THE SITUATION AT HOME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8901, 4 September 1890, Page 3

THE SITUATION AT HOME.

A POWERFUL ORGANISATION.

fßr Eixctbio Tbleseaph.—Copxbiqht.] (Pub Fbess Association.)

London, September 2,

(Received September i, at 1.15 a.m.}

The Trades Union delegates have appointed a committee to collect funds in aid of Australia. The engineers, labourers, painter, gas stokers, railway men, seamen, firemen, compositors, and others are represented on the committee. Tillett announced that every trade had joined in subscribing, and they were determined to send at least £40,000 to the colonies. The dockers alone, ho eaid, would send between £15.000 and £20,000. Every docker had agreed to give 3d weekly, while some were contributing 23 6d. A manifesto has been issued appealing to all miners to collect moneys for Australia. The executive of the union meet thrice weekly to deal with subscriptions. Five mass meetings have been arranged in London at which collections will bs made on behalf of the colonies. Mr Montague Williams, police magistrate at Greenwich, has passed a sentence of six months' imprisonment with hard labour on several stevedores who were charged with menacing dockers.

The shipowners' association propose a federation of the trade of the British Empire in dealing with the labour question in all parts of the tbe world to resist the tyrannous demands of unions, and the protection of crews and servants againßt intimidation. It is also proposed to indemnify members who make sacrifices and promote legislation in that direction. The association will also encourage the opening of a non-union register. A central council is to be established in London, with a committee in the varioui shipping centres. Mr Devitt, of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, presided, and Mr J. A. Lewis, of Newcastle, was appointed manager of the Organising Committee, which has arranged to sit daily. The representatives of 5,000,000 tons have approved of the decisions arrived at to-day, and other owners have yet to be consulted. The association carried a resolution pledging itself to support the Australian shipowners by all means at its disposal. One hundred million pounds of capital was represented at the meeting. Members said they had no desire to force a fight, but the unions must keep to the legitimate object for which they were established.

(Special to Pbess Association.)

London, September 2.

(Received September 3, at 8 a.m.)

Mr John Burns speaking to his motion at the Liverpool Trades Congress, said that the Australian strike was more important to the dockers from the fact that the right of combination was at stake. Mr Tom Mann seconded the resoluiton, which was carried amidst great cheering. 'I'he Seamen's Union are remitting £1000 in aid of the strikers in Australia.

Enthusiasm in the cause of the Australian strikers is growing in Great Britain, and greater interest is being evinced as to the ultimate result.

The shipowners' meeting adjourned to Tuesday, awaiting the arrival of the delegates from other ports. The probable result of the conference will be a determination to generally organise a combination agaisis-t the unions.

The stevedores are sending between £1000 and £2000 to the Australian dockers. Yesterday they began levying 3d per day.

At a meeting attended by 60 shipowners a union was established, and a resolution of sympathy with the Australian shipowners was passed, warmly approving of their action in resisting the strikers.

The Times says that the Trades Congress represents two types of unionists.

It is improbable that the older unions will respond to Australia's appeal, notwithstanding Mr Burns' appeal. Still the congress are formally pledged to support a gigantic strike, if limited exclusively to unions; though the apologists of the latter confess that they have no grievance as to hours, wages, or piecework.