TRADES AND LABOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9040, 16 February 1891, Page 2

TRADES AND LABOUR.

[By Eleoteio Telegraph.—Copyright.] (Pek Pbess Association.) London,' February 13. (Eecelved February 14. at 11.15 a.m.) The labour unions at Cardiff are without funds to continue the struggle. The deckers' leaders are parleying with the Shipping Fedeiatien, and it is expected that a compromise |will be effected as far as the ports of London and Cardiff are concerned.

February 14,

(E6celved February 15, at G p.m.)

The Executive Council of the Shipping Federation to-day discussed the proposals submitted by the federated unions. They agreed that a preference should be given to non-union men, and that seamen should sign on at the mercantile marine office, provided that the Sailor's Union was not to have a monopoly, and also that the men engaged kept their contracts. The council decline to agree to a proposal that all non-union labour at .present employed should be discharged.

The Shipping Federation will issue a manifesto throughout tl.o oocntrj- Oil Monday.

THE UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY

AND THE SEAMEN'S UNION.

The following ia a copy of a letter that has been addressed by tlio managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company to the secretary of the Federated Trades' Union Council ia We lington:—

Danedin, 12fch February 1891. D. P. Fisher, Esq., Searetary Federated Trade Union Council, Wellington.

Dear Sir,-I duly received jour favour of the 17th ulfc. I nin afraid there is uothiag to be gained by our dliousoing the quastion whether it is, or is not, the ease that members of the Seamcns and Firemen's Onion have been refused employment ia our service 6imply because they were members. We have been perfectly sincere In ourintentions to give them, and those who arfl not members of their body, the same chances of employment as vacancies arose, and it would have been a pleasure to us to have continued to do co had the union men left our non-union men alone, and been content to give their loyal services to their employers. I am sorry, however, to say that, either of their own desire or by the instructions of their leaders, a large number of the reinstated union men hare forgotten their loyalty to the com paoy, and set themselves to sow discontent amongst the non-uniou men. It is not a question, as you seem to Imply, that such statements are made by non-union men, and ehould bs accepted with caution. On the contrary, so satisfied nre we that the union men are creating mischief, and by various means compelling the non-union men—unwillingly in many oases—to join the union, that, until a better understanding is arrived nt, wo now feel compelled to give instructions that no further vacancies are to be tilled up by men. belonging to tha Seamens and Firemen's Union as it at pretent exists. Wo do this with much regret, as in the past wo have never hesitated to say that we wero quite ready to recognise and work with the union. V7e would still have continued to do so had its executive shown any desire to work with us; not only, however, have they not done so, but their efforts have been directed towards reviving the union on the same lines as before, with the ayowed object of taking retaliatory measures against employers when they think the time is ripe for 6uch aggressive action. you state that" the misery and desolation brought to those ooncerned in the strike should have a beneficial i-ffect upon future arrangements made between employers and employed." 1 quite concur with you in this, but would point out that you do not Indicate n what direction tho arrangements are to be mutually bentfloial, nor has your council or the Seamen's Union made any propoiition or approached us in any way with the view of securing a friendly understanding. As you know, the privilegeo extended to our present employes are substantially the same as were those enjoyed before tho strike. We have taken no advantage of cur position to reduce wages or to lengthen hours We have cherished no animosity to the men who left us; but, on the contrary, have given them exactly the same chances an nonunionißts of re-entering the oervlce. All we had hoped was that the conciliatory course wo adopted would have found recognition at their hands in the shape of loyalty to the service and oneervation of their employers' interests. In this hope we hnve been bitterly disappointed. You Btnte " your council are very much grieved at learning that unionist 6ln our employ are using overy effort to bow discontent amongst the non-union men." I would asl:, straight out andin goodfaith: Wero you qufteunawareof this until we informed you? Wero you entirely ignorant that strenuous and unfair me^ns were being used to induce the non-union men to join tho union ; or, being made aware, has your council taken any effective steps to put a stop to such practices. We look upou it as imperative, both ia our own Interests, sndjthoee of the travelling public, that our employes should recognise that their iirßt duty is loyalty to ue, and not obedience to the dictates of an Irresponsible body, which is practically hostile to üb. We feel, therefore, that it ia forced upon us to decide that future vacancies in our service shall be filled up from those outside the union, and this we hope to accomplish, to a very large extent, from Jhe ranks of the young men growing up in our midst, numbers of whom are only too anxious to get into our | emp'oy.—Xoura faithfully, James Mills, Managing Director

The Mercury states that information was received in Hobart on tho sth insfc., (hat a general strike bad taken place among tho workmen employed on the Zeehan railway. Thoy number altogether about 700 men, and they demand 10s per day. At present they are ccly paid Si, while tho men in the employment of the Government get os. The same paper's conespondent at Henty puts the matter on a somewhat different footing. He says i—" A general strike along the Zeehan line, a few platelayers a::d odd hands exeepted. For a long time tho men have complained of the high prices tho contractors charge for stores, and the frequent, scarcity of fresh meat, &c. Since before Christmas until recently the fresh meat supplied did not average h».lf a pound per msn per day. Bread is 9d | the 41b loaf; flour, 3d per lb; potatoes, 2J; i onioas, 3i snd 4d; commem salt, 3d. Meat fcad moved between 7d and Bd, and has been up to 103. Butter Is 01 and 2s; milk 10.1 per tin ; jam, 7d to 8d ; corned beef, 6d and 7d Peacock's fruit in syrup sold iv town at 10j per dozen is hsre Is Oil the tin. Tho men point out j that the contractors, unlike other storekeepers have no margin to provide for bad debts, and no rent, taxes, or rates to pay. They ship stores in their own vessels, and have a distributing ssaff working at Gd per hour, or half pay. Tho arrival of a number of men from New Zealand brought matters to an issue. They state they were informed that potatoes would bo reduced by hi per lb, and tinned meat lowered somewhat, but no highr-r wage than 83 for the day of tight hours would be Riven to ordinary hands. On the part of tho firm, it may lie said though they can buy in the cheapest market, and i freight cheaply to the head of the line, the item ! of distribution beyond by dray or pack horse is j costly. The lofs of time referred to by the men j they eny they have nothing to do with, as they I lose proportionately as much as the men, and under this heal expenses for horses, and. pet- ! manent staff must be provided for."