The Labour Question.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 58, 15 August 1890, Page 2

The Labour Question.

fThe Whitcombe and Tombs

Trouble.

Boycotting the Chinese.

The Coal-Miners’ Strike

Steamship and Marine

Officers.

Maritime Labour Demands.

Ship-Owners.and Employees.

The Durham Miners

The Shop and Factories Act.

CHRISTCHURCH,

August 7.

The following are the issues sub- ■ mitted by the Maritime . Council to be arbitrated upon in. the dispute with Whitcombe and Tombs. (1.) Were men dismissed because of their connection with ,t 11.6 -Union ? (2.) Have firm kept their word to recognise the Union ? (3.) Has - their-refusal in the past to do so 'caused the present dispute ? (4.) Is not the employment of girls at 10s a week in the composing - room a process of sweating? (5.) Are i the demands of the Typographical Union unreasonable ? (6.) Should not the firm give practical proof of the future recognition of the Union by employing'iUnion^-ihen;at once,. and working under the typographical'mles ? (7.) If it can. be shown that the employment of females is detrimental to the,whole printing trade should it not immediately be stopped ? Whitcombe and Tombs directors meet on Tuesday to consider the issues. ‘' 1 August 12. A petition is being numerously ;„j: signed asking Parliament to pass the Shop and Factory Act. The petitioners are writing to other centres, asking ' , that a similar petition be sent. WELIiINOTON, August 12. ; ' At a conference of the Trades and “ Labour Counciiahd the Master Grocers Association, a resolution expressed regret that there was any likelihood of a conflict between the labour organisations and the Eailway Commissioners and the Union Company in reference to Whitcombe and Tombs, The meeting believed the questions should be submitted to arbitration, and if the firm refuse to agree to such course, then the organisations were justified in taking extreme measures to enforce their demands. One of The arbitration issues submitted, “ Are the demands ..of the Typographical Association unreasonable ?” Messrs Whitcombe and ITorabs have written to the Association inquiring what these demands are. Steps are to be taken to put a stop to the Chinese-trading in the city, and at a meeting of delegates from the Trades and Labour Council and the Master Grocers Association, resolutions were adopted-calling on every union affiliated to the Trades and Labour Council to immediately pass a resolution insisting upon their respective members and their families at once discontinuing the purchase of fruit, groceries, vegetables, and other goods from Chinese storekeepers in the city; recommending that a .Vigilance Com-

mittee be appointed by each union ■to see that effect be given to the above resolutions; suggesting a public-meet-ing of citizens be held for the purpose of urging upon all classes of the comiQumit>the necessity of discontinuing thJHPent large support accorded to Chinese store-keepers. OAMARD, August 9. It is understood that at a meeting of the Farmers’ Club, in committee, it was resolved, That a telegram of sympathy should be sent to Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, with an offer of financial assistance if necessary; It was also resolved, To send a telegram to the Railway Commissioners and the Union Steamship Company; asking them to uphold the law in regard to the carriage of Whitcombe and Tombs’ goods. DUNEDIN, August 12. • At a meeting of the building trades ■ last night, Mr Millar, Secretary of the Maritime Council, stated that only in the event of all attempts to procure an amicable settlement failing, would extreme measures be taken ? He hoped he would never live to see a strike in New Zealand. If the labour: party called their men out, business and commerce, not only in this, but in other colonies, would be seriously affected. GREYMOTJTH, August 11. All offers made by the Grey Talley Coal Company have been’rejected‘by the coal miners. Lomas and Newton left yesterday for Wellington to interview Ministers The Union will offer; no other reduction than 2d per tori; while the Company insist on; the original demand of 20 per cent reduction on heaving rates. All work at the Wallsend mine has been discontinued, and the shaft has been- fenced for the protection of the public. All work there will be discontinued henceforth. SYDNEY, ; August 11. The steamship owners estimate that . the demands of the Marine labour bodies will involve an additional outlay of £20,000 annually, which will more than swamp the profits, under most flourishing circumstances. The shipowners and employers have jointly replied to the wharf -labourers that in view T of the determination of the latter not to handle wool shorn by nonunion men, they have been compelled to make an arrangement for the supply of labour regardless of its being union or non-union. August 12. The steamship owners have announced their intention of laying up boats if the maritime labour bodies insist on their demands being acceded to. The various labour bodies hold, monster demonstrations on Saturday. The steamship owners declined to accept the ultimatum of the Mercantile Marine Officers’ Association. The latter, therefore, instructed the members of the Association to give the owners twenty-four hours’ notice of their intention to leave the ships on the 16th instant. LONDON, August 11. At a ballot of the Durham mijaerg, three-fourths of the topmen declared in favour of seven hours as a day’s work. The owners refuse to give way and a strike is threatening..