S.S. Co. has despatched a cutter, the Terarawa, to Whangarei, to bring back a cargo of Hikurangi coal. When the crew of the cutter, who are i members of the Coastal Seamen's Union, were made aware of the object of their trip, some grumbling ensued, and it was thought they would refuse to go in her, but they did not take any action and the vessel sailed early yesterday.

During to-day the steamer Janet Nicoll ' expected to bring down a apply of nearly 1000 tons of coal for the Union S.S. Co., from Brisbane.

THE STRIKE AT KAWAKAWA. Our Kawakawa correspondent, writing on the 25th, says :—" The miners here are still on strike. Meeting after meeting is being held by them, and the manager, Mr. Moody, has issued a manifesto, to the effect that unless they agree to go in at once, free labour will be employed, leaving no possibility for the unionists of being again taken on. A very strong attempt was made by a large number of the strikers to ascertain by ballot the feeling of the majority as to starting work, but this was frustrated by the tactics of agitators, and rumour hath it that if a ballot had been taken, fully three-fourths would have been in favour of ending the movement by again going to work. The feeling is, that the Maritime Council made a grwe mistake in calling them out, but as such is the case, they are afraid of being boycotted by the union on leaving here for other parts of the colony when the Kawakawa mines are worked out, which report says cannot be very long. The dread of this course being adopted, if they go to work against the wishes of the Council, has more to do with the action of the men than anything else. They would hare been in great glee if the directors of the company had accepted the offer made them by the Government to supply them with a quantity of coal; but they very wisely objected to be dictated to by their employes as to who they should or should not supply, and consequently declined the offer. In the meantime Mr. ' Moody has succeeded (with the assistance of the underground bosses and other permanent forces he has at command) in raising sufficient fuel to keep the pumping engine going and also a little for local house consumption, and now we wait patiently for further developments in this very unique struggle. It ; s rather amusing to see crowds of men here and there along our roads occupied in marble-playing, a game in which a large number appear to be greatly interested ; and the proficiency of some of our greybeards in the knowledge of ' knuckle-down' and no 'fudging' would pub most of our school lads to the blush." [BY telegraph.—press association.] Greymouth, Friday. Hildebrand, butcher, was boycotted ab Brunner a few days ago, but it has now been removed, no reason being given. Wkstport, Friday. The Mawhera loaded coal to-day without j trouble. An ample supply of free labour is available. Christchdkoh, Friday. Strike matters are very quiet. Two officers of the Te Anau who went out at the beginning of the strike have gone back to work. It is stated that several others are applying to be taken back. Two hundred ana thirty non union labourers were at the port to-day. Wellington, Friday. It is estimated that 500 seamen are on strike in Wellington. At a meeting of the Wharf Labourers' Union 32 new members were elected, and a resolution carried to remain firm. Nelson, Friday. A meeting of the Nelson Trades Union was held to-night, when the rules were finally adopted. The Rev. W. A. Evans, Congregationalist, was elected vice-presi-dent, and the Rev. T. N. Isitt being previously appointed president. A motion was unanimously carried to the following effect: —"That, in the belief that the present labour contest would not have been entered upon had members of the various unions been consulted, this union determines, in the event of affiliation with any labour c onfederation, its members shall not be subject, to a levy or be called out until the subject of dispute has been submitted for their approval." L jnedin, Friday. The Tarawera brought with her the old crews of the Rosamond and Taieri, in addition to her own. Her officers will not go out on strike. The Officers' Association have appointed Captain Highman and Mr. Cornish as delegates to the Conference, and they leave for Wellington in the morning.