Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

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

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

OlaliUKiNE, SATURDAY, uCTQBEti 25, ltsffO. " THE BITTER END." Ax a meeting of the Welliugton Typographical Association, Mr Fisher, President of the Maritime Council, appealed feu Uia fellow printers to render ail aid in their power so that the struggle might be carried ou to tho bitter end. The Acoociation answered the appeal by deciding to withdraw after the 25th instant the subscription then being paid to the strike fund. It was recognised that the Unions wore powerless to prevent defeat. The *' bitter end " has already come, and the prolongation of the industrial strife would bo worse than a useless waste of the resources afc the disposal of the labor party. Tt was resolved that as sooa -,-ifter the date of suspension of contributions to the strike fund, " a meeting; be called of the printers of Wellington to consider what steps sliould be taken to alleviate the distress in the city caused by the irresponsible and unwarrantable action of those who caused the present; "strike." Mr Murphy, President of the Melbourne Trades Hall, telegraphed to -England at the beginuing of this week, thafc the strike was certain to bo attended with ultimate success, and we learn that the London dockers in consequence are making increased efforts to afford assistance. Doubtless, Messrs Fisher and Murphy would be perfectly prepared to send a similar telegram Home as forwarded by Mf Murphy, of Melbourne ; but for our part we would place a thousand times more reliance on the opinion of the Wellington printers. The poor dockers of London are the victims of misrepresentation as to strike prospects in Australia. The manufacturing and shipping industries of the colony are being carried on, and the only drawback is the higli price of coal owing to the determined attitude of the coal miners. But there ia a limit even to the sacrifice that coalminers will make. The men came out through no grieva* oe of thoir own, and thoy are now beginning to realise that the strike was a huge blunder. The minors of Lithgow, an important coal district of New South Wales, return to work next Monday. Most likely the Newcastle men will soon do likewise ; and then there will be a completo ending to the strike in Australia. The resumption of the normal fuel supply is certain to be followed by a rush of f-trikei'B of all descriptions to obtain work. The marine officers, in whose cause tie strike ostensibly originated, have acknowledged that the strike was a mistake, and have announced that- they arewilling to be employed on the shipowners' terms. In New Zealand, the Bay of Island coalminers returned afortnight ago ; and the Brunner miners are now negotiating with the pmployers, and it is believed in Greymouth thafc the strike will be settled on Monday next. Although the ending may be regarded as *' bitter" by the men who ordered the strike - *, there is little doubt that the result will effect more lasting good to the labor party than if the employers had been forced to yield. Aggressive Unionism threatened to paralyse the industries of the colonies. The check came not a moment too soon. We havo received, with a request for publication, a copy of a letter addressed by Mr J. F. M. Fraser, formerly a member of the Seamen's Union Executive, to the Dunedin Evening Star, A3 the strike is virtually nt an end, we do not deem ifc necessary to republish the letter in full. Mr Fraser says that in the Whitcombe and Tombs affair he prepared the, manifesto issued by the Maritime Council. That body he thinks deservedly obtained great credit for the action they took. Most people are of opinion that the firm conduct of the Railway Commissioners averted trouble on the occasion, and that the Maritime Council was cowed by the outburst of publio opinion. However, there is no reason to doubt that Mr Fraser gave Mr Millar and the other labor loaderß good advice, as he did also on a later occasion. In a long letter, dated August 26, to the Secretary of the Maritime Council, Mr Fraser pointed out the mistake in calling oufc the men from the Union Company's vessels. The following is an extract from the letter : The cod output will be the battle-field. You know best whether or not high wages and military protection will uot induce nonUnionists to work the coal mines. Personally I incline to tho belief that tho co 1 mines of Austral sia can be worked if sufficient money -is spent over them. The Union Steamship Company, I feel sure, are pleased at fche Union having initiated tho strike ; bufc whether or nofc they themselves would not havo been compelled to do so ultimately is another thing. Probably the Steamship Owners' Association would have brought pressure to bear on the Unioii Steamship Company to compel tbe latter to adhere to the former's platform Bufc there is fche widest dillVreuco between tho position of tlie men after they have forced matters and their poa bion after they have been forced. Mr Millar did not take the trouble to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Fraser's letter, and the latter now leaves it to the Unions to decide whether or nofc his views wero entitled to consideration. In a recent letter to the Dunedin Star, Mr Fraser thus deals with Mr Millar : — "I have noticed on the part of employes during the past few months a strong feeling that Mr Millar was a mere instrument iv the hands of his Unions, and that ho w b not afc all responsible for many of the Unions' moves. Unionists know whether or nofc tin's is correct. I hold the contrary opinion. Mr Millar has during the past; fow months boen (unconsciously it my be) a deadlier enemy to Unionism than al' tho Union Compauies pud employers put together, |Ja b.^ ner-

