THE LABOR AGITATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5905, 25 October 1890, Page 2

THE LABOR AGITATION.

AUSTRALIA. [By Eleotrio Telegraph.— Copyright Ptr Press Ass'n— Red. Oot. 25, 12.50 a.m.] Sydney, Oct. 24. The Lithgow minerß are dissatisfied at the position of affairs, and will resume work on Monday. A number of officers have forwarded to the press copies of letters. "written" to tbe steamship owners, in whicli" they ask to be reinstated to their former positions, haviug soen the folly of their action ih going out on strike. The Labor Defence Committee admit defection. Apart from the leaders, but representing % powerful section of wharf laborers, $, deputation waited to-day on the vice-presi-dent of the Employers' Association to ascertain definitely on what terms they would be allowed to return to work .in the > event of their wishing to do so apart froni their leaders. A reply was given that' freedom of contract would be strictly adhered to. The question was considered by the Wharf Laborers Association, when it was resolved not to accept freedom of contract, but it is understood, however, that a large section, of the men will apply for reinstatement oii Monday. A similar move as this, on a modified scale, is on foot amongst the seamen. Cardinal Moran. haa written to the leaders, asking them to suspend the strike in order to afford an opportunity of logsalating in the matter.

Tho Auckland Herald says .-—"Somo of the union seamen and firemen in port are getting .'orders for provisions (ss) in addition to the strike pay (10s). As the strike pay has been paid out of the levies of the New Zealand unions, the reserve fund in hand is not large after meefcing the heavy claims upon it. Some of the mon in the Seamen's Union, who had considerable trouble and a high fee, to pay to get in, and who were darning Ll2 to Ll4 a month and found, before tlie strike, say they never expected things to come to such a pass as to have to apply to the union as a Charitable Aid Board, or to have 5s worth of provisions doled" out to them per week."

The vagaries of the wind in Wellington are various, but in Foxton, according to tho local Herald, the wind there is of an accommodating nature. A fortnight ago a breeze, a little more than gentle, blew down the totalisator shed on the racecourse, and on Thursday night another mild hurricane blew it up again. Blenheim is probably the first town in Now Zealand (says the Express) that has attempted by a by-law to counteract the abominable nuisance of book-hawking. The term " hawker or pedlar " now includes " any person or persons who shall within the borough sell or seek for orders for the sale, or purchase of books or other publications, including prints, engravings, and piotures, or for any other person or persons whatsoever." Atthe Nenthorne R.M. Court, Otago, . J. Hartstonge, a settler at Maeraes, was fined LIO and costs, or in default two months, and bound over to keep t|ie ■ peace for twelve months, for assaulting Father Donnelly, who is in chargo of the Roman Catholic Church. He was further fined 20s and costs, or 14 days, for disturbing the congregation. Father Don- • nelly, had been making reference to some matters in the church, which Hartstonge took to himself, and rising, asked if he was meant, and called the Father a scoundrel, liar, rogue, and sweep. He afterwards assaulted Father Donnelly. The New Zealai.d Shipping Company ; have made arrangements to establish & regular monthly line of first-class cargo steamer*. The name of five of the boats are published, namely, Tekoa, 4120 tons ,* Otarama, 3808 tons ; Dnke of Westminster 8726 tons ; Duke of Buckingham, 3123' tons ; and Duke of Sutherland; 3116. tons. The first steamer will be despatched from London in January next, and as this new line will to a great extent supersede the sailing vessels now employed in; ih§ trado, the Company have issued a circular to enable importers to make ■any u altoiw tions they please consequent on the substitution of cargo steamera for sailing ship.