THE LABOUR STRUGGLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 30

THE LABOUR STRUGGLE.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, March 4. The dockers are returning to work. They have withdrawn their delegates from the Joint Labour Committee, and refuse to join for a general strike. The strikers at Cardiff are appealing to the Shipping Federation to arrange a settlement of the dispute. Fifteen out of 16 blast furnaces have been re-lit. . . Mr J. B. Patterson, ex Commissioner of Customs of Victoria, in addressing a gathering of workmen at Alnwick, declared that a universal strike meant universal starvation. London, March 5. The shore Unions in London have agreed to return to work and remove the block. _ Mr J. Burns has tabled a motion opposing the statutury limitation of labour. Speaking at Clerkenwell Mr Parnell made a clear bid for the British labour vote. Three thousand five hundred non-Unionists are now being employed at the London Docks. London, March 6. The stevedores and coalheavers at London have again refused to work with nonUnionists. The various Unions at Cardiff are greatly divided in opinion on the question of a strike. The railway men refuse to support the seamen and firemen in a general strike. It is reported that the Right Hon G. J. Goschen, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be chairman of the Labour Commission. The German Government are purchasing English coal, to provide against a general strike of miners.

London, March 7.

Four thousand of the Marquis of London* derry’s colliers have again strnck, out of sympathy with the families evicted at Lipsworth. Free seaman and firemen are available beyond'the requirements of the owners. _ Dockers are vainly offering their services, owing to their places being filled up. The undecided attitude of the P. and O. Company towards the Shipping Federation 3 programme is the cause of some remark. The dockers, stevedores, and coalheavers desire to buy out free labourers. Berlin, March 6. _ It is feared a general strike of miners in Germany will shortly take place. London, March 9. The Glasgow and Liverpool branches of the Seamen’s Union have refused to join the general strike. __ ( The trustees of the Seamen’s Union are objecting to provide funds for the strike. Mr Wilson, the secretary of the Union, accepts the Federation ticket. (SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, March 4. The shipping strike is spreading northwards. The port of Aberdeen is now blocked. „ Efforts are beipg made to induce the Don Mr Goschen, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to act as Chairman of thß Labour Commission. London, March 5. Mr Parnell is in favour of shortening the hours of labour and the establishment of Boards of Conciliation. Lord Salisbury favours the appointment of Messrs T. Mann and J. Burns to seats on the Labour Commission, but his colleagues differ with him, London, March 6. A deputation waited on Mr W. H. Smith urging that one-half of the number of members on the Labour Commission should be recognised leaders of the labour party. The Shipping Federation have refused to withdraw their ticket. Berlin, March 4. Tbo Emperor states he is determined to remedy the crying injustice under which the labouring classes suffer, but that he disapproves of irresponsible agitators. Melbourne, March 0. Another donation ot £2OO has been forwarded to the Dennistou miners. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Brisbane, March 5. The Rockhampton Labour Council has issued a general appeal for assistance for the shearers. Beisb ynk, March 9. A serious disturbance took place yesterday at Clermont. Several members of the Psstoralist Executive arrived without pre. viously informing the police, and over 200 mounted Unionists attacked them. Sergeant Donnell endeavoured to protect them, and succeeded in keeping the rioters at bay until the carriage escaped down a narrow lane, font he vsa severely wounded in the head by a stone.

Brisbane, March 10.

A small force of police and military succeeded in arresting four of the Unionist ringleaders concerned in the disturbance at Clermont on Sunday. The Central Council has ordered a general call out on the 16th inst., but it is stated that the railway men and town Unionists are not included in the call. In some quarters, however, it is expected that these also will be called out. Melbourne, March 10. An extra charge of a penny a dozen for the evening newspapers caused the newsboys to strike. They took active means to prevent others selling the papers, and the result was that very few were sold in the streets. Numbers of police, armed with whips, guarded various newspaper offices. „ Lyttelton, March 9. The Unionist seamen and firemen on the steamer Industry struck this morning. They shipped at Middlesboro’ at the rate of £4 15s for three years under Home articles, and object to doing coastal work at that rate. They claim colonial wages.. They were arrested on a charge of wilful disobedi* ence to lawful commands. The Industry is chartered by Mr 0. W. Turner.. Christchurch, March 9.

To-day the firemen and seamen, 40 in number, on the steam collier Industry were arrested on a charge of refusal of duty, ana brought before two Justices, who remanded the case to enable them to procure counsel. The captain afterwards agreed to grant discharges to three men shipped at Port Augusta, and the others then returned on board. Consequently proceedings have been stayed for the present.