sistcntly advertised himself and his views and projected actions in the jpub io prints. For months p st you could not pickup a paper without seeing Mr Mill. r's name and got'ing an insight into the Union programme. There was a total and fatal absence of secrecy. The public were alarmed and irritated. They were persistent y taught by unex. ected threats to regard the Unions as a source of danger to the community Menaces of utter stagnation of fcndo were lightly made. There was o. wanton rioting in the possession of blind obedience that shocked and alarmed every reasonable Unionist in the colony, and presently Mr Millar sat down to what he pleas antly described as *' a friendly trial of strength." Whata phrase; " A friendly trial of strength." The Unions started the battle with defeat staring them In the face. Everything was against thorn ; the season of the year, the abund noe of surplus labor, adverse public opinion, uncertainty as to finanoial strength. The odds were irresistible. Hal the Direotors of the Union Company drawn up the programme of the labor pirty they oould not have improved upon it for fcheir own ends. If the misguided strikers look upon the I great blunder aa worse than a crime, Mr | Millar, Mr Fisher, and the other authors of the misohief will never more bo leaders of the labor party.

Mr J. M. Bidgood, of Ormond, ie the latest insolvent. A drunkard paid £1 for his folly, after an interview with Mr Booth, R.M,, this morning. Yeatevd iy's meeting of the County Council was the LBt ordinary meeting of the present Council The bazaar in aid of Holy Trinity schoolloom will give a net result ot about £122. Special services for children will be held t '-morrow at. the Salvation Army barracks, and on Tueeday there will bo a free tea. The first wool clip of the season was shipped fro.n Giaborne to-d-y by the Australia for transhipment with the Coptic at Wellington The wool waa from the run of Mr Oeo Soott, of the Willows, and was sh pped by Messrs Dunlop and Bourke. VVe hear that Te Kooti's mother, an old woman named Heni, has died at Whakato. The old woman was very proud of her son, and co fulsome in hor praises of h m that she parned an amount of disfavor from other natives. Rowing is now in full swing and crews a re out from bofch sheds night and morning. A n «xciting contest took place fc .is morning betweeu Cosgrove's crew and oue stroked hy Miller. Cosgrove led at the footbridge, and was only caught by Miller on the poat, fche latter winning by a foot. Mr Beswick has received instructions from headquarters tha Demonstration Day, '28th inst., will not be observed as a holiday by the Posfc and Telegraph Department, consequently the offices here will be open. The following passengers were booked at the Company'a Office up to four this afternoon to leave l»y the s.s. Australia -.—Messrs Bi.Bhnell, Napthali, Kenway, aud Skeet; Mrs and Miss McKenzie, and Misses Molloy and Broderick. Fer b.s. Wakatipu : — Mrs Kenway; Messrs Thomson and Whiting. A number of settlers met this afternoon afc fche Borough Council Chambers. Mr Murphy occupied the chair. .Vi v DeLautour said tha Commissioners Court was an existence whioh offered some facilities of settling titles, but under unworkable rules ancl excessive fees. A Commissioners Court was going to sit in this district; at an eariy date, and the extended thro for receiving applio -tions was running away very quickly, and people were being driven to accept the stringent rules and excessive fees. For instance under the rules one had to give notice with personal service to every Native concerned: There was an expensive republication necessary, and a person i could not include in the one application mote thau ono certificate of title, though those lities were only over parts of one olock Takiug the caso of fees, a vory moderate holding would cost in fees very nerly LSO. Taking the case of a small block being under fivo or six certificates of title, that would run into a very great amount. It hid becu thought well that a number of those interested should meet and urge on foot a modification of these rules and fees. Government had powers now to clo so. There was no reason why tho casea should nofc be put uncier the same rules as tho Native Land Court, *-nd the difference would be enormous to the peoplo. He thought it was fair ground for making the fees as small as possible, because it was impossible to say that the certificates thoy were going io gt*t would be of much value. Whilst they were driven by the legislation to go into Court or keep out of it -t their peril, and there was no aurCoy of the good to be obtained from a certificate, they should do something. He did not wish to say tho certificates would ho valueless, but looking to the published judgments it was impossible to say whether the judgments would be of any ultimate value. They might appoint a committee to make representations, and uo doubt some good would be done Mr i -right thought Mr UeL'uitour's suggestion should be given effect to. If a committee wero appointed to go through tho rules and suggest where alterations might be made, they to rcpo.'t to auother public meeting, some considerable good would probab y be done to the district. Ou the proposition of Mr Rose (Auckland), second d by Mr Mills, the foi lowing Committee was appointed : -Messrs Bright, Barker, Townley, Shelton, Reeves, I and Seymour, with power to add to their number, tho Committee to communicate with Government •with a view to modifying tho rulea of the Commissioners' Court. The Committee meets on Monday afternoon. Last evening a meeting was held nfc the Court hoiiße to mako arrangements for the holding of the annual sports in aid of fche Hospital* funds Captain Winter was in the chair. It was decided to hold ihe sports on Monday, Dec mber Ist, and the Secretary ( Mr McKay) reported th the had written to the Park Comp ny with reference to the Park Grounds, but had not yet received a reply, which he uid not doubt would be f vorable. The following appointments were made : — Patrons : His Worship the Mayor and Chairmen of local bodies; Judges, Messrs Crawford, K. Watson, C. C. Lucas, Nolan, and A-royd , Starter: Capt. Wiuter; Referee: Mr C Evans; Handicappers, Messrs Primrose, Nisbett, and Fraser ; Treasurer : J Colebourne ; Secretaries : Messrs H. McKay and R. N. Jones ; Committee : Messrs I\ Morrison, C. F. Lewis, W. O. Skeet, and P. Miln •■, with power to increase their number to twelve. It was carriod thafc money prizes should nofc be less than thoso given lasfc year The previous programme was revised, and was at length set led as follows : — Maiden Race, 200yas ; Boys under 10, 150 yd s; Op n Handic-p, 150 yds ; Hop, Ntep, and Jump ; High Jump for horses ; Sfc. Andrew's Handicap (three eveuts 150, 220, and 440 yds ); Boys uncier 12 ; Three Miles Handicap ; Running High Jump (handioap) ; Mi c Walk ; Girls uuder 16 ; Bicycle Raco (haudicap) ; Champion Race, 300 yds ; Tilting at Ring ; Putting the Stone ; Handicap Hurdles ; Three-legged Race ; Mile Race. There was a great deal of interest displayed in discussing the Beveral events, especially among the athletic part of the meeting. The Three Mile Race, tho Cliampiou Race, and tho High Jump for hor-es are new events. When it camo to electing the Committee, Capt. Winter spoke strongly of the • ccessity there was of appointing persons who wou d work In the pant a great many of the names had been ornamental, aud somo did not even attend tho sports. If thia were to continue, there wero thoae who objected to act any longer in connection with the affair The loss of those people would be much felt, because they were really the persons upon whom the burden of the work liad fallen He therefore trustee! some attempt would bo made to remedy such a state of affairs by appointing only those who could spare the time and would use ifc for tho benefit; of the sports. After some discission, ib was afc length decided that a committee of four ba appointed, these four to have fche power to acid eight useful persons to their number. From the interest taken by the young men in the meefcing last night, ifc bodes well for the success of fche sports, which increase in popularity every year. The Committee will have another meeting to arrange ovottts, allot p izes, etc