THE LABOUR STRUGGLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 29

THE LABOUR STRUGGLE.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Madrid, 26. A Congress of workmen being held here, advocates a general strike to secure the Eight Hours’ System. - , ■ Brisbane, March 26. In addition to those arrested yesterday, the police took possess Ton—of the Unionist office at Barcaldiae and arrested the members of the Strike Committee and the Secretary of the Labourers’ Union on charges of conspiracy. Colonel Frenoh, Commandant of the Forces, who is about to proceed to the distnrbed district, will take with him 130 men, a field batter y, and a Gatling gun. _ The Secretary of the Labourer’s Union is communication with the Government of Western Australia, asking whether they are prepared to assist 500 bush workers to take up land in that colony with a view to establishing co-operative coloniesBrisbane, March 28. The docnment which was taken from the Unionists by the troopers at Barcaldine on Wednesday is of a revolutionary character, and shows that the trouble is not to be confined to Queensland, but that it is to embrace all the southern colonies. Murphy, a prominent labour leader at Roma, has been arrested on a charge of being concerned in the compilation of the docum C?n" arrival of the troops under Colonel French at Gympie they were rather roughly jostled by a band of about four hundred men, but eventually the obstructionists were compelled to clear the way to the drillshed at the point of the bayonet. In the scuffle several persona were slightly injured by thrusts from the bayonets. Brisbane, March 30. A prominent labour leader, named Berry, who succeeded the officers previously arrested, was taken into custody on his arrival at Clermont. Four hundred and fifty military are now stationed in the disturbed districts. The Unionists leaders have cabled to the Government of the Argentine Republic asking if they are willing to assist bush workers to take up land with a view of establishing co operative colonies. Brisbane, March 31. A riot occurred necr St. George, in which a party of Unionists were engaged. One free labonrer was taken to the Hospital badly injured. Sixty men were arrested. The heaviest rain known for years is now falling in the disturbed districts. Sydney, March 30. Mr J. IX Fitz Gerald, the labour candidate who recently visited England to explain to the English Unions the position of affairs in Australia, addressed a meeting of Unionists at Newcastle on Saturday night. In the course of his remarks, be contended that the recent bitter experience both at Home and in the colonies proved that Btrikes as a weapon of industrial reform had failed. The weapon for the fnture he considered must be direct labour representation in Parliament. Auckland, March 26. The Bootmakers’ Union held a meeting to consider the letter from the manufacturers respecting the proposed scale for increase of pay, and suggesting that a conference be held on the subject. About three hundred men were present, and the following resolu. tion was passed—“ That this Union declines to enter into any further correspondence with the Auckland Boot Manufacturers’ Association re the proposed looal statement for increased pay, and that we decide to stand or fall by the statement already submitted as printed.” The result of this decision is that the men employed by those who refused to sign the statement went out

on Btrlke to-day. Eleven factories are involved. The Boot Machinists’ Union has decided to support the Operative Bootmakors’ Union in the present dispute. It is statsd that telegramß have been received from Southern centres offering employment to any members of the Union if they care to go South. AUCKLAND, March 28. The bootmakers on strike number 184, of whom 89 are married, and 95 single. The Committee state that at present it will not be necessary to make a levy owing to the amount of funds in hand. The men contend that it is only fair that the same price should be paid for work in the North as in the South. Five employers have accepted the scale submitted by the Union. It fixeß the minimum salary at £2, provision being made for elderly men who are not able to compete with younger ones in piece work. A telegram has been received from Christchurch urging the men to hold firm, and guaranteeing them assistance. Auckland, March 31. The Gasworks Employes’ Union have reBolved to support the Bootmakers’ Union in the present difficulty, dealing only with those shops and firms working under Union rules. Mr Lomas, the delegate from the West Coast Miners’ Association to the Miners’ Unions, Australia, returned by the Mararoa. He has been very successful in his mission to the Australian Unions, who unanimously resolved to support their Now Zealand brethren in the assertion of the principles of Unionism. Of the money vote of £IOOO which they had given, £2OO had already been forwarded, and £209 comes by to-day’s mail. It is intended, if possible, to use the moDey in assisting the locked out miners who are starting a colliery on the West Coast